AP World HistoryPOD #24 – Europe Clings to Relevance

Prelude to War

Class Discussion Questions

McKay- “Nazi Expansion and the Second World War”,

pp. 971-984

What actions indicated to the world that Hitler had an increasing disrespect for international diplomacy?• “Hitler’s tactics in international politics after 1933

strikingly resembled those he had used in domestic politics between 1924 and 1933. When Hitler was weak he righteously proclaimed that he intended to overturn the unjust system established by the Treaties of Versailles and Locarno- but only by legal means. As he grew stronger and as other leaders showed their willingness to compromise he increased his demands and finally began attacking his independent neighbors.”

• October 1933- Hitler walked out of a 60 nation disarmament conference and withdrew form the League of Nations

• March 1935- Hitler established a general military draft and declared the disarmament clauses of the Versailles Treaty null and void.

What is appeasement?

• granting Hitler everything he could reasonably want and more to prevent war

How did the European community appease Hitler?

• June 1935- Anglo-German naval agreement ended Germany’s isolation

• March 1936- Hitler marched his troops into the Rhineland (last good chance to stop Hitler- he ordered a retreat if France resisted militarily)

• Britain continued to appease Germany far into 1939 as they felt Stalin was a greater threat than Hitler

• Late 1936- Rome-Berlin (later Tokyo) Axis was formed• March 1938- Hitler forced Austria to place local Nazis in

control of the government• September 1938- Hitler demanded the Sudentenland be

turned over to Germany- this was agreed to• March 1939- Slovakia becomes a German puppet state

What was the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact?

• each nation promised to remain neutral if the other was involved in a war

• divided eastern Europe into German and Soviet zones

What event triggered World War Two?

• September, 1, 1939 GERMANY INVADES POLAND