13.2: War in Europe Begins

The weak responses of world leaders to Hitler’s

aggression leads to WWII

A. Path to War1. Fall of Austria & Czechoslovakia

a. Hitler takes over Austria 1938b. What does the League of Nations

do?

b. Czechoslovakia

Hitler wants to take over the Sudetenland-contains a large German speaking

population

2. The Munich Crisis (1938)a. Munich Pact

i. “trio,” France, GB, Germanyii. Sudentlands given to Hitler

b. Winston Churchill & appeasement –giving up principles to pacify an aggressor

Winston Churchill; PM of GB

Elected in 1940

Winston Churchill was named TIME's Man of the Year in 1940 and 1949

"An appeaser is one who feeds a

crocodile — hoping it will eat him last."

— Winston Churchill

                            

                        

3. Hitler Demands Danzig

a. Danzig is part of Poland

b. Is 90% German

c. Britain and France vow to protect Poland if Germany invades

d. Sept. 1, 1939: Hitler invades Poland

e. Sept. 3, 1939: France & GB declares war on Germany; the war has begun!

4. The Nazi-Soviet Pact

a. Agreement between Stalin and Hitler

b. Stalin wants capitalist nations to go against each other; USSR safe

c. Hitler’s goal: avoid a two-front war

d. Secret deal: divide Poland between the two countries

B. The War Begins September 3, 1939

1. Germany attacks Poland

2. Blitzkrieg-lightning war; surprise, nonstop attacks

3. Germany’s goal: to cut Polish supply lines

4. End result – Germany controls Poland by the end of the month

5. “Phony War”

a. After Poland invasion nothing happened for the next few months

b. Hitler goes around the Maginot Line through the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luembourg

Maginot LineMaginot line started after WWI; ineffective

French spent millions on its development

6. The Miracle at Dunkirk

Allied forces trapped in Belgium were able to escape to GB via the only port the Germans did not capture in France, Dunkirk.

For unknown reasons, Hitler German forces to stop

Allows Allied troops to regroup and evacuate

> 330,000 troops saved

Vichy France

Hitler captures Northern FranceFrench commander Marshal Petain heads Vichy gov’t - puppet gov’t in south of France; Hitler true rulerGen Charles de Gaulle exiled in GB vowing to regain France

WWII: German Advances1939-1941

http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/media_nm.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10005137&MediaId=3376

Battle of Britain

Goal: for Hitler to conquer GB by…

Blitzkrieg + air fleet invasion

Luftwaffe vs. Royal Air Force (RAF)In the beginning, whose winning?

Technology that helped RAF win?

RADAR; could see in the dark

Hitler calls off invasion of Britain

       

        

British Hawker Hurricane (bomber)

Supermarine Spitfire (bomber)

Messerschmitt BF 10

Arado AR 240 (heavy fighter)

Soviet w/german pow

Europe prior to WWI

Europe after WWI

Europe 1990

Europe 1995