3. Europe Goes to War Again and Japan Builds an Empire

4. Who’s Involved? The Allies The Axis Powers Soviet Union (Russia)
Lead by Joseph Stalin
Great Britain
Lead by Winston Churchill
France
Lead by Charles de Gaulle
Germany
Lead by Adolf Hitler
Italy
Lead by Benito Mussolini
Japan
Lead by Gen. Hideki Tojo

5. VS

6. Germany’s Aggression Rhineland Austria Sudetenland
What places had Germany already taken over?
Rhineland
Austria
Sudetenland

7. Germany’s Continued Aggression
Only six months after taking the Sudetenland:
Hitler took over Czechoslovakia
At the same time, Italy had taken over:
Albania and Greece

8. Czechoslovakia
Albania and Greece

9. Invasion of Poland
The invasion of Czechoslovakia ended hopes of working peacefully with Hitler.
Britain and France ended their policy of appeasement and prepared for war.
What is appeasement?
Britain and France pledged to support Poland in the event of further German aggression
Hitler did not believe their warning.
Why should he?

10. Poland

11. Pact with Stalin Hitler’s army could not fight a war on two fronts.
He wanted to be able to fight Britain and France but not have to worry about an attack from the Soviet Union
Hitler and Stalin sign a 10 year Nonaggression Pact – prevents the Soviets from attacking Germany
Shortly after signing the pact, Germany invades Poland
As a result of Germany invading Poland, Britain and France declare war, beginning WWII.

12. Lightning War
Britain and France were evenly matched with Germany in terms of military
Germany had a slight edge due to the military tactic known as blitzkrieg, or lightning war
Utilized fast, concentrated air and land attacks that took the enemy’s army by surprise
Allowed Germany to overrun Poland in less than a month

13. France falls
After a period of not much fighting, Hitler turned his sights capturing France.
German troops captured Paris in less than 12 days
With France falling, Hitler’s new goal was capturing Britain

14. Britain is on its own
Germany uses the Luftwaffe to constantly attack Britain
As many as 1,000 per day
Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) was greatly outnumbered, but courageously fought off the Germans, saving Britain

15. Winston Churchill Famous Quotes
“We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!”
“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few” –Following the RAF saving Britain

16. Japan Builds an Empire
Due to rapid population growth, Japan needed more land to support its people
Begins by occupying Manchuria, in northern China
Begin attacking other cities in China, killing men, women, and children
President Roosevelt harshly criticizes Japan for attacks on China
British and Soviets send war supplies to Chinese to help fend off Japanese
Japan quickly expands elsewhere throughout the Pacific

18. Summary
With your partner, write a letter to an absent student explaining important information. This should be about 5-6 sentences. Be prepared to share with the class.