The Road to World War II



Rearmament

Upon taking power, Hitler promised to make Germany a world power and restore her previous military strength. In the mid-30s he began a rearmament program that introduced conscription and began constructing an air force, tanks, a navy, and military tactics. This reduced unemployment in Germany from 6 million in 1931 to just over 1 million by 1937

Rhineland

Prior to WWI & Versailles it belonged to Germany but following WW1 it became a demilitarized zone (DMZ) under League of Nation control & occupied by allied troops. It was to serve as a buffer zone between France & Germany. Germany had political control of this area, but was not allowed to put any troops into it. Hitler was determined to get it back & on March 7, 1936 he peacefully invaded it. France and Britain were in no mood for war so they stood by and watched this happen. Hitler concluded that he could turn to deal with Eastern Europe without any military response from the west

Austria (March 1938)

Hitler wanted all Germans living within new German state which he called the Reich. He wanted to include Austria in his new empire and hoped to achieve this through Anschluss (Union). Hitler argued that many Germans lived in Austria so it should be part of Germany. Britain & France did nothing…..didn’t want to risk another war.

Sudetenland (Sept 1938

Hitler’s next move was in NW Czechoslovakia where 3 million German speaking people resided. This area was valuable to the Czechs for it contained valuable resources & heavy industry. In addition, it was a vital defensive zone with border fortifications facing Germany’s eastern border. The Czechs wanted to resist a German invasion but Britain & France would not support them. The Munich Agreement was signed that allowed Germany to have the Sudetenland.

Czechoslovakia (March 1939)

With control of the Sudetenland, Hitler next conquered the remainder of Czechoslovakia in March 1939. Hitler broke the Munich Agreement and Britain and France declared not to stand idle in the event of future aggression by Hitler in Europe.

Nazi-Soviet Pact (August 1939)

This agreement shocked the world when it was made public. It included:

a). a promise by countries not to attack each other in the event of war within 10 years. Germany would exchange manufactured goods for Soviet raw materials

b). Secretly agreed to divide eastern Europe into Soviet and German spheres of interest

This agreement cleared the way for a German attack against Poland. The German eastern border was now secure from a Soviet attack so plans for war against the west could occur (1 front war unlike WW1). Stalin could take time to rebuild military forces & take over the Baltic countries as a buffer in case of a future German attack.

Poland Invaded (Sept 1, 1939)

World War II begins with this attack. Britain and France declare war on Germany on Sept 3.

Complete these questions using the 5.1 Road to World War II powerpoint

1. In his 1924 book ‘Mein Kampf’, what were three main aims outlined by Hitler?

➢ ______________________________ the Treaty of Versailles.

➢ Create a Greater Germany (a country of all the German people).

➢ _______________________________ (living space) to conquer land for Germany in Eastern Europe.

2. What forms of weaponry were involved in the armaments program launched by Hitler in the mid 1930s? ________________________________________________

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3. What was blitzkrieg and how would revolutionize warfare?___________________ ___________________________________________________________________

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4. What did Hitler introduce a policy of territorial expansion in the late 1930s?

His goal was to expand Germany’s borders & reacquire territory that had been stripped from Germany following the First World War

5. Why didn’t Britain and France stop Hitler when he invaded the Rhineland in March 1936?

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6. What was Hitler’s reasoning for uniting Austria and Germany in March 1938?

Hitler argued that many Germans lived in Austria so it should be part of Germany.

7. In what European country was the Sudetenland located?____________________

8. What was the Sudetenland important for Czechoslovakia?

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9. What was the Munich Agreement?

The leaders of ________________ & _______________ met with Hitler in Munich & decided to give Germany the ____________________ in return for Hitler’s promise to not make any further territorial demands in Europe

Appeasement references the policy adopted by Britain and France during the 1930s in order to deal with the aggressive actions of Adolph Hitler

10. What were the main reasons appeasement was adopted by the British and French during this time period?

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11. The appeasement policy ultimately failed when Hitler conquered the remainder of Czechoslovakia in March 1939. How did Britain and France react to Hitler’s takeover of this country?

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12. When was the Nazi-Soviet pact formed? ___________________________

13. What argument did Hitler use to justify his invasion of Poland?

Hitler demanded ___________________________be handed back to Germany. When Poland refused Germany invaded using “Blitzkrieg” on Sept 1st, 1939

14. How did Britain and France respond to the German invasion of Poland on September 1st, 1939?__________________________________________________

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Section Review

Using your historical knowledge and this Road to War handout, find the date for each of the following events and then create a timeline by arranging them in chronological order.

← Czechoslovakia is conquered by Hitler

← The Invasion of Poland

← The Nazi-Soviet Pact

← Anschluss with Austria

← Hitler became Chancellor of Germany

← Munich Agreement (Sudetenland given to Germany)

← German troops enter the Rhineland

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