nazi conquest of europe 1936-1941 “i will return to germany what was once german.” adolf hitler

Nazi Nazi

Conquest of

Conquest of

EuropeEurope

1936-1941

1936-1941

““I Will Return to I Will Return to Germany what Germany what

was once was once German.”German.”Adolf HitlerAdolf Hitler

Occupation of the Occupation of the RhinelandRhineland

19361936

German troops re-enter the Rhine in German troops re-enter the Rhine in violation of the Versailles Treaty.violation of the Versailles Treaty.

French troops do nothing to stop French troops do nothing to stop this.this.

German Generals do not remove German Generals do not remove Hitler as a result. Hitler as a result.

Anschluss with Anschluss with AustriaAustria

German and Austrian Nazi’s German and Austrian Nazi’s force Austria’s government to force Austria’s government to accept annexation in the accept annexation in the spring of 1938.spring of 1938.

This ‘bloodless’ coup This ‘bloodless’ coup legitimizes Hitler’s claim to legitimizes Hitler’s claim to power in Germany.power in Germany.

Not all Austrian’s favored Not all Austrian’s favored the Anschluss…the Anschluss…

CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia1938-391938-39

3 million Germans live in 3 million Germans live in western Czech.western Czech.

These Sudeten Germans cry out These Sudeten Germans cry out for Germany to save them.for Germany to save them.

German troops occupy without a German troops occupy without a struggle.struggle.

““Czechoslovakia is Czechoslovakia is like a dagger like a dagger pointed at the pointed at the

heart of Germany, I heart of Germany, I must have it.”must have it.”

The “Dagger”The “Dagger”

Munich Conference 1938Munich Conference 1938AppeasementAppeasement is born is born

France, England, and the France, England, and the Czech. Meet with Germans, Czech. Meet with Germans, Italians at Munich.Italians at Munich.

Chamberlain and Daladier Chamberlain and Daladier agree to let Hitler keep agree to let Hitler keep everything he’s seized if he everything he’s seized if he promises to stop.promises to stop.

Hitler was willing to back Hitler was willing to back down had the Allies down had the Allies

pushed him at Munich.pushed him at Munich.

Their weakness gave Their weakness gave Hitler new strength and Hitler new strength and

credibility with his credibility with his GeneralsGenerals

Hitler invades eastern Hitler invades eastern Czech.Czech.19391939

Allies warn that the next Allies warn that the next move will mean war.move will mean war.

TOO LITTLE TOO LATETOO LITTLE TOO LATE

SOVIET - NON SOVIET - NON AGGRESSION PACT - AUG. AGGRESSION PACT - AUG.

19391939

Hitler and Stalin Hitler and Stalin forge an “alliance forge an “alliance of convenience” of convenience” and seal POLAND’S and seal POLAND’S fate.fate.

Sept. 1, 1939 Sept. 1, 1939 German troops German troops BLITZKRIEG into BLITZKRIEG into Poland. Poland.

FALL OF THE WESTFALL OF THE WESTSPRING OF ‘40SPRING OF ‘40

NORWAYNORWAY DENMARKDENMARK HOLLANDHOLLAND BELGIUMBELGIUM LUXEMBOURLUXEMBOUR

G G FRANCEFRANCE

Hitler’s greatest Hitler’s greatest moment...moment...

Accepting France’s Accepting France’s surrender in June of surrender in June of

19401940

At the very site of WWI At the very site of WWI surrendersurrender

Hitler’s First Tragic Hitler’s First Tragic MistakeMistake

Allowing the British and Allowing the British and Commonwealth troops to escape Commonwealth troops to escape to England at Dunkirkto England at Dunkirk

Hitler’s Second Tragic Hitler’s Second Tragic MistakeMistake

Impatient with Impatient with England and the England and the failed Battle of failed Battle of BritainBritain

Hitler decides to Hitler decides to tear up the Soviet tear up the Soviet Non-Aggression Non-Aggression Pact and launch Pact and launch his armies against his armies against the Soviets.the Soviets.

Operation Operation “Barbarrosa”“Barbarrosa”

Hitler’s Two Front WarHitler’s Two Front War Hitler vowed that he would never make the Hitler vowed that he would never make the

same mistake that Kaiser Wilhelm made in same mistake that Kaiser Wilhelm made in the first world war that doomed Germany.the first world war that doomed Germany.

Flushed with success and overconfident, Flushed with success and overconfident, Hitler breaks that vow by attacking to the Hitler breaks that vow by attacking to the east.east.

He now had England in the West and the He now had England in the West and the Soviet Union in the East. Soviet Union in the East.

The results would be disastrous for The results would be disastrous for GermanyGermany

Hitler’s Third Fatal MistakeHitler’s Third Fatal Mistake

Declaring war on the U.S. following Declaring war on the U.S. following Pearl Harbor proved disastrous for Pearl Harbor proved disastrous for Germany.Germany.

The results of waiting “an The results of waiting “an extra hour” for Germany.extra hour” for Germany.