Download Beginning of World War II Immediate Causes of WW

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Beginning of World War II
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Immediate Causes of WW II
 In Germany Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933 as a fascist dictator.
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 Hitler Hated the Treaty of Versailles and violated it. First he built up the German military.
Then he sent troops into the Rhineland. This was a direct violation of the Treaty of
Versailles, which said in 1919 that Rhineland was a demilitarized zone.
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Immediate Causes of WW II
 Hitler wanted to conquer whoever he felt was inferior to the Germans or Aryans. He
wanted “living space” for the Germans in Eastern Europe.
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 On September 1, 1939 Germany invaded Poland without a declaration of war. This starts
World War II.
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Immediate Causes of WW II
 Britain and France declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939.
 Italy declared war on France and Britain on June 10, 1940.
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“Blitzkrieg”
 In German blitzkrieg means “lightning war”.
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 Hitler used blitzkrieg during his invasion of Poland.
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 Blitzkrieg included surprise attacks, rapid advances into enemy territory, and massive air
attacks that struck and shocked the enemy.
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 Germany achieved most of its victories in World War II with the Blitzkrieg tactic.
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“Phony War”
 Britain sent troops to wait with the French down behind the Maginot Line.
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 Reporters called this quiet time of not much action the “phony war”
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Maginot Line
 The Maginot Line was a defensive for France against an invasion of Germany.
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 The Maginot Line was established after World War I.
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 The line showed to be little use in 1940 when Germany invaded France for the third time.
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Early Axis Triumphs
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 In April 1940 the quiet time of the war exploded into action.
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 Hitler launched a series of blitzkrieg.
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 Norway and Denmark both fell.
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 Germany had overrun the Netherlands and Belgium.
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 Germany along with Italy forced France to surrender.
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World War II in 1939/1942
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Hitler’s Major Blunder
 The Germans invaded France in May 1940.
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 Retreating Allied forces made it to Dunkirk and found themselves trapped between the
advancing Nazis and the English Channel. The British sent every boat they could get
across the English Channel to pick up troops off the beaches of Dunkirk.
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Miracle at Dunkirk
 The event at Dunkirk is called a miracle because the retreating allies had lost hope and
then the British pulled through for them and rescued 338,000 men.
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June 22, 1940
 On June 22, 1940 France signs an armistice with Germany in occupied France.
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 An armistice is a cease fire or a truce.
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 The Franco-German Armistice divided France into two zones. One zone was under
German military occupation and the other was under French control.
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 In 1942 Germans occupied all of France
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June 22, 1940
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Questions
 What was the immediate cause of World War II?
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 Describe the German concept of the “blitzkrieg”.
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 Where were the early Axis triumphs, and what was the “phony war”?
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 What was the miracle at Dunkirk?
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 What was the significance of June 22, 1940?
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Hitler in France
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Battle of Britain
 After France fell, Britain stood alone in Europe
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 British Prime Minister Winston Churchill rallied the people as Germany bombed Britain
 Hitler never gets Britain, this was of great importance to the allied war effort.
 WHY?
 Britain gave the Allies a place to launch an offensive against Hitler
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Scenes from “The Battle of Britain”
Germany’s massive bombardment of Britain
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FDR and American Policy
 FDR tried to help the allies
 Asked for repeal of Neutrality laws, isolationists in Congress blocked the move
 Congress agrees to a cash and carry plan
Allies could pay cash for arms and goods and carry them home in their own ships
 The threat of war convinces FDR to run for a third term
FDR wins re-election (“Don’t change horses in midstream”)
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U.S.A. as the “Arsenal of Democracy”
 FDR asked Congress to pass the Lend-Lease act
 The US sent war equipment to any country whose defense was vital to the US
 FDR and Churchill formed the Atlantic Charter
 Pledged to support the right of all people to choose their own form of government
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The US enters the War!
 Japan’s war in Asia continued at a brutal pace
 The US tried to stop Japan’s aggression by refusing to sell oil and metal to Japan
 An angry Japan launched a surprise attack on the US
 On Sunday, December 7, 1941 Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
 2400 Americans killed, and the US Pacific fleet destroyed
 FDR asked Congress for a declaration of war against Japan
 Italy and Germany declared war on the US
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Conclusion:
 What were the primary causes of WWII?
 Anger over Treaty of Versailles (Italy & Germany)
 Aggression by Germany, Italy, and Japan
 Failure of world powers US, BR, FR, League of Nations to stand up to aggression
 The failure of the policy of appeasement
 The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
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