1. World War II Begins
Chapter 24 Section 2

2. “Peace in Our Time”
By 1940, Hitler had rebuilt the German army and was bent on conquest
European leaders didn’t try and stop Hitler
Gave into his demands
What were the 3 reasons European leaders believed Hitler could be satisfied and war could be avoided? (pg st column 2nd paragraph)

5. Austrian Anschluss
In late 1937, Hitler called for the unification of all German speaking people
1st two targets: Austria and Czechoslovakia
What was his reasoning for taking these lands?
In Feb. 1938, Hitler threatened to invade Austria if Austrian Nazis were given gov’t posts
Austrian Chancellor gave into demands
Weeks later he tried to put unification with Germany to a democratic vote
In response Hitler sent troops into Austria in March= Anschluss- >unification of Austria and Germany

6. Austrian Anschluss

7. Austrian Anschluss

8. Munich Crisis and Appeasement
Shortly after annexing Austria, Hitler stated he wanted the Sudetenland, area of Czechoslovakia with large German-speaking pop.
Why was it going to be more difficult for Hitler to take the Sudetenland? (pg nd column 1st paragraph)
Czechs opposed Germany’s demands
France threaten war and U.S.S.R. promised assistance

9. Munich Conference

10. Munich Conference

11. Neville Chamberlain

12. Munich Crisis and Appeasement
To prevent war reps. from Britain, France, Italy, and Germany met at the Munich Conference
Sept. 29, 1938, Britain and France agreed to give into Hitler's demands->appeasement
Gave Germany the Sudetenland and if Czechs didn’t want to they would have to fight Germany on their own
In March of 1939, Hitler captured the rest of Czechoslovakia
Appeasement failed

14. Danzig and the Polish Corridor
After Munich Conference->Hitler focused on Poland
In Oct. of 1938, demanded Danzig->Baltic Sea port
Also wanted a railroad across the Polish Corridor >connect Germany w/ East Prussia
France and Britain stated that if Germany invaded Poland they would declare war
May 1939-> Hitler ordered German army to prepare for a Polish invasion
Also ordered his foreign minister to begin negotiations with U.S.S.R.

15. Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact
Signed on August 23, 1939, stated Germany and USSR wouldn’t go to war against each other
USSR wanted to divide capitalist nations in war
Shocked the world b/c Nazism and Communism opposed each other
Agreed to split Poland b/w themselves

16. Nonaggression Pact

17. War Begins
On Sept. 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland from the west, Soviets from the east
Sept. 3 Britain and France declared war on Germany, WWII had begun
German Blitzkrieg led to quick conquest of Poland in 26 days

19. Invasion of Poland

20. Fall of France
Germans referred to situation w/ France as the Sitzkrieg-> sitting war
Britain and France were defensive waiting for German attack
Built up concrete bunkers along the Maginot Line-> bordered Germany
Allowed for Hitler to take Poland, Norway, and Denmark
Secured northern flank
In order to avoid the Maginot Line, Hitler would have to attack through the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg

22. Fall of France
Britain and France predicted German attack through Belgium->big mistake
Germans sent their tanks and forces through the Ardennes Mountains of Luxembourg->French didn’t think this could be done
Germans smashed through French lines and proceeded to trap British and French forces in Belgium

24. Miracle at Dunkirk
Germans pushed France and Britain toward English Channel
Captured all ports but Dunkirk-> British and French Troops headed there for evacuation
Used 850 ships to evacuate estimated 338,000 troops
Was called the “Miracle at Dunkirk”
Three weeks later, on June 22, 1940, France surrendered
Hitler created puppet gov’t-> Vichy gov’t under Charles Petain

26. Miracle at Dunkirk

27. Miracle at Dunkirk

28. Britain Remains Defiant
Hitler anticipated British surrender after France fell
Winston Churchill had other plans
Read Churchill’s speech to Parliament, June 4, 1940

29. British Remain Defiant
Germany had to cross the English Channel to invade Britain
Hitler new in order to invade Britain they had to defeat the RAF (British Royal Air Force)
Battle of Britain (began in June of 1940)
RAF vs. Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe started w/ bombing British shipping
In mid-August, Luftwaffe focused on destroying RAF, by bombing strategic targets

30. Battle of Britain

31. Battle of Britain

32. Battle of Britain

33. British Remain Defiant
On Aug. 23, German bombers bombed London
Britain responded with the bombing of Berlin the following night
Enraged Hitler and he changed his focus-> wanted to terrorize British citizens into surrender->continued bombing London
British were outnumbered but had one major advantage- >radar
Showed the locations of German planes
Day after day, British inflicted more losses on the Germans
Led to Hitler calling off the invasion on Oct. 12, 1940

34. Battle of Britain

35. Battle of Britain

36. Battle of Britain

37. British Radar

38. British Radar

39. British Radar