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Section 2
The German Path to War
A. Adolf Hitler believed that
Germany could build a great
civilization.
I.
He needed more land for the
German people.
Hitler wanted land to the east in
Soviet Union.
Visual Source
Hitler’s Aggressions
The title is: "80 million Germans live
on 580,000 square kilometers."
The point is that Germany is
overcrowded, and needs more
territory.
B.
In March 1935, Hitler created a new
air force and began a military draft.
These actions were indirect
disagreement with the terms of the
Treaty of Versailles.
France, Great Britain, and Italy
condemned Hitler’s moves.
C.
In March 1936, Hitler sent
troops into the Rhineland.
German
soldiers
were not
suppose
to be in this
area, but
Great Britain
did nothing.
D.
In 1936, Adolf Hitler (Germany) and
Benito Mussolini (Italy) became
allies forming the Rome-Berlin Axis.
Germany also signed the
Anti-Comintern Pact with
Japan forming an alliance
against communism.
Hitler’s Aggressions
Rome-Berlin Axis 1936
Axis Powers
Anti-Comintern Pact
pledged to stop the spread of
communism
E.
In 1938, Hitler had gotten Austria to
come under German rule by force
(meaning annexed.)
The Treaty of Versailles had
forbidden
any union
between
Germany
and Austria.
Hitler’s Aggressions
Addition of Austria
increased Germany’s
population, territory,
and resources.
Germany now
controlled the heart
of Europe!
Reichstag Ovation 1938
F.
In 1938, Hitler demanded the
Sudetenland in northwestern
Czechoslovakia be given to
Germany.
At the Munich conference,
Britain and France gave in to
Hitler’s
demands and allowed
Germany to
take the Sudetenland.
Hitler’s Aggressions
Why was Hitler so eager
to take Czechoslovakia?
Czechoslovakia was an industrial
power – It was the Military Weapons
Capital of Europe!
The Czechs had major raw mineral
deposits.
Location, location, location!
Hitler’s Aggressions
Munich
Conference
Neville
Chamberlain,
Prime
Minister
of Great
Britain
29 Sept 1938
Hitler invited GB & France
to discuss the Sudetenland
situation.
appeasement
Appeasement was based on
the belief that if European
countries satisfied
reasonable demands of
dissatisfied states, the
dissatisfied states would be
content and peace would be
preserved.
G.
At the Munich conference,
Hitler promised that he would
not make any other demands.
But, by March 1939 Hitler had
conquered the remaining
portion of Czechoslovakia.
Hitler then demanded Poland.
Hitler’s Aggressions
Preparing for WAR
•Britain
& France could no longer ignore Hitler
•Britain begins to rearm and pushes through
conscription
•GB joins France in a promise to protect Poland
if Germany attacks
•Asked USSR to join them but talks dragged
with no agreement
J.
France and Great Britain began to react.
Great Britain said it would
protect Poland if Hitler invaded.
France and Britain began talks with
Joseph Stalin, the Soviet dictator.
They needed help from the Soviet Union to
contain Germany.
K.
Hitler was afraid of an
alliance between the West
and the Soviet Union.
In August 1939, Germany and
Soviet Union signed the
Nonaggression Pact
promising not to attack each other.
Hitler offered Stalin eastern
Poland and the Baltic States
in return for signing the pact.
Political Cartoon
Hitler’s Aggressions
L.
On September 1, 1939,
Germany invaded Poland
without fear of an attack by
the Soviet Union.
September 3, 1939, Great
Britain and France declared
war on Germany.