Aggression Leads to War: The Onset of World War II in Europe

LONG TERM AND IMMEDIATE CAUSES OF WORLD WAR II.

THE DEVASTATION OF EUROPE AFTER WORLD WAR I AND FAILURE OF THE VERSAILLES TREATY WEAKENED EUROPE.

THE GREAT DEPRESSION CAUSED WIDESPREAD POVERTY AND INSTABILITY IN EUROPE.

• Building of empires by imposing political and economic control over people.

Germany

Italy

Russia

Japan

• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Imperialism.jpg

IMPERIALISM

GERMAN AGGRESSION, 1939

By the year 1939, Germany had rebuilt its military, occupied the Rhineland, funded a war in Spain, taken over all of Austria by extortion, seize the Sudetenland, captured all of Czechoslovakia, and, in

September of 1939, invaded Poland, starting World War II.

THE JAPANESE INVADED MANCHURIA IN 1931.

ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, FINLAND, AND POLAND WERE INVADED BY THE U.S.S.R.

Appeasement is the official policy of giving in to, or ceding to the demands of, an aggressive nation in order to avoid war. During the 1930s, European nations and the League of Nations – who had the power to intervene against Adolf Hitler – hoped that the Nazis would be satisfied when they allowed Germany to take over Austria and the Sudetenland. Meanwhile, in the United States, Franklin Roosevelt was hampered by a population and a Congress which was steadfastly devoted to isolationism and neutrality, allowing Nazi Germany to gain strength. Hitler took the Sudetenland and the rest of Czechoslovakia, too.

APPEASEMENT

In the Munich Pact, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain agreed to allow Hitler to take over all of the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia. Hitler had contended that the land was German in population and therefore should be ruled over by Germany. In exchanged, he promised not to invade any other nations – and not to take over the rest of Czechoslovakia. The policy, which Chamberlain believed would guarantee “peace in our time” was quickly ignored by Hitler – he took over Czechoslovakia almost immediately.

THE MUNICH PACT AND THE POLICY OF APPEASEMENT

THE RESPONSE OF EUROPE & THE U.S.A.Meanwhile, the reaction of the toothless League of Nations – and major powers like France, England, and the United States – was barely even discernable. Hitler was allowed to take over these regions without so much as a reprimand. The League of Nations condemned the aggressor nations (FDR called them “bandit nations”) but did nothing to stop them or to punish the transgressors.

The Lend Lease Act

Due to the Neutrality Acts passed by Congress starting in 1935, the United States was not allowed to provide weapons to one side or the other in the European conflict. Later, we adopted a cash and carry policy, forcing the English to pay for their goods before delivery. But by 1940, the United States realized which side we must support in the conflict. Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act in 1940 to supply England, China, and the Soviet Union with immediate military aid.

Neutrality Act

ISOLATIONISM• Avoiding involvement in

other countries’ affairs.

• Isolationist sentiment surged during the 1930s. Disillusionment over World War I fed opposition to foreign entanglements.

The German invasion of Poland from the West coincided with a Soviet Invasion from the East – and as a result, Polish resistance was rapidly crushed. The nation would be devastated by the war, with both German and Soviet Armies occupying the land and violating the liberties of its people. Poland would not experience true independence again until the late 1980s.

SEPTEMBER 1, 1939 - GERMANY INVADES POLAND

The Lend Lease ActDue to the Neutrality Acts passed by Congress starting in 1935, the United States was not allowed to provide weapons to one side or the other in the European conflict. Later, we adopted a cash and carry policy, forcing the English to pay for their goods before delivery. But by 1940, the United States realized which side we must support in the conflict. Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act in 1940 to supply England, China, and the Soviet Union with immediate military aid.

ENGLAND AND FRANCE DECLARE WAR

Horrified by the brutal repression of the Polish people, England and France both declared war on Germany. Yet, both nations refused to declare war on the equally aggressive Soviet Union. They correctly predicted that the Soviet Union would be betrayed by Hitler – and knew they would likely need another ally, no matter their ilk.

ENGLAND AND FRANCE AT WAR

• When the war finally came, both Great Britain and France were overwhelmed by the massive German onslaught.

• The German blitzkrieg, or “Lightening War,” devastated the advanced forces of the British and French armies so completely that they were forced to retreat.

• The English and French were pinned down at Dunkirk, an isolated beach along the English Channel, where they were surrounded and preparing to be routed or surrender.

• The people of England organized every fishing vessel, yacht, ferry and cruise liner in the nation, though, to evacuate as many soldiers as possible to fight another day.

• Over 300,000 soldiers were evacuated and saved.

THE GERMANS CAPTURE PARIS, JUNE 22, 1940

THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN

BY DECEMBER OF 1941, THE UNITED STATES WOULD JOIN AND UNEASY TRIO: THE ALLIES AGAINST THE AXIS POWERS

COUNTRIES INVOLVED IN WORLD WAR II MAJOR ALLIANCES

Axis Powers Allies

Germany France

Japan England

Italy Canada

United States (1941)

Soviet Union (after 1941)