Transcript PPT - 1938 to Pearl Harbor

World War II
War Starts in Europe
Hitler Invades Austria
• War started in 1938
• Hitler decided to
annex Austria and
Czechoslovia
• He said, “The
‘German’ question can
be solved only by
means of force.”
• On March 12, 1938,
German troops
marched into Austria
unopposed
• U.S. and world did
nothing
Czechoslovakia
• Hitler seemed ready to invade
• England and France promised to protect
that country
German military offensive begins
• March 15, 1939 German troops marched into
Czechoslovakia and took over country
• By nightfall, Hitler said, “Czechoslovakia has
ceased to exist”
Appeasement
• England and France did nothing
• Czechoslovakia given to Hitler without shot
being fired
• This policy was called “appeasement” – Ideas
was that by allowing Germany to do what it
wanted then no war would occur
Poland conquered by Germany and
Russia
• Russia, under Stalin, signed a non-aggression pact with Germany
– would not attack each other
• On Sept. 1, 1939 the Lufwaffe (German air force) bombed Poland
• When Germany attacked Poland, Russia also invaded from the
east
By end of
month Poland
no longer
existed – was
part of
Germany and
Russia
Blitzrieg
–This attack on Poland called “Blitzrieg”
–Blitzrieg means “lightning war”
–Used new military technology – faster
tanks and airplanes
Germany Attacks France
• Troops position on
Maginot Line – a
system of fortifications
along France’s eastern
border
• Thought to be
invulnerable
• Germany attacked in
1940
Germany Conquers France
• Germany conquered France
• Germany occupy north part of country
and puppet government in France
• 400,000 soldiers fled to England across
the channel in fishing boats, barges, and
pleasure craft at Dunkirk
Battle of Britain
• In 1940, Hitler prepared for invasion of Britain
• Navy power and air war – bombing runs every night for
two months
England Fights Back
•
•
•
•
Royal Air Force (RAF) fought back
Used new invention of radar
On one day shot down 185 German planes
Hitler called off planned invasion, though
bombing continued
Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor
December 7, 1941
This causes the US to
enter WWII
War!
• Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941
• U.S. declared war on Japan on Dec. 8, 1941
• 3 days later, U.S. declared war on Germany
U.S.A. rose to the occasion!
• 5 million volunteered for service
• Selective service (the draft) enlisted 10 million
more men for service
• Woman also started to serve for first time
LIBERATION OF DEATH
CAMPS
• While the British and
Americans moved
westward into
Germany, the Soviets
moved eastward into
German-controlled
Poland
• The Soviets
discovered many
death camps that the
Germans had set up
within Poland
• The Americans also
liberated Nazi death
camps within
Germany