1. Hitler’s Early Aggression
Begins to rearm in 1934
In violation of Versailles
France & England did nothing
Turns around German economy
A government jobs program like the New Deal?
Took over Austria in March of 1938
Then announced plans to take over the “Sudetenland (Western Czechoslovakia)

3. VOCABULARY Appeasement
Giving a country (or a person) what it wants and hoping that this will satisfy that country and it will not demand more.

4. The Policy of Appeasement
France and England’s approach to Hitler’s aggression
US was isolationist (totally out of Europe)
The rest of Europe was afraid to confront Hitler
Hoped he would be happy taking a little
Hitler & Chamberlain sign the “Munich Pact” (September 1938)
Gave Hitler the Sudetenland in return for a promise that he would take nothing else.

5. The Munich Pact
English Prime Minister Chamberlain said the treaty guaranteed
“peace in our time”

7. Europe in 1939

8. The Nonaggression Pact (August 22, 1939)
Hitler’s Germany and Stalin’s USSR agreed not to fight each other
Allowed Hitler to focus on Western Europe
War might not have been possible if Hitler had to fear attack by USSR
Impact on American Communists
Many strongly opposed US entry into War
Many others resigned from the Communist Party

9. The War in Europe Begins
Hitler invades Poland on Sept 1, 1939
Stalin takes Eastern Poland
“Blitzkrieg” (“Lightening war”)
German tactic to overwhelm opponent with tanks, planes, and all out attack
France and England declare war on Germany
Little fighting over next six months
Hitler takes Norway & Denmark in March, 1940

10. The Invasion of Poland

11. The Invasion of France Attack begins in May of 1940
Paris captured in June of 1940
Now England against Hitler and all of his resources
Soviets have nonaggression pact with Hitler
US remaining neutral
France divided into two
German occupied France
“Vichy France”
Technically independent, but really a German puppet

13. France after
June of 1940

14. Europe in Sept 1942

15. The Battle of Britain August – September 1940
Hitler’s attempt to bomb England to “soften” it for invasion
England not successfully invaded since 1066!!!
Mostly an attack on civilians
English anti-aircraft guns prevent invasion

20. Winston Churchill Named Prime Minister of England in May, 1940
“We shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, 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…”

21. VOCABULARY Isolationism
a government policy based on the belief that country’s interests are best served by avoiding alliances with other countries

22. US Isolationism in 1920’s & 1930’s
Had rejected League of Nations
Wanted to be “masters of own fate”
Nye Committee Findings (1929)
US had been dragged into WWI by greedy bankers and arms makers
In reality, still very connected to the world
Trade & finance
International treaties (Kellogg-Briand, etc.)

23. Reasons for American Isolationism
History of isolationism
Geography allowed US to stay out of other’s affairs
Memories of WW I
110,000 American dead
Europeans didn’t pay back loans
Europe still worse off than ever
Common belief that greedy bankers & arms makers had gotten us into the War

24. Neutrality Acts of
Laws attempting to avoid America “accidentally” being brought into War
Provisions
No transportation of any war materials
Non-military stuff sold on “cash & carry” basis
US citizens cannot travel on ships of warring countries
Relaxed when France fell in June of 1940

25. The Hitler-Stalin Nonaggression Pact
Strange because
Hitler hated Communism
Hitler hated Stalin
Hitler thought Russians inferior

27. Germany Invades Soviet Union
June 7, 1941
Turning point of the War
Germany must fight a two front war
Hitler can never fully defeat Stalin
Size of Russian population
Distance of supply lines & bad roads
weather

28. Two Major Russian Sieges
Leningrad Stalingrad
August 1942-July 1943
Death toll of over 2 million
Loss was beginning of end for Hitler
Sept Jan.1944 (almost 900 days!)
Nothing got in or out
700,000 Russians died

30. The Move from Isolationism
FDR sees need for US involvement, but must be aware of public opinion
80% oppose war by late 1941!
FDR wants repeal of Neutrality Acts
Gets only right to sell weapons “cash & carry”
US spends $1 billion on defense & has peacetime draft in 1940
Lend-Lease Act (March 1941)
Post-reelection
US to “loan” weapons to Allies (England)
Eventually to USSR after June of “41