The Conquest Begins– Europe 1938

Hitler’s Reasons for German Aggression

1. Hitler generated intense nationalism in his speeches.

1. Said Germany was unfairly punished for World War I.

2. Claimed Germany needed and deserved more lebensraum or “living space.”

3. Believed land where the majority of the population was German should be united with Germany.

3. Hitler wanted to restore Germany as a world power.

First Target– Austria

* Austria was a small nation created by Treaty of Paris after WWI.4/5. Majority of the population was German. Most of these people favored unification with Germany.

* March 12, 1938– German troops marched into Austria unopposed.* Anschluss or “union” with Austria was complete.* German persecution of Jews began immediately.

A Chance for Intervention: The Munich Conference—1938

* The French and the British leaders met with Hitler to try and avoid another war.

7. Hitler wanted to take the western border region of Czechoslovakia called the Sudetenland.

6. Neville Chamberlain (GB) & Edouard Daladier (Fr) wanted to prevent Hitler from taking any more land.

Sudetenland—”The Last Territorial Demand”9. Hitler wanted the land for its natural resources and for more lebensraum.10. He accused Czechoslovakians of abusing Germans living in the Sudetenland (this was all German propaganda).

11. At the Munich Conference, Hitler promised that if he could have the Sudetenland, he would stop taking land in Europe.12. Daladier and Chamberlain believed him & Germany annexed the Sudetenland.

Sudetenland (2)—”The Last Territorial Demand”

The Conquest Continues: Czechoslovakia13. On March 15, 1939, Hitler invaded into the rest of Czechoslovakia.* His troops met very little resistance.

14. People became nervous that Hitler’s next move would be to invade Poland.15. The common belief was that if Hitler invaded Poland, the Soviet Union might enter the war against Germany (Poland and the USSR are neighbors).

* Great Britain & France also promised military aid to Poland if needed.

16. This situation could create a two front war for Germany.

A Strategic Move By Hitler & the Soviets– The Nonaggression Pact

* In order to avoid a two front war, Hitler signed a nonaggression pact with the Soviets.17. Both sides promised never to attack each other.

17. There was also a secret pact made between these two nations that stated the two nations would divide Poland between them.

The Beginning of World War II: The Invasion of Poland– September 1939

* The Germans quickly conquered Poland using fast moving troops and equipment.18. Poland was conquered in about a month.

* The fight was over before anyone could help Poland.* The USSR also invaded Poland from the east and took some land.

BLITZKRIEG!20. Hitler’s invasion of Poland used a new style of war he called the blitzkrieg which means “lightning war.”21. The key to this form of attack is SPEED and SURPRISE.

21. Quick moving tanks, planes, armored vehicles, and troops were key elements of the German attack.21. Their goal was to create terror and confusion.22. Luftwaffe = German airforce

The Maginot Line

1/2. Between world wars, the French built a string of forts and defenses along the French & German border called the Maginot

Line.

3. This was supposed to deter Germany from invading France.* The forts were large and many were constructed underground (similar to an underground battleship).

The Siegfried Line

4. The Germans built a similar line of defense called the Siegfried Line.* Germany believed this line was impenetrable.

The Siegfried Line

Pillbox

Anti- tank defenses

Dunkirk

5. Hilter’s invasion of France would pass through Belgium, bypassing the Maginot Line* As the Germans marched toward Paris, French and British troops were overrun by the Blitzkrieg.6. About 400,000 troops were suddenly trapped between the Nazi army and the English Channel on the beaches of Dunkirk.

Dunkirk 27. A massive rescue effort was organized by the allies.7. All types of ships and boats were organized to ferry troops across the Channel to safety.•Dunkirk could have been a huge loss for the British & French if not for the evacuation at Dunkirk.

•www.harborheroes.org

The Fall of France

8. On June 20, 1940, France fell to Hitler.* Germany would occupy northern France.9. Vichy France (a puppet government) would be run in southern France.

The French were not excited about Hitler taking their nation

“Zis shot vill make a grate pohst- cahd for zee leetle Ger-mahns bahk hom”

“Their Finest Hour”—The Battle of Britain10. This battle took place in the skies over Great Britain.* Every night, for two months, the German air force pounded English cities & airfields. 11. The RAF (Royal Air Force) used a new tool– radar to help predict where the Luftwaffe was attacking.

12. Hitler started out attacking RAF airfields.13/14. He later shifted his attacks to English cities once the Allies began bombing German cities.

“Their Finest Hour” 2—The Battle of Britain* The Luftwaffe would have won if Hitler had continued to attack the air fields.15. In the end, the British prevented Germany from invading them by winning the Battle of Britain.16. Winston Churchill (the Prime Minister of G.B.) hailed the RAF as heroes and the saviors of Great Britain.