Download U.S. History Notes #28

NO #28 Hitler's Aggression Prior To WW2
Mr. Lua U.S. History Y-12
Complete the following steps. It will be collected on the day of our next exam:
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A" (Worth 10 Points): Write down information as Mr. Lua presents it. If you are ever absent, take your own notes from the information below.
B" " (Worth 10 Points): Find the answer to the "Checkpoint" questions along the left margin. You do not have to copy the questions (just label and answer).
C" (Worth 5 Points): Select 5 Underlined concepts below and write a description of them, a definition, or create an illustration.
D” (Optional, 25 Points): Take out a second sheet of paper then copy all of the information below, as shown (word for word and in outline form).
I. World War 2—Overview
Checkpoint 1
How many people died because of
World War 2?
A) World War Two is remembered as being:
1. The deadliest war in human history—estimated 60 million deaths!
2. A war to stop aggressive "totalitarian" governments (see below for meaning) from threatening their neighbors.
3. A “Total War”—both soldiers & civilians were targeted.
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Civilians were targeted in order to disrupt enemy war production, to break morale among the population, etc.
B) Countries involved: Allied Powers vs. Axis Powers
1. Allied Powers: mainly Britain, France, Soviet Union, and eventually the United States
2. Axis Powers: mainly Germany, Italy, and Japan
Checkpoint 2
Why were the years after the First
World War perfect for the rise of
totalitarian dictators?
Checkpoint 3
Why were the German people willing
to support Adolf Hitler?
Checkpoint 4
Briefly list the major goals of Hitler’s
Nazi Party.
Checkpoint 5
Why do you think it is important for
news organizations to be
independent?
II. Totalitarian Governments Were Born In Europe Prior To WW2
A) What is a "totalitarian government?"
1. A type of government that attempts to control every aspect of public/private life--social, political, economic.
2. It is usually led by a powerful dictator.
B) The 1920’s & 1930’s (prior to WW2) offered perfect conditions for totalitarian governments to arise:
1. Many European countries suffered through their own “Great Depressions”
2. Bad economic conditions increased the willingness of ordinary Europeans to accept totalitarian governments,
as long as such governments promised a better economy, security, stability, or relief from their daily misery.
III. The Rise Of Adolf Hitler
A) Why did the German people support him?
1. He was a charismatic, captivating public speaker that was highly persuasive.
2. He offered a solid 2-part solution for creating jobs to end Germany’s Great Depression
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“Rearmament” (building up military weapons/supplies)
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Public works projects (massive spending on the building of freeways, bridges, etc)
3. Convinced many that the goals of his Nazi Party were important for Germany’s economic hardships.
B) Major Goals of Hitler’s Nazi Party
1. Goal #1: Ignore the Treaty of Versailles (Germany's punishment after World War One)
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Hitler believed it to be unfair and the main reason why Germany's economic depression was so severe
2. Goal #2: Unite all Germans of Europe into a Third Reich (great empire to last 1000 years).
3. Goal #3: Establish lebensraum (national expansion)
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seize nearby land to provide a source for more natural resources AND also for German settlement.
4. Goal #4: Purify society of “inferior" races, or reduce them to 2nd class citizens status
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Hitler preached that mankind is divided into 2 groups: Aryans (German master race) & non-Aryans
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He blamed non-Aryans (Jews, Slavs, etc) for having a negative influence on German society/culture
 Communists, homosexuals, etc. were also viewed as harmful to German society/culture.
C) How did Hitler increase his power over the German people through totalitarian actions? He took on title of Fuhrer
(absolute leader) and gained unlimited power. The following are the most notable actions:
1. Minimized political opposition
2.
3.
4.
5.
Checkpoint 6
What was the overall goal of the
Nuremberg Laws?
6.
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A secret police force known as the “S.S.” were used to arrest, exile, or execute people that challenged his decisions.
Censored Information
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All methods of communication were taken over (radio airwaves, book publishing, etc) and monitored
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“Ministry of Propaganda” was created to glorify Hitler and judge information before it reached ordinary people
Controlled education system
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Education was used to brainwash and indoctrinate students (textbooks were rewritten to emphasize race).
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Boys & girls 10-18 were sent to “Hitler Youth” camps
Offered a solution for ending Germany's Great Depression (read above)
Minimized religious dissent
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Religious worship was tolerated as long as it did not conflict with Nazi Party goals.
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“Uncooperative” Christians were sent to concentration camps.
Persecution of Jews
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Prior to WW2, the Nuremberg Laws were used to make Jews "2nd class" citizens. These laws:
 Took away their citizenship, began a system of segregation on public transportation
 Prevented them from obtaining government jobs, marrying Germans, or acquiring wealth.
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During WW2, Hitler's “Final Solution” was put into effect:
 A plan to systematically exterminate all European Jews through gas chambers, concentration camps, etc.
 Became known as “The Holocaust” & ultimately killed 6 million Jews.
IV. Hitler's Aggressive Actions Led To The Outbreak Of War
Checkpoint 7
Summarize the Policy Of
Appeasement.
Checkpoint 8
How did Hitler expect to benefit from
the Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact?
Checkpoint 9
What event sparked the outbreak of
World War 2?
A) Hitler violated the Treaty of Versailles (which ended WWI in 1919 and was aimed at punishing Germany) with the following:
B) Aggressive Action #1: Hitler's Rearmament Plan strengthened the military.
1. German soldiers were increased to 500,000 by 1935, although the Treaty only allowed for 100,000.
2. The Treaty declared the Rhineland (50 mile region between France & Germany) to be a "demilitarized zone"
(no military units allowed).
C) Aggressive Action #2: Hitler occupied the Rhineland
1. In 1936, he brazenly sent 36,000 troops to occupy the Rhineland, which was meant to be a buffer zone nonmilitarized region.
D) Aggressive Action #3: Hitler annexed Austria
1. March 1938, troops were sent to take over nearby Austria in order to unite the 3million German
speakers that lived there.
E) Aggressive Action #4 Hitler annexed nearby Sudetenland in 1938
1. This action led other European countries to organize the 1938 Munich Conference
 A meeting between Britain, France, & Germany to negotiate a settlement with Hitler
 A "Policy of Appeasement" was implemented: allow Hitler to seize the Sudetenland in exchange
for his written promise to end future military aggressiveness. Hitler agreed.
F) Aggressive Action #5: Hitler broke Munich Conference agreement
1. In 1939 Germany conquered nearby Czechoslovakia!
G) Aggressive Action #6: Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact of 1939
2. Germany and the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R) shocked the world with a military agreement in which
both countries:
 pledged not to attack each other for at least 10 years.
 agreed to conquer, then share Poland
3. Why did Hitler desire this agreement?
 He anticipated that Britain & France would come to Poland's aid.
 Peace with eastern Soviets would allow him to devote all military efforts in a westward direction
against Britain /France.
 Privately, Hitler intended to break the agreement in the future & surprise attack the Soviets (but
only after the British/French were defeated). He eventually did this two years after the
agreement was signed.
H) Aggressive Action #7: Hitler Invaded Poland In 1939
1. About Poland:
 It is located in between Germany & the Soviet Union.
 It had a democratic government with close diplomatic ties to Britain, France, & the United
States.
2. World War 2 began immediately after Hitler invaded Poland.
 France & Britain immediately declared war on Germany
 Hitler conquered Poland in 4 weeks!
V. Germany's Overwhelming Success In Early Years Of WW2
Checkpoint 10
List 2 reasons why Hitler failed to
conquer the British Islands.
A) Success #1: Denmark & Norway (in Northern Europe) were conquered shortly after outbreak of war
B) Success #2: France was conquered in only 6 weeks!
1. This was a major blow to the Allies, especially since it allowed Germany to devote more military
effort to conquering the British Island.
C) Hitler failed to conquer the islands of Great Britain, during Battle of Britain
1.
He ordered massive aerial bombings of major British cities (to target civilians, strategic buildings, etc)
2.
However, he never had a chance to invade the shores of Britain because:
 The English Channel (ocean separating England from Germany) had to be crossed
 Britain’s use of radar allowed its air force to predict incoming German planes/bombers.
 Britain lost only 900 planes in defending its island; the Germans lost 2,300 during the
assaults!
 Unity of ordinary British citizens proved unbreakable--they never gave up despite massive
German bombings.