Chapter 23 Section 2 World War II Erupts Riddlebarger Europe Erupts In War Chapter 23 Section 2 World War II Erupts Riddlebarger
Focus: How did Germany’s actions in 1939 trigger the start of war? Where did German forces turn after overrunning Poland in 1939? What developments increased tensions between the U.S. and Japan?
World War II Starts British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain believed his policy of appeasement had prevented the outbreak of a needless war Giving in to aggressive demands to maintain peace. Others believe Hitler will break promises and not stop (Churchill) Wikipedia images
Hitler’s Early Moves March 1939- Takes Czechoslovakia without a fight. Chamberlain realizes his error. Hitler makes an alliance with Italy & Mussolini Wikipedia images
Soviet-Nazi Agreement Aug. 1939- Signs non-aggression pact with Soviet Union. Shocks other European nations who hoped Stalin would stand with them against Hitler
Europe on the eve of World War II, 1939 http://www.wwnorton.com/college/history/ralph/resource/wwii.htm
Hitler Attacks Poland Within days of Nazi/Soviet pact, Hitler launches invasion of neighboring Poland Soviets invade from east
Blitzkrieg Blitzkrieg (lightning war) used to devastating effect in Poland Overwhelming combination of air attack and fast-moving armored airstrikes to drive deep into enemy territory.
Poland after German/USSR invasion wiki
German Forces Turn West Sep. 1939- British & French declare war on Germany Become known as the Allies Allies decide not to attack Germany Lull in fighting lasts until Spring of 1940 Sitzkrieg or “phony war”
France Falls Strike towards France begins in May 1940 1st: wiki 2nd: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.nuspel.org/maginot.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.nuspel.org/rem4.html&start=15&h=292&w=451&sz=151&tbnid=kY2SmSL793rXlM:&tbnh=82&tbnw=127&hl=en&prev=/images%3Fq%3DMaginot%2BLine%26gbv%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG&usg=__ViXyRSxHUSMemQQoYXdRw64zwyc= Strike towards France begins in May 1940 Follows Germans taking Netherlands & Belgium Bypass Maginot Line
German invasion of France Surprise attack through Ardennes forest in Belgium. Once Germans break through, they easily overwhelm French.
Germans capture Paris Hitler’s troops race to Paris. By end of June 1940, French surrender to Germans & Italians. Now occupy much of France Some French leaders flee to carry out fight from abroad
Battle of Britain Now Britain stands alone against apparent unstoppable German machine. Winston Churchill now leads Britain- Inspires courage and confidence. http://brainwaves.corante.com/M93~Never-Give-Up-Winston-Churchill-Posters.jpg
Battle of Britain continued German plan: Stage 1: destroy British RAF Germans fail for 1st time in war 1st use of radar helps save British Luftwaffe then focus on bombing London (Blitz) Hope to cause terror among public- force them to lose will to fight. Thousands of civilians die in bomb raids.
Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war…Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, “This was their finest hour.”
Germans Fail By late 1940, Battle of Britain is over 8 months of bombings fail to defeat British British stop luftwaffe Hitler forced to call off invasion. “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” -Winston Churchill
Tensions in East Asia Japanese nationalists expand influence in 1930’s Growing view of imperial power. 1937- began war with China Massacre in Nanking results in nearly 300,000 massacred.
Axis Alliance 1940- Japan forms a military alliance with Italy & Germany Axis Powers 1941- Take French Indochina Japanese seek oil & other natural resources Threatens British & French interests in region.
US Reaction FDR takes steps to punish Japan & deny it access to oil supplies. US & Japanese officials meet- no compromise reached. Gen. Hideki Tojo takes control of country (late 1941)