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WWII Begins

WWII Begins. Reasons European leaders believed they could satisfy Hitler’s desire for war:. 1) Destruction from WWI made European leaders fearful of another war 2) thought Hitler’s demand for all German-speaking regions of Europe to be united w/ Germany

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WWII Begins

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  1. WWII Begins

  2. Reasons European leaders believed they could satisfy Hitler’s desire for war: • 1) Destruction from WWI made European leaders fearful of another war • 2) thought Hitler’s demand for all German-speaking regions of Europe to be united w/ Germany sounded reasonable • 3) assumed Nazis would be more interested in peace once they gained more territory

  3. Appeasement Definition: giving concessions in exchange for peace

  4. Results of Appeasement: • 1) Austria • Hitler demands country since people speak German  • Germany invades and takes country

  5. Results of Appeasement (cont.) • 2) Czechoslovakia • Hitler wanted Sudetenland (German speaking region)  • European powers threatened to attack Germany, but backed down • Result: Germany invaded and took country

  6. Soviet Non-Agression Pact • Why did Stalin agree to a non-agression Pact w/ Germany? • 1) believed best way to protect USSR was to turn capitalist nations against each other • 2) + secret deal: USSR & Germany would split Poland once invaded

  7. WWII Begins Official Start of WWII: Germany invades Poland (9/1/39) Poland defeated in 34 days

  8. VS

  9. German Tactics • blitzkrieg: Lighting war • use large # of fast, mobile tanks to break through and rapidly encircle enemy positions • Tanks supported by aircraft and airborne infantry (cut supplies to opponent)

  10. Fall of France: Reason #1 • Maginot Line: Heavily fortified bunker system along German border (created by France) • French assumed WWII would be like WWI (trench tactics) • Result: French forces not able to adapt to more mobile German forces (lost quickly)

  11. Maginot Line

  12. Maginot Line (cont.)

  13. Fall of France: Reason #2 • 2) Superior German Tactics (Blitzkrieg) • German force invades Belgium (just like WWI) • French + British forces move into N. France to face “main” German army (just like WWI)

  14. Fall of France: Reason #2 (cont.) • Unlike WWI, main German force (tanks) invade France through Ardennes Forest • French left small force to defend Ardennes Forest (did not believe tanks could move through mts.) • result: Germans trapped + surrounded French & British forces in Belgium

  15. Dunkirk: Hitler’s Failure Stopped attack before defeating British & French- why? 1) didn’t want to risk tank being destroyed (wanted to wait for more infantry to come up to the front) 2) Goering (Commander of Luftwaffe) convinced Hitler that aircraft alone could destroy British and French forces 3) Thought Britain more likely to surrender if he didn’t humiliate them by destroying their forces

  16. Dunkirk Evacuation

  17. Hitler & Britain • Why didn’t Hitler immediately invade Britain after Dunkirk? • Germany didn’t have enough transport ships to get Army across English Channel • If invasion launched, British air force (RAF) might sink the few transports he had • Invasion could only work if RAF destroyed

  18. Battle of Britain

  19. Battle of Britain • Events/causes that led to Britain’s victory in Battle of Britain: • 1) Luftwaffe accidentally bombed London, which enraged British • 2) British bombed Berlin (retaliation) • Result: Hitler orders halt on bombing British military targets and orders Luftwaffe to bomb only London (civilian)

  20. Battle of Britain (cont.) • 3) Britain had radar • allowed Britain advanced warning when Luftwaffe was coming • Result: larger Luftwaffe losses than RAF

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