World War IIFrom Appeasement to Victory

Q.O.D. #10 2/1/10

Why did Hitler feel he was justified in taking over Austria and the Sudetenland?

Appeasement and Pacifism

After World War I the Western democracies wanted to preserve peace throughout the world.

The leaders of Germany, Italy and Japan took aggressive actions but were met with only verbal protests and pleas for peace.

The Western democracies had a policy of appeasement toward Hitler and Mussolini.

They wanted to avoid war at all costs after the destruction of World War I.

Appeasement and Pacifism

The policy of appeasement developed for several reasons. France was demoralized and suffering from political

problems. The British did not want to confront Hitler. Some people thought Hitler’s actions were justified

due to the harsh conditions of the Treaty of Versailles.

Fascism was seen as a defense against the spread of communism.

Most of all was the widespread PACIFISM following World War I that led governments to seek peace no matter what the price.

The United States Congress passed Neutrality Acts, which forbade loans or the sale of arms to any nations at war

Failure to Stop Japanese Expansion

1931 Japan invaded Manchuria in Northeastern China.China protested the action at the League of Nations. The League ordered Japan to give up Manchuria.Japan simply withdrew from the League of Nations, and which was powerless to stop them.In 1937 Japan conquered much of Southern and Eastern China, and in 1940 they conquered Indochina.The US placed an Embargo on the Japanese, but this just increased their aggression.

Italian AggressionIn 1935 Mussolini ordered the Italian army to

invade Ethiopia after more than a year of border disputes.

The League of Nations condemned the attack and placed economic sanctions on Italy.

Unfortunately the sanctions did not stop the sale of oil, coal, or iron, which were the resources needed for war, so the sanctions had little effect.

The League of Nations had no real power to enforce these sanctions.

By 1935 Mussolini had conquered Ethiopia

Spanish Civil WarIn 1931 King Alfonso of Spain abdicated.

A new Republic was established with socialist leanings.

The fascist Nationalists opposed the Loyalists, who were socialists and those who wanted democracy.

When war broke out Germany and Italy supported the Nationalists, and the Soviet Union backed the Loyalists.

Eventually the Nationalists won control and established a fascist dictatorship under Francisco Franco.

The Nazis used this war as “practice” for future campaigns.

Axis PowersItaly, Germany and Tokyo formed the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis

They joined together to fight Soviet communism

They agreed not to interfere with any plans the others had to expand their territory.

Nazi ExpansionHitler sent German troops into the Rhineland in France in 1936, violating the Treaty of Versailles. The League of Nations did not stop him.

In 1938 the Nazis sought to unify Germany and Austria in the ANSCHLUSS, claiming that the two countries shared a common history and language.

Some Austrians were in favor of this and Hitler quickly silenced any who opposed it. The Western democracies took no action, so Hitler had his way.

Nazi ExpansionThe Sudetenland was a region of eastern Czechoslovakia with many Germans.

Hitler demanded that Sudetenland be given independence. Britain and France did not want to go to war over this region and wanted a peaceful resolution.

Believing Britain and France to be weak, Hitler increased his demands and insisted that the Sudetenland be united with Germany.

Early Nazi Expansion

Munich Conference On September 29, 1938 the leaders of

Germany, Italy, Britain, and France met in Munich to solve the Sudetenland problem.

In an attempt to avoid war, Britain and France persuaded the Czechs to give up this land. In return, Hitler promised not to seek more territory.

Peace seemed to be assured and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain claimed that the meeting ensured “peace for our time.”

In March 1939 Hitler invaded the western part of Czechoslovakia anyway.

Britain and France realized their policy of appeasement had failed and vowed to protect Poland, Hitler’s next likely target.

Nazi-Soviet PactIn August 1939 Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact.They agreed to peaceful relationsSecretly, they agreed to not fight if the other went to war.

The two sides also agreed to split Poland into a German area in the West and a Soviet area in the East.

Stalin and Hitler joined forces because of mutual need: Hitler did not want a war with the West and the Soviets at the same time

Stalin tried to avoid war with Germany and gain land in Eastern Europe.

Invasion of Poland

Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939.

Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later.

World War II had begun.

Map:On the other side of the map you completed on Thursday, identify areas of Nazi and Italian expansion in Europe and North Africa.

Use two colors:First color: German territorySecond color: Italian territory