1. Chapter 23 Section 2 World War II Erupts Riddlebarger
Europe Erupts In War
Chapter 23
Section 2
World War II Erupts
Riddlebarger

2. 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?

5. 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

6. Hitler’s Early Moves March 1939- Takes Czechoslovakia without a fight.
Chamberlain realizes his error.
Hitler makes an alliance with Italy & Mussolini
Wikipedia images

7. Soviet-Nazi Agreement
Aug Signs non-aggression pact with Soviet Union.
Shocks other European nations who hoped Stalin would stand with them against Hitler

8. Europe on the eve of World War II, 1939

9. Hitler Attacks Poland
Within days of Nazi/Soviet pact, Hitler launches invasion of neighboring Poland
Soviets invade from east

10. 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.

11. Poland after German/USSR invasion
wiki

12. German Forces Turn West
Sep 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”

13. France Falls Strike towards France begins in May 1940
1st: wiki
2nd:
Strike towards France begins in May 1940
Follows Germans taking Netherlands & Belgium
Bypass Maginot Line

14. German invasion of France
Surprise attack through Ardennes forest in Belgium.
Once Germans break through, they easily overwhelm French.

15. 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

17. Battle of Britain
Now Britain stands alone against apparent unstoppable German machine.
Winston Churchill now leads Britain-
Inspires courage and confidence.

18. 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.

19. 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.”

20. 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

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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)