The Path to War

Kellogg Briand Pact 1928 – “General Treaty for the Renunciation of War” International Repudiates War Remains a binding treaty What does this treaty reflect?

8 Steps to War: SCRAMCUP Saar Valley Conscription & Rearmament Rhineland Anchluss Munich Czechoslovakia USSR/Nazi Pact (Non-Agression Pact) Poland

8 Steps to War (SCRAMCUP) SAAR PLEBISCITE Saar Valley controlled by League of Nations 1935 – Plebiscite Propaganda opportunity for Hitler Results? After plebiscite: Hitler said no more demands (from France) First step to war. S Saar Plebiscite

8 Steps to War (SCRAMCUP) CONSCRIPTION & REARMAMENT 1935 – Hitler reintroduced conscription Violation of Treaty Britain & France react by… C Conscription

8 Steps to War (SCRAMCUP) RHINELAND Treaty banned… Germany remilitarizes Rhineland France & Britain’s reaction… R Rhineland

8 Steps to War (SCRAMCUP) ANSCHLUSS (AUSTRIA) Anschluss = ‘Link Up’ Initially Hitler wants union Then… Invasion March 1938 Violates treaty France & Britain… A Anschluss

8 Steps to War (SCRAMCUP) MUNICH CONFERENCE Hitler demanded Sudetenland Sudetenland = borders of Czechoslovakia, mainly inhabited by ethnic Germans 1938 First: Hitler demands union w/ Germany Second: Hitler plans invasion. M Munich Conference

MUNICH CONFERENCE WHO?  Adolf Hitler  Benito Mussolini  Neville Chamberlin (PM of Great Britain)  Eduoard Daladier (PM of France At Munich Conference Lebensraum (‘living space’) – Hitler demands Sudetenland Munich Pact Permits Nazi German annexation of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland. Hitler promised to go no further – no further territorial expansion. Legacy Appeasement!!!!

8 Steps to War (SCRAMCUP) CZECHOSLOVAKIA 1939 – Germany invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia. Britain outraged Begin to realize that war was only method to stop Hitler. C Czechoslovakia

8 Steps to War (SCRAMCUP) USSR/NAZI PACT (Nazi Soviet Non-Aggression Pact) By ’39 Hitler wants to invade Poland Fears repercussions August 1939 – Germans & Russia agree not to fight. Hitler wanted to prevent war with Russia, Great Britain & France U USSR/Nazi Pact

8 Steps to War (SCRAMCUP) POLAND Polish Corridor & Danzig 1939 – First –Demanded union with Danzig Second - Hitler threatened war. Chamberlain promised to protect Poles from German invasion September 1, 1939 :: Hitler invaded Poland. Great Britain & France declare war on Germany. P Poland

Phony War After the invasion of Poland until the Battle of France in May 1940 Lack of major military operations Declarations of war but no major attacks

US Responds to Hitler Neutrality Acts 1935 embargo on arms trade 1937 Cash & Carry: Quarantine Speech: "quarantining" all aggressors. “Moral embargo" on exports of aircraft to Japan = Roosevelt  Neutrality was ‘passive aid’ …but US remains neutral

End of U.S. Neutrality: Europe Lend-Lease Act – March US neutrality ends U.S. to lend or give war materials to allied nations. German Submarine attacks = Shoot on Sight policy

End of U.S. Neutrality: Europe The Atlantic Conference (August ’41) Meeting: US (Roosevelt) & Great Britain (Winston Churchill) Atlantic Charter: Blueprint for post-war world. Outlines the goal for the Allies Goals/Desires for Allied Powers 1. No territorial gain from war 2. Self-determination of peoples 3. Live without want 4. General world security

End of U.S. Neutrality: Asia Japan lacked natural resources To get resources = challenge European colonies Eyed Dutch East Indies August 1941: US oil embargo US had supplied 80% of Japanese oil imports Leads to Pearl Harbor attack

End of U.S. Neutrality: Asia December 7 th, Empire of Japan attacked the US Admiral Yamamoto: Planned attack Americans had 96 vessels at P.H. The attack took place in two waves Began at 7:53, concluded by 9:55 Attack successful – Cripples US fleet

War! December 8 th, US declares war on Japan December 11 th, 1941 – Germany & Italy declare war on US U.S. responded with a declaration of war