Global Struggles 1941 – 1960 Unit 7

A World in Flames World War II Begins Chapter 20 Section 2

Path to War Hitler began to defy the Treaty of Versailles – Announced Germany would build an air force and begin a military draft European officials tried to negotiate with Hitler – Wanted to avoid a bloodshed – Thought most of Hitler’s demands were reasonable – People ASSUMED the Nazi’s would be interested in peace once they gained their territory

Path to War The Austrian Anschluss – Unification of Austria and Germany – Hitler threatened to invade Austria unless the Nazis were given important government positions

Path to War The Munich Crisis – Hitler announced claims to the Sudetenland – part of Czechoslovakia – France threatened to attack Germany if Germany invaded the Sudetenland – Munich Conference Appeasement – Britain and France agreed to Hitler’s demands about the Sudetenland – Czechoslovakia was divided into two parts Slovakia became an independent nation Czech lands became a German protectorate

Path to War Hitler Demands Danzig – Danzig was a part of Poland since WWI but it was 90% German people – Britain announced that if Poland went to war to defend itself Britain and France would come to Poland’s side – Germany prepared to invade Poland and sent its foreign minister to USSR to negotiate

Path to War The Nazi- Soviet Pact – German officials presented a nonaggression treaty to the USSR – Stalin agreed to the treaty – The treaty shocked the world – Communists and Nazi’s together??? – The pact included a secret deal Divide Poland between Germany and the Soviet Union

The War Begins September 1, 1939 Germany Invades Poland September 3, 1939 Great Britain and France declared war on Germany Blitzkrieg – “lightning war” – Use large numbers of massed tanks to break through lines and encircle the enemy – After the tanks, waves of aircraft bombed enemy positions and dropped paratroopers to cut supply lines

The War Begins The Fall of France – Maginot Line Line along the German border made of concrete bunkers French soldiers would wait behind the line for the Germans to attack – Hitler went around the line not through the line and invaded the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxemburg – British and French troops rushed towards Belgium – Germany sent troops through the Ardennes Mountains and captured France

The War Begins The Miracle at Dunkirk – The Allied troops (Britain and France) were trapped in Belgium and the Germans began forcing them to Dunkirk – Hitler suddenly ordered his men to stop the attack Provided a three day delay Passenger ships loaded the British and the French soldiers and allowed them to escape – Germany now occupied much of northern France – Germany installed a puppet government in France

Winston Churchill – Prime Minister of Great Britain – Gave a speech to Parliament saying that Britain would never give up and surrender Hitler ordered his troops to attack Britain – Germany decided to attack the British Royal Air Force Britain Remains Defiant

Battle of Britain – German Air Force (Luftwaffe) began attacking British ships in the English Channel – Luftwaffe began attacking with an all out air battle on the RAF – In the beginning the battle only involved the army but Germany made a mistake German bombers accidently bombed London Britain responded by bombing Berlin Hitler ordered all attacks on military equipment to be stopped and concentrate on bombing London

Battle of Britain – Britain had a major advantage Radar – Finally Hitler canceled his invasion of Britain Britain Remains Defiant