History
tbpl_93
wwii_europe-3.pptxNazi Expansion and the Outbreak of World War II in Europe
Reading: Smith, et al., 925-932, 936-945
Causes of World War II In Europe
Versailles Treaty
Germans Believed they were “stabbed in the back”
Nationalism and Desire for Ethnic States in Eastern and Central Europe
Hitler Manipulated Ethnic Rivalries
Soviet Development and Expansionist Desires
Stalin’s Five-Year Plans modernized and industrialized USSR
Literacy Increased from 28.4% in 1897 to 87.4% in 1939
Life Expectancy (except for political murders) rose from 32 to 69 years
Soviet Union becomes model of turning Agrarian State into an Industrialized State.
Time Line
Hitler remilitarizes the Rhineland in 1936 and no one stops him
Japan occupies China and does the Rape of Nanjing and no one stops them. In one sense, Japanese occupation of China is the beginning of World War II
Time Line Continued
March 1938 Hitler annexes Austria and no one stops him.
September 1938 is the Czechslovakia Crisis. Hitler wants Sudentenland to be part of Germany. Sudentenland is given to appease Hitler
Time Line Continued
Spring of 1939—Hitler Annexes All of Czechoslovakia.
No one dares to do anything.
Britain totally unprepared for war.
French government doesn’t want war.
1939—Nazi-Soviet Non-Agression Pact
September 1939, Germany invades Poland
September 3, 1939 France and Britain declare war on Hitler
October 1939-May 1940 is the Phony War.
May 1940-Hitler invades and defeats Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France.
Why was France defeated?
Poor military leadership
Thinking defensively—The Maginot Line
Time Line
Why French lost?
The Permanent Trench
Used Tanks as Taxis
Poor government leadership
June 1940-End of War “Battle of Britain
Air War
England bombs Germany
Germany bombs England
Radar
Hitler Invades Soviet Union
Stalin Depressed and does nothing
Problem: He killed too many generals in the Purges
1941 Germany constructs first death camp.
