Transcript 19-2 Notes-WWII

Ch 19, Sec 2: WWII Begins
Europe Gives in to Hitler to Avoid War
• 3 reasons:
– 1. European leaders did not want another world
war
– 2. Believed Hitler’s ideas of unifying all German
speaking people was reasonable
– 3. Nazis would stop once they got some extra
land
Hitler takes Austria
• Hitler needed food, supplies, soldiers, and
govt jobs
– Called the Anschluss or unification
– Both had a common culture/language
Fight for Czechoslovakia
• Hitler wanted to take over Czechoslovakia for
the Sudentenland
– The Czechs were allied with France and Russia
• Britain, France, Italy, and Germany met in
1938 to make the decision
• Czechoslovakia was given to Hitler
Appeasement
• The idea that you can make people happy by
giving into their demands
• Hitler’s demands were met but he just wanted
more land
– Attacked/took over Czechoslovakia and Slovakia
Hitler turns to Poland
• Wanted the port of Danzig
– 90% German
– Taken from Germany after WWI
• Wanted train access and highways to East
Prussia
• Britain/France agreed to back up Poland
• Poland refused to give in to Germany
Poland is attacked
• Germany signed a pact with Russia to stop a
war on 2 fronts
• Sept 1, 1939 both countries attacked Poland
• Britain/France declare war on Germany
Blitzkrieg
• Lightening War
• German warfare
• Move fast with lots of troops, tanks, and
airplanes
• Poland was defeated by Oct 5, 1939
French response to war
• Created the Maginot Line after WWI between
France/Germany
• French waited to be attacked but never was
– Cost Poland their freedom
Norway and Denmark to France
• Germany did not want the British to block iron
shipments from Sweden
• Once Germany controlled both countries, they
could move on France
• Britain/France had their troops in the wrong
part of Belgium (trapped) allowing Hitler’s
tanks to go right into France
Trapped at Dunkirk
• British/French troops stuck at the French port
of Dunkirk
• Germany allowed them 3 days to evacuate
without attack
– 850 ships rescued 338,000 troops
– French/British supplies/guns had to be left at the
port
– France surrendered to Hitler
Hitler to Britain
• Britain was not led by Winston Churchill
– Refused to give in to Hitler’s demands
• Germany tried to attack Britain by sea-failed
– Couldn’t get their army across the English Channel
• Germany forced to the air assault
Battle of Britain: Fall 1940
• Started with German planes sinking British ships
• German bombers also hit London
– Civilian target/accident???
• Britain responded by bombing Berlin
• Germany responded by continuing bombing raids
on British cities
– British invention “radar” allowed citizens to hide in
tunnels before the bombings began
• Germany gave up the attack on Britain