Road to WAR!

Germany 1939Appeasement has

emboldened HitlerUS seen as weakRussia a problemFrance will fallBritain will relinquish

War machine primedBlitzkrieg “Lightening

War”Lead by fast moving

armor and infantrySupported by air power

Molotov-Ribbentrop PactGerman/Russian Non-

Aggression Pact Aug. 23, 1939

Agreement Both would remain neutral if

one were attacked The division of Eastern

Europe Division of Poland

Meaning Allows Hitler to concentrate

on West Allows Stalin time to prepare

for war All knew it would be broken

WWII BeginsSept 1, 1939 o400 am

Germany invades PolandBlitzkrieg works to

perfectionLuftwaffe lay waste to

Polish citiesTanks roll over Polish

defensesSurrender Oct 2, 1939

150,000-200,000 Polish killed

3,500 German troops killed

War DeclaredSept. 3, 1939 Britain

and France Declare war on Germany

Question MarkHitler makes no move

until May, 1940France

Maginot LineDefense against German

invasionBritain

Moves troops to Europe

Europe FallsMay 10

Germany invades Belgium and FranceFrance FallsNew Pro-German

French gov’t known as “Vichy” France

Dunkirk340,000 Allied forces

escape via the English Channel

Germany now controls Europe

The BlitzBritain is now alone

Attempts to bring US into War

Winston Churchill new Prime Minister

Sept. 1940-May 1941German begin bombing

campaign of BritainDay and nightGerman prep for invasionBritish planes defend

The Blitz endsGermany sets sights

elsewhere

The U.S.Neutrality Laws

Congress passes laws to ensure US stays outCash and Carry

Pay for what you take No convoy US ships at own risk

More PressureBritain on the brink of

losingOut of money

Lend-LeaseLend materialsNo convoy

The Atlantic CharterJoin US and British

AgreementPost War World

No territorial gains to be sought

Self government for all nations

Trade barriers loweredEconomic cooperation

Essentially the foundations of the future U.N