2. March 1936
Hitler militarizes
Rhineland, the
demilitarized buffer
zone bordering
both France and
Germany
3. March 1938 – Hitler
annexes Austria
(Anschluss)
Anschluss = Union
(Germany & Austria)
quot;Do you agree with the reunification of Austria with the
German Empire that was enacted on 13 March 1938, and
do you vote for the party of our leader Adolf Hitler?quot;
4. September 1938 –
Hitler demanded
Sudetenland (a
mostly German area
in Czechoslovakia) be
given to Germany.
He says that’s all he
wants… No more
expansion… Honest.
5. Germany has violated the terms of the
Versailles agreement by building up
Germany’s military and expanding its
territory.
Is anyone concerned about this?
6. Munich Conference - September 29, 1938
Great Britain,
German, Italy,
France agree
Germany can
have Sudeten.
Germany will
respect new
Czech borders
7. Why Appeasement?
Why would England and France let Hitler get
away with remilitarizing and expanding
Germany’s territory?
• Fear of war
• Military unprepared for war
• Guilt over Versailles Treaty
• Trust in Hitler
• Other reasons?
11. Rome-Berlin Axis
October 1936
• “The axis around which
Europe rotates”
Steel Pact, May 1939
Formalized Rome-Berlin
Axis with military
agreement
13. September 27, 1940
Japan, Germany, Italy
Agreed to provide military
assistance to one another.
Recognized spheres of
influence.
Gives Germany and Italy
control of Europe
Gives Japan control of Asia
14. Neutrality Acts of
1935
Prohibits export of
arms to “belligerent
countries”
Pursued policy of
Isolationism
15. Germany – We know about
Italy
Invades Ethiopia, 1935
Invades Albania, April 1939
Japan
Invades Manchuria, 1931
Invades mainland China, 1937
Soviet Union
Invades Eastern Poland, 1939
Invades Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland 1939
16. Sept. 1, 1939 –
Hitler invades
Poland
Sept 3, 1939 –
France and Great
Britain declare
war on Germany
17. Germany’s Battle Tactic
Blitzkrieg – “lightning war”
• Overwhelming offensive force
Fast-moving aircraft –
Luftwaffe – German Airforce
Armored tanks –
Panzer tank
Surprise
•Very successful – Poland was defeated
within one month
18. British and French
station troops along the
Maginot Line.
German troops waited on
the other side.
….. And everybody
waited
…. And waited
Phony War
(Sitzkrieg)
19. Write what you think are TWO causes of World
War 2.
After the Phony War, World War 2 will begin in
earnest.
Battle Projects
Name 4 or 5 people you would like to work with in a
group.