War War BeginsBeginsWarm Up:Warm Up: How did the How did the

Fascist Dictators of Europe Fascist Dictators of Europe come to power?come to power?

I. Beginning of the I. Beginning of the WarWar

WWIIWWII

A.A. Hitler’s Early Action and Hitler’s Early Action and European Appeasement European Appeasement

1.1. Militarizing in the RhinelandMilitarizing in the Rhineland– Treaty of Versailles prevented Treaty of Versailles prevented

Germany from putting military in a Germany from putting military in a portion of the border between portion of the border between France and GermanyFrance and Germany

– Hitler breaks treaty and puts Hitler breaks treaty and puts military along the bordermilitary along the border

– France didn’t like this but did not France didn’t like this but did not want to go to warwant to go to war

2.2. The AnschlussThe Anschluss– Hitler wanted the country of Hitler wanted the country of

Austria to unite into one country Austria to unite into one country with Germanywith Germany

– This was called AnschlussThis was called Anschluss– Austrian Government refusesAustrian Government refuses– Hitler sends in troops and takes Hitler sends in troops and takes

AustriaAustria

3.3. SudetenlandSudetenland– Hitler wanted to take a portion of Hitler wanted to take a portion of

Czechoslovakia called the Czechoslovakia called the SudetenlandSudetenland

– This portion was filled with German This portion was filled with German speaking people.speaking people.

– He threatened military attackHe threatened military attack– French and British heads of state French and British heads of state

met with Hitler and allowed him to met with Hitler and allowed him to take this area and avoid war. take this area and avoid war. (appeasement) (appeasement)

B. Hitler Moves EastB. Hitler Moves East1.1. Taking all of CzechoslovakiaTaking all of Czechoslovakia– March 1939, Hitler sends troops March 1939, Hitler sends troops

into the rest of the countryinto the rest of the country– Takes it over without any fightTakes it over without any fight

2.2. Attack on PolandAttack on Poland– Germany wanted to expand into Germany wanted to expand into

more of Eastern Europemore of Eastern Europe– September 1, 1939: Germany September 1, 1939: Germany

launches major invasion of Polandlaunches major invasion of Poland

– The German Blitzkrieg (lightening The German Blitzkrieg (lightening war) swept through the countrywar) swept through the country

– Poland fell after one monthPoland fell after one month

3.3. Allies Declare WarAllies Declare War– France and Britain declare war on France and Britain declare war on

GermanyGermany– Do not attack Germany but wait for Do not attack Germany but wait for

Hitler to make his next moveHitler to make his next move

C. Hitler Moves WestC. Hitler Moves West1. Netherlands and Belgium Falls1. Netherlands and Belgium Falls– May 1940: Germans make their May 1940: Germans make their

way to France through the way to France through the Netherlands and BelgiumNetherlands and Belgium

– Germans met by French, British, Germans met by French, British, and Belgian troopsand Belgian troops

– Germans pushed these troops back Germans pushed these troops back and capture both countriesand capture both countries

2. Fall of France2. Fall of France– Hitler’s troops moved into France Hitler’s troops moved into France

in two placesin two places– Surprise attack through the Surprise attack through the

Ardennes forest sweeps towards Ardennes forest sweeps towards Paris.Paris.

– By the end of June France By the end of June France surrendered to Germanysurrendered to Germany

– Germany splits France in half Germany splits France in half – One part occupied by Germany One part occupied by Germany – The other (Vichy France) under the The other (Vichy France) under the

control of those who cooperated control of those who cooperated with Hitler with Hitler

3.3. Battle of BritainBattle of Britain– Great Britain stood alone against Great Britain stood alone against

GermanyGermany– Prime Minister Winston Churchill Prime Minister Winston Churchill

refused to negotiate with Hitlerrefused to negotiate with Hitler– Hitler’s plan involved first Hitler’s plan involved first

attacking Britain by airattacking Britain by air

– British used new British used new radar system to radar system to detect German detect German planes and inflict planes and inflict heavy damageheavy damage

– Germany then began Germany then began to bomb Londonto bomb London

– Raids lasted for Raids lasted for months and killed months and killed thousands of thousands of CiviliansCivilians

– End of 1940: raids End of 1940: raids stopped and Hitler stopped and Hitler called off his invasion called off his invasion of Britainof Britain

II. Pre World II. Pre World War IIWar II

• Factories at home are back to Factories at home are back to producing goods.producing goods.

• Many factories are building Many factories are building arms and weapons for the arms and weapons for the countries fighting in Europe.countries fighting in Europe.

• Isolationism – Avoiding involvement Isolationism – Avoiding involvement in foreign affairs.in foreign affairs.

• Pacifists – People who don’t believe in Pacifists – People who don’t believe in the use of military force.the use of military force.

• Neutrality Act 1935 – The aim of this Neutrality Act 1935 – The aim of this bill was to keep us out of the bill was to keep us out of the European war. It outlawed loans to European war. It outlawed loans to warring countries.warring countries.

• Ethiopia V ItalyEthiopia V Italy• Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil War

• Neutrality Act adjustments – Cash and Neutrality Act adjustments – Cash and carry. Countries at war could buy from us carry. Countries at war could buy from us if they paid in cash.if they paid in cash.

• Lend / Lease Act – This allowed us to send Lend / Lease Act – This allowed us to send weapons to Britain whether they could weapons to Britain whether they could pay or not.pay or not.

• The German U-boats sunk the USS The German U-boats sunk the USS Kearney and the US remained neutral.Kearney and the US remained neutral.

• The German U-boats sunk the USS Reuben The German U-boats sunk the USS Reuben James and the US remained neutral.James and the US remained neutral.

• The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and we were no longer neutral.we were no longer neutral.