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WORLD II BEGINS

US History Chapter 13 2 II BEGINS

• PATH TO WAR

• Main Idea – European nations tried to prevent war by giving in to ’s demands. PATH TO WAR • 1935 Hitler began to defy the – build new and begin draft to expand army (against treaty) – Instead of enforcing, European leaders tried to negotiate with Hitler – Believed deal could be reached and war avoided • Wanted to avoid repeat of bloodshed of WWI • Some thought Hitler’s demands were reasonable • Assumed Nazis would be interested in peace once gained more PATH TO WAR • The Austrian – 1937 Hitler called for unification of all German speaking people (including and ) • Believed only expand territory through force – February 1938 threatened to invade Austria unless Austria Nazi’s were given gov’t positions – Leaders agree and then tried to put unification with Germany up to democratic vote – Hitler feared outcome so sent troops to Austria and declared “Anschluss” or unification of Austria and Germany

PATH TO WAR

• The Crisis – After Austria, Hitler announced claims to • Area of Czechoslovakia with large German-speaking population – resisted Germany’s demands, , Britain and USSR promised to help Czechs if Germany attacked – , Germany, France and Britain agreed to meet in Munich to make decision on issue

PATH TO WAR – At the “Munich Conference” September 29 1938, Britain and France agreed to Hitler’s demands • Position became known as “” • Aka, made concessions in favor of Peace – Thought if gave into Hitler’s demands would avoid war – Told Czechoslovakia if fought would not receive aid – British Prime Minister (Chamberlain) said it was peace, BUT speed up British rearmament incase peace failed – Germany did invade March 1939 and divided country, part was Germany and part was (but a German ) PATH TO WAR • Hitler Demands Danzig – Month after Munich Conference, Hitler demanded of Danzig be returned to Germany – City was 90% German but had been part of since WWI • Also wanted railroad/highway for area that separated Germany from German state of – These new demands convinced Britain and France that war was coming • Announced on 1939, that if Poland went to war with Germany, Britain and France would help – That news encouraged Poland to refuse Germany • May 1939 Hitler ordered Army to prepare to invade Poland, and also started talks with USSR PATH TO WAR • The Nazi-Soviet Pact – German officials proposed nonaggression treaty with Soviets and Stalin agreed • Believed it was the best way to protect USSR (capitalist nations fighting against each other) – Nonaggression pact was signed on 1939 • Shocked world because and were supposed to be totally opposed to each other – Britain and France understood that Hitler did pact to make sure he could focus war efforts against them • Didn’t know treaty also had secret deal to divide Poland between USSR and Germany

WORLD WAR II BEGINS

• BEGINS

• MAIN IDEA – After Poland and France fell to the Nazis, the British evacuated thousands of trapped troops from THE WAR BEGINS

• Sept. 1 1939 Germany invaded Poland – 2 days later Britain and France declared war on Germany, World War II had started • Poland resisted but army was outdated – Rode horses and carried against German • used type of warfare called “” – “lightning war” – Used large number of tanks to break through and encircle enemy positions and supported tanks and sent in – September 27 fell (Polish Capital) – October 5 1939 Germany defeated Polish Military

THE WAR BEGINS • The Fall of France – Western side quiet, British troops in France in defensive position (waiting for Germany to attack) – After , France built line of concrete / called “” – French preferred to wait behind line for Germany to attack. – Big Mistake! • Allowed Germany to concentrate on Poland first before facing British and French • Hitler decided to go around Maginot line (protected German and France boarder but not France and )

THE WAR BEGINS – Hitler order another Blitzkrieg in , Belgium and – British and France expected it so raced North to Belgium but it was another mistake! – Germany’s tanks didn’t go through open Belgium country side, but through Mountains of Luxembourg – Germans smashed through France and then turned to • French and British troops were trapped in Belgium (didn’t move back fast enough) THE WAR BEGINS

• The Miracle at Dunkirk – British and French troops trapped and Germany tried to force them to English Channel – had to evacuate surviving troops by BUT Germans captured all ports but Dunkirk in Northern France – German troops were closing in on Dunkirk but Hitler ordered them to stop (no one knows why) • Theory: Hitler didn’t want to risk tanks till more arrived – This provided 3 day delay giving British time to strengthen lines and prepare evacuation THE WAR BEGINS

– 850 of all sizes headed to Dunkirk • Included ships and small civilian volunteer boats – 48 mile trip that many made multiple times to rescue troops • Called “Operation Dynamo” • Hoped to rescue 48,000 but at end of 3 days 338,000 were by end of operation on – Operation had price • equipment left at Dunkirk • 90,000 , 7,000 tons of ammunition and 120,000 vehicles.. British wouldn’t have equipment to defend if Germany invaded Britain • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSoDLfQK hGI THE WAR BEGINS • 1940, Hitler accepted French surrender – Germany controlled North France and Atlantic coast line – To govern rest of France installed puppet gov’t in Vichy with Marsha Philippe Petain leader • Powerless gov’t and work with Germans to suppress – US recognized as official French government • Charles DeGaulle and Free challenged that gov’t…said it was illegal and that they were traitors – DeGaulle cooperated with Allied political leaders to fight Germans in France from (French colony)

WORLD WAR II BEGINS

• BRITAIN REMAINS DEFIANT

• MAIN IDEA – Despite the bombing of and other major , Britain’s Churchill stood firm against the threat of Nazi invasion BRITAIN REMAINS DEFIANT • Hitler did not anticipate bravery of “” leader of Britain – Replaced Chamberlain as prime minister – Hitler expected him to negotiate peace after France’s surrender – BUT Churchill vowed to ‘never surrender’ • Hitler then had troops prepare to invade Britain – Getting across English Channel big problem – Didn’t have enough ships to transport and British destroy them before landed – Hitler decided had to defeat British Royal Air Force first BRITAIN REMAINS DEFIANT • June 1940 German air force (called ) began attacking British shipping in English Channel – Then Mid-August expanded to defeat Royal Air Force – This lasted into Fall 1940 called “” • August 23 Luftwaffe accidently bombarded London – Angered British and next they bombed (first time fell in Germany) – Hitler angry and ordered to stop bombing air force concentrate on bombing London • Hitler’s goal to Terrorize into Surrender

BRITAIN REMAINS DEFIANT • British didn’t give in to Hitler – Took refuge in cellars and subways • British Royal Air Force outnumbered but had new – Used along coast to detect incoming German aircraft and direct fighters to intercept them – British inflicted more losses on Germans than what they suffered • Germany lost 1,733 aircraft British lost 915 fighter planes • Skill of British, , , Frenchmen and a few Americans fighting in Royal Air Force stopped Hitler’s plan to invade Britain – October 12th 1940 Hitler canceled invasion of Britain REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What did Hitler take or demand in the lead-up to war? 2. By what means did Hitler overtake both Poland and France? 3. How was Britain able to resist Hitler and the Nazis? 4. What is the Maginot Line? 5. Who was Winston Churchill?