Adolf Hitler

Born on April 20, 1889 Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungary

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Influences in Vienna

George von Schönerer - German nationalist; Austrian Pan-German movement

Karl Lueger - Mayor of Vienna; Anti-Semitic Christian Social Party

Adolf Lanz - Former monk; Anti-Semitic; Aryan supremacy

Richard Wagner - German composer; Operas; Will to power

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The Road to WWII 1933-1939

Lebensraum

“Living Space”

Karl Haushofer - Professor of geography

Aryan race would need more living space to support a larger population to become a world power

Mein Kampf

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlHVin56U2w

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlHVin56U2w

Lebensraum

“Living Space”

Karl Haushofer - Professor of geography

Aryan race would need more living space to support a larger population to become a world power

Diplomatic Revolution

Hitler set out to convince other nations of his peaceful intentions

1933 – Hitler withdraws Germany from the League of Nations & the Geneva Disarmament Conference

1935 – Creation of a new air force & military draft

1935 – Anglo-German Naval Pact - Neville Chamberlain

March 7, 1936 – Occupation of the Rhineland

1936 – Rome-Berlin Axis alliance (w/Mussolini)

1936 – Anti-Comintern Pact (w/Japan)

Policy of Appeasement

Hitler’s Aggression

March 13, 1938 - Hitler annexed Austria

Sept 15, 1938 – Hitler demands Sudetenland

Sept 29, 1938 – Munich Conference (Height of Appeasement)

Sept 1939 - Hitler takes the rest of Czechoslovakia

Neville Chamberlainhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ95ffnU4Sw

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ95ffnU4Sw

Hitler’s Aggression

Aug 23, 1939 – Hitler announces pact with Stalin

Sept 1, 1939 – German forces invade Poland

Sept 3, 1939 – Britain and France declare war on Germany

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WWII

Estimated 40-50 million military and civilian deaths

More than 30 countries involved

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Alliances

Axis Powers - Germany, Italy, Japan

Allied Forces - Britain, France, China, Soviet Union, United States

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Military Tactics & Technologies

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After WWI

Allies took their victory as affirmation of their superiority

Little invention

Continued with trenches, bunkers, and complex strategies

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Maginot Line

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After WWI

Germany developed new inventions and strategies

It’s training, discipline, and armaments made it the most efficient and effective fighting force for its size

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Blitzkrieg“Lightning War”

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Panzer

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Panzer divisions moved quickly to penetrate enemy lines

Followed by mechanized infantry and foot soldiers

Mechanization was the key to the German blitzkrieg

Speed & mobility

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Luftwaffe German Air Force

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German Advancements

Dive bomber - accurate low-altitude bombing

Low-wing monoplane

Light & medium bombers

Radar

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Invasion of PolandAugust 31, 1939

September 3, 1939 - Great Britain & France declare war on Germany

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1940

April 9 - Germany invades Norway & Denmark

May 10 - Germany assaults western Europe

June - Germany invades France

June 22 - France signed an armistice with Germany (Vichy France)

Soviet Union annexed the Baltic States

June 10 - Italy joins the war

July - Oct — Battle of Britain

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Battle of Britain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euRlmTHpSCI 32

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euRlmTHpSCI

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1941

Germany invades Yugoslavia, Greece, and the Soviet Union

Soviets launched a significant counteroffensive against the Germans

Pearl Harbor

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Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941

Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

2,000 Americans killed

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http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor 


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http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor

The United States immediately declared war on Japan

On December 11, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States

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1942-1943

Beginning in 1942, the Allied air forces systematically bombed industrial plants & cities of the Reich

November 11, 1942 - Germany occupied Vichy France

Allies triumph in North Africa

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Battle of Stalingrad

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49fdHDBJCFI

Deadliest battle of WWII Turning point in Hitler’s war

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49fdHDBJCFI

Battle of KurskJuly 1943

Largest tank battle in history

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi7fxqCrIUs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwzN2oXrZb4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbUKVz6A1qA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi7fxqCrIUshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwzN2oXrZb4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbUKVz6A1qA

1943

July - Allies land in Sicily and move onto the Italian mainland

German troops stationed in Italy seized control of the northern half of the peninsula and continued to resist.

German troops continued to hold northern Italy until surrendering on May 2, 1945.

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More than 160,000 American, British, and Canadian troops landed along a 50 mile stretch of heavily fortified French coastline under German control

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Codenamed “Operation Overlord”

One of the largest amphibious military assaults in history

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49Omaha beach

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1944

August - Soviets cross the German boarder

September - U.S. troops invade the western German boarder

December - German launch unsuccessful counterattack known as the Battle of the Bulge

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1945

The Soviets began an offensive on January 12, 1945, liberating western Poland and forcing Hungary (an Axis ally) to surrender

February - Allies forces bombed Dresden (firebombing)

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Firebombing of Dresden

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1945

American & Soviet troops pushed into Germany

Hitler committed suicide on April 30, 1945

On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Western Allies at Reims

On May 9, Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Soviets in Berlin

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In August, the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima & Nagasaki

Killing around 120,000 civilians

Japan surrenders on September 2nd

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t19kvUiHvAE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t19kvUiHvAE