Chapter 16 Section 2 War In Europe Main Idea: Using the sudden mass attack called blitzkrieg, Germany invaded and quickly conquered many European countries.

Austria and Czechoslovakia Fall Nov 5, 1937 Hitler met w/ military advisors Nov 5, 1937 Hitler met w/ military advisors Declared that to grow and prosper Germany needed the land of the neighbors Declared that to grow and prosper Germany needed the land of the neighbors Hitler ’ s 1 st target =Austria Hitler ’ s 1 st target =Austria March 12, 1938 German troops marched into Austria unopposed March 12, 1938 German troops marched into Austria unopposed Hitler ’ s 2 nd target Czechoslovakia Hitler ’ s 2 nd target Czechoslovakia

Bargaining for the Sudetenland Hitler said the Czechs were abusing the Sudeten Germans Hitler said the Czechs were abusing the Sudeten Germans Great Britain and France promised to protect Czechoslovakia Great Britain and France promised to protect Czechoslovakia Hitler met with French premier Edouard Daladier and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain Hitler met with French premier Edouard Daladier and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain He stated that this would be his “ last territorial demand ” He stated that this would be his “ last territorial demand ” To avoid war they believed him and signed the Munich Agreement To avoid war they believed him and signed the Munich Agreement

Munich Agreement To avoid war France and Britain believed Hitler and signed the Munich Agreement To avoid war France and Britain believed Hitler and signed the Munich Agreement This turned the Sudetenland over to Germany This turned the Sudetenland over to Germany Winston Churchill said that Britain and France adopted the policy of: Winston Churchill said that Britain and France adopted the policy of: Appeasement-giving up principles to pacify an aggressor Appeasement-giving up principles to pacify an aggressor

The German Offensive Begins After Hitler conquered Czechoslovakia he turned to Germany ’ s eastern neighbor POLAND After Hitler conquered Czechoslovakia he turned to Germany ’ s eastern neighbor POLAND An attack on Poland would An attack on Poland would Bring Germany in conflict w/ the Soviet Union Bring Germany in conflict w/ the Soviet Union Provoke declaration of war from Britain and France (promised military aid to Poland) Provoke declaration of war from Britain and France (promised military aid to Poland) Result would be fighting a 2 front war Result would be fighting a 2 front war

Nonaggression Pact Stalin surprised everyone by signing a nonaggression pact with Hitler Stalin surprised everyone by signing a nonaggression pact with Hitler Fascist Germany and Communist Russia committed to never attack each other Fascist Germany and Communist Russia committed to never attack each other Also signed a secret pact to split up Poland Also signed a secret pact to split up Poland

BLITZKRIEG IN POLAND Blitzkrieg (lightning war)- Germany ’ s new military strategy Blitzkrieg (lightning war)- Germany ’ s new military strategy Air force rained bombs over military bases, airfields, railroads and cities Air force rained bombs over military bases, airfields, railroads and cities Made use of tanks and powerful aircraft Made use of tanks and powerful aircraft September 3 (2 days after invasion) Britain and France declared war on Germany September 3 (2 days after invasion) Britain and France declared war on Germany WWII had officially begun! WWII had officially begun!

THE PHONY WAR After the fall of Poland French and British troops held the Maginot Line (along France ’ s eastern border) After the fall of Poland French and British troops held the Maginot Line (along France ’ s eastern border) Hitler sent Generals through the Ardennes (region of wooded area) in northwest France Hitler sent Generals through the Ardennes (region of wooded area) in northwest France Italy entered the war on the side of the Germany and defeated France Italy entered the war on the side of the Germany and defeated France

The Battle of Britain Summer of 1940 Summer of 1940 Germany could not compete with Britain ’ s navy Germany could not compete with Britain ’ s navy Germany launched an air war over Britain Germany launched an air war over Britain On a single day (August 15 th ) about 2,000 German planes attacked Britain On a single day (August 15 th ) about 2,000 German planes attacked Britain Every night for 2 months bombers pounded London Every night for 2 months bombers pounded London

RAF (Britain ’ s Royal Air Force) RAF fought back against Germans RAF fought back against Germans Used radar to detect and plot the flight paths of German planes Used radar to detect and plot the flight paths of German planes RAF shot down over 185 German planes RAF shot down over 185 German planes Hitler called off the attack indefinitely Hitler called off the attack indefinitely