Transcript The origins of World War 2

Origins of WW2 – The Fall of France
The Treaty of Versailles
Massive Reparations Germany pay $33
billion in reparations to the Allies.
Military Limitations The treaty reduced
the size of Germany’s military and
prohibited them from crossing west of the
Rhine River. No draft
Territory Reductions German territory
was divided to reestablish Poland.
Territories were seized in the west by
France and in the south to help create
Czechoslovakia.
Rise of Hitler
1923 Hitler was the leader of the Nazi
.
Party. With
inflation running high, Hitler
tried to seize control in Germany.
Munich Putsch or Beer Hall Putsch, to lead
a march through the streets, the police
fired on the marchers and Hitler and the
march was broken up Two days later Hitler
was arrested.
Hitler received a five year prison sentence
for the Munich Putsch, he was let out after
serving less than a year. He spent the time
writing - Mein Kampf (My Struggle.)
• German Violations of the Treaty and
Expansion
– 1935: Hitler initiated draft - began build
a new air force.
– 1936: Hitler ordered the German military
to occupy the Rhineland
– 1937: Hitler called for the reunification
of German-speaking peoples.
– March 1938: Hitler annexes Austria and
announced Anschluss, or unification, of
Austria and Germany. Hitler welcomed
as a hero
• Munich Conference
– September 1938: Reps. of
Britain, France, Italy, and
Germany met to resolve
German demands to the
Sudetenland, a region in
Czechoslovakia.
• Results of the Munich Conference
– In exchange for peace,
the soon to be Allies,
gave Hit Czechoslovakia.
– This policy became
known as appeasement.
– England’s Prime Minister
Neville Chamberlin’s
famous quote “Peace in
our time”
• Movement Toward War
– March 1939: Hitler demanded
the return of Danzig, Poland, to
German control. Poland
refused.
–.
– August 23, 1939: Stalin agreed
to a nonaggression treaty with
Hitler called Nazi-Soviet Pact.
Stalin was buying time building
up his military
War Begins
– September 1939: Germany
invaded Poland in a powerful,
attack known as blitzkrieg,
meaning “lightning war.” The
army attacked across land, the
Luftwaffe, or German air force,
bombed cities, railroads,
bridges, and other key targets
from above.
– May 1940: Hitler invades the
Netherlands, Luxembourg, and
Belgium- Heading towards
France. Remember WW1
– June 1940: The
Miracle of Dunkirk.
The Nazis pressed the
Allies toward the
English Channel but
stopped before they
reached Dunkirk.
– Allies faced certain
death but were
evacuated by a mass
of boats of all kinds
a successful failure
June 22, 1940: France
surrenders to Hitler.
Hitler installed
Frenchmen Marshal
Philippe Pétain as
leader of the new
Vichy government.
(Nazi controlled
French government)
June 22, 1940: France
surrenders.
• General Charles De Gaulle
will lead the French
resistance from England