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5.1: The Road to World War II
Rearmament
Upon taking power, Hitler promised to
make Germany a world power and
restore her previous military strength.
In
the
mid-30s
he
began
a
rearmament program that introduced
conscription and began constructing an
air force, tanks, a navy, and military
tactics. This reduced unemployment in
Germany from 6 million in 1931 to just
over 1 million by 1937
Rhineland
Prior to WWI & Versailles it belonged
to Germany but following WW1 it
became a demilitarized zone (DMZ)
under League of Nation control &
occupied by allied troops. It was to
serve as a buffer zone between France
& Germany. Germany had political
control of this area, but was not
allowed to put any troops into it. Hitler
was determined to get it back & on
March 7, 1936 he peacefully invaded
it. France and Britain were in no mood
for war so they stood by and watched
this happen. Hitler concluded that he
could turn to deal with Eastern Europe
without any military response from the
west
area was valuable to the Czechs for it
contained valuable resources & heavy
industry. In addition, it was a vital
defensive
zone
with
border
fortifications facing Germany’s eastern
border. The Czechs wanted to resist a
German invasion but Britain & France
would not support them. The Munich
Agreement was signed that allowed
Germany to have the Sudetenland.
Czechoslovakia (March 1939)
With control of the Sudetenland, Hitler
next conquered the remainder of
Czechoslovakia in March 1939. Hitler
broke the Munich Agreement and
Britain and France declared not to
stand idle in the event of future
aggression by Hitler in Europe.
Nazi-Soviet Pact (August 1939)
This agreement shocked the world
when it was made public. It included:
Austria (March 1938)
a). a promise by countries not to
attack each other in the event of war
within 10 years. Germany would
exchange manufactured goods for
Soviet raw materials
b). Secretly agreed to divide eastern
Europe into Soviet and German
spheres of interest
Hitler wanted all Germans living within
new German state which he called the
Reich. He wanted to include Austria in
his new empire and hoped to achieve
this through Anschluss (Union). Hitler
argued that many Germans lived in
Austria so it should be part of
Germany. Britain & France did
nothing…..didn’t want to risk another
war.
This agreement cleared the way for a
German attack against Poland. The
German eastern border was now
secure from a Soviet attack so plans
for war against the west could occur (1
front war unlike WW1). Stalin could
take time to rebuild military forces &
take over the Baltic countries as a
buffer in case of a future German
attack.
Sudetenland (Sept 1938
Poland Invaded (Sept 1, 1939)
Hitler’s next move was in NW
Czechoslovakia
where
3
million
German speaking people resided. This
World War II begins with this attack.
Britain and France declare war on
Germany on Sept 3.
CH1201
March 2014
5.1: The Road to World War II
Complete these questions using the 5.1 Road to World War II powerpoint
1. In his 1924 book ‘Mein Kampf’, what were three main aims outlined by Hitler?

______________________________ the Treaty of Versailles.

Create a Greater Germany (a country of all the German people).

_______________________________ (living space) to conquer land
for Germany in Eastern Europe.
2. What forms of weaponry were involved in the armaments program launched by
Hitler in the mid 1930s? ________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
3. What was blitzkrieg and how would revolutionize warfare?___________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
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4. What did Hitler introduce a policy of territorial expansion in the late 1930s?
His goal was to expand Germany’s borders & reacquire territory that had
been stripped from Germany following the First World War
5. Why didn’t Britain and France stop Hitler when he invaded the Rhineland in March
1936?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
6. What was Hitler’s reasoning for uniting Austria and Germany in March 1938?
Hitler argued that many Germans lived in Austria so it should be part of
Germany.
7. In what European country was the Sudetenland located?____________________
8. What was the Sudetenland important for Czechoslovakia?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
CH1201
March 2014
5.1: The Road to World War II
9. What was the Munich Agreement?
The leaders of ________________ & _______________ met with Hitler in Munich &
decided to give Germany the ____________________ in return for Hitler’s promise
to not make any further territorial demands in Europe
Appeasement references the policy adopted by Britain and France during the 1930s
in order to deal with the aggressive actions of Adolph Hitler
10. What were the main reasons appeasement was adopted by the British and
French during this time period?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
11. The appeasement policy ultimately failed when Hitler conquered the remainder of
Czechoslovakia in March 1939. How did Britain and France react to Hitler’s takeover
of this country?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
12. When was the Nazi-Soviet pact formed? ___________________________
13. What argument did Hitler use to justify his invasion of Poland?
Hitler demanded ___________________________be handed back to Germany.
When Poland refused Germany invaded using “Blitzkrieg” on Sept 1 st, 1939
14. How did Britain and France respond to the German invasion of Poland on
September 1st, 1939?__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
CH1201
March 2014
5.1: The Road to World War II
Section Review
Using your historical knowledge and this Road to War handout, find the date for each
of the following events and then create a timeline by arranging them in chronological
order.
 Czechoslovakia is conquered by Hitler
 The Invasion of Poland
 The Nazi-Soviet Pact
 Anschluss with Austria
 Hitler became Chancellor of Germany
 Munich Agreement (Sudetenland given to Germany)
 German troops enter the Rhineland
CH1201
March 2014