Transcript WWII Begins - Taylor County Schools

Beginning of World War II
“Nature is cruel, so we may be cruel, too… I have the
right to remove millions of an inferior race that breeds
like vermin”
-Hitler
Immediate Causes of WW II
• In Germany Adolf Hitler came to power in
1933 as a fascist dictator.
• Hitler hated the Treaty of Versailles and
violated it. First he built up the German
military, then he sent troops into the
Rhineland in direct violation of the Treaty of
Versailles, which said in 1919 that it was a
demilitarized zone.
AAppeasement
1935-1938, Germany annexed or invaded
Rhineland, Austria, Sudetenland, and
Czechoslovakia.
Britain and France felt that if they allowed
Hitler what he wanted, he would be
satisfied and war would be avoided.
Appeasement is a policy of giving
concessions in exchange for peace.
Immediate Causes of WW II
• Hitler wanted to conquer whoever he felt was
inferior to the Germans or Aryans. He wanted
to unite German-speaking people and provide
“living space” for Germans in Eastern Europe.
• On September 1, 1939 Germany invaded
Poland without a declaration of war. This
starts World War II.
Immediate Causes of WW II
• Britain and France declared war on Germany
on September 3, 1939.
• Italy declared war on France and Britain on
June 10, 1940.
“Blitzkrieg”
• In German blitzkrieg means “lightning war”.
• Hitler used blitzkrieg during his invasion of Poland.
• Blitzkrieg included surprise attacks, rapid advances
into enemy territory, and massive air attacks that
struck and shocked the enemy.
• Germany achieved most of its victories in World War
II with the Blitzkrieg tactic.
Blitzkrieg
“Phony War”
• Britain sent troops to wait with the French
down behind the Maginot Line.
• The Maginot Line, established after World
War I, was a defensive for France against an
invasion by Germany.
• Reporters called this quiet time of not much
action the “phony war”
Maginot Line
“Blitzkrieg: German soldiers being parachuted into
Holland - May 10, 1940”
Early Axis Triumphs
• In April 1940 the quiet time of the war exploded
into action.
• Hitler launched a series of blitzkrieg.
• Norway and Denmark both fell.
• Germany overran the Netherlands and Belgium.
• Germany, along with Italy, forced France to
surrender.
World War II in 1939/1942
Germans invaded France in May 1940.
Hitler’s Major Blunder
• Retreating Allied forces made it to Dunkirk and found
themselves trapped between the advancing Nazis and
the English Channel.
• The British sent every boat they could get across the
English Channel to pick up troops off the beaches of
Dunkirk.
Miracle at Dunkirk
• The event at Dunkirk is called a miracle because the
retreating allies had lost hope and then the British
pulled through for them and rescued 338,000 men.
June 22, 1940
• On June 22, 1940 France signs an armistice with
Germany in occupied France.
• An armistice is a cease fire or a truce.
• The Franco-German Armistice divided France into
two zones. One zone was under German military
occupation and the other was under French control.
• By 1942 Germans occupied all of France
June 22, 1940
Questions
• What was the immediate cause of World War II?
• Describe the German concept of the “blitzkrieg”.
• Where were the early Axis triumphs, and what was the
“phony war”?
• What was the miracle at Dunkirk?
• What was the significance of June 22, 1940?
Credits
• World War II: causes and outbreaks
Shows each phase of the war, tells the causes of WW II
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0862008.html
Accessed 5/29/03
• Western Europe Timeline
http://www.usd230.k12.ks.us/PICTT/timelines/westerneurope.html
Accessed 5/29/03
• Blitzkrieg-the successful German World War II tactic
Good description of Blitzkrieg
http://www.2worldwar2.com/blitzkrieg.htm
Accessed 5/29/03
Credits
• The Miracle at Dunkirk
Good detail and a map of The Miracle at Dunkirk
http://www.smhs.net/history/14.html
Accessed 5/29/03
• June 22, 1940
Good Timeline of the events of World War II
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/jun40/f22jun40.htm
Accessed 5/30/03
• Blitzkrieg
Good picture of German paratroopers
http://isd.usc.edu/~anthonya/frank1/parabig.htm
Accessed 5/30/03