Nazism SPACE and RACE Hitlers main goal was the territorial
expansion of the superior German race. This was outlined in Mein
Kampf: Germans are a superior race and should unite to form a
German Empire Third Reich Jews, Poles, Slavs, etc were inferior and
should be enslaved and forced to die out. Germans would resettle
their land to gain lebensraum living space.
Slide 3
Slide 4
Hitler Defies the Treaty of Versailles Treaty limited German
army to only 100,000 men. Hitler disobeys this and builds up the
military. 1936- Hitler marches army into the Rhineland (30 mile
demilitarized buffer zone with France). The League of Nations was
supposed to enforce the treaty but nothing happened
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Slide 6
Appeasement GB and France gave in to Hitler to keep peace.
WHY??? Felt guilty about Treaty of Versailles Saw Hitler as better
than Soviet Communism Great Depression Pacifism no one wanted
another war
Slide 7
Hitler Expands 1938- Hitler annexes Austria (Anschluss) -Next,
Hitler demanded the Sudetenland be given to Germany (western region
of Czechoslovakia with 3 million Germans) Czechs ask France for
help (allies). Near war. Sept 1938-Munich Conference GB and France
agree to let Hitler have Sudetenland. He promises no further
expansion.
Slide 8
A woman in the Sudetenland greets incoming German troops with
tears and a Nazi salute.
Slide 9
Munich Conference
Slide 10
Slide 11
Two Views on the Conference GB Prime Minister Neville
Chamberlain I have secured peace with honorpeace for our time.
Winston Churchill They had to choose between war and dishonor. They
chose dishonor; they will have war.
Slide 12
Hitler Breaks His Promise March 1939 Hitler took over
Czechoslovakia August 1939 Signed the Nazi-Soviet nonaggression
pact with Joseph Stalin. Stunned the world because they were
enemies Secretly divided Poland and eastern Europe between them
Sept 1 Hitler invades Poland Sept 3 GB and France declare war. WWII
begins!
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Slide 14
German Invasion of Poland, 1939
Slide 15
WWII Blitzkrieg lightning war Poland crushed in 4 weeks Winter:
Sitzkrieg phony war 1940: Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands,
Belgium, and France are taken over by Germany. Miracle of Dunkirk
Heroic rescue of 300,000 Allied soldiers across the English Channel
to GB.
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Slide 17
Operation Sea Lion By 1940, all of western Europe was under
German control or neutral except GB. Battle of Britain: RAF v.
Luftwaffe 57 straight nights of bombing on London and other cities,
then sporadic until May 1941 Killed over 40,000 civilians, massive
damage British never surrendered; Hitler gave up
Slide 18
Operation Barbarossa June 1941-Hitler invades the Soviet Union
Wanted rich resources (land, oil, grain) Wanted to defeat Communism
Wanted to put more pressure on GB Scorched earth policy Temps
reached -40 degrees in Dec 1941; thousands die Siege of Leningrad
(900 Day Siege) 1 million Soviets died over 2 year siege -Supplies
blockaded. Ration: 2 pieces bread/day
Slide 19
Back in the US President FDR is building support for US
involvement Persuaded Congress to pass the Lend-Lease Act Allowed
US to sell/lend war materials to any country whose defense the
President deems vital to the defense of the United States Wanted to
try to stand up for democracy without joining the war
Slide 20
Japan July 1941 US cut off sell of oil to Japan because of
their takeovers in Asia Reduced their oil supplies by 90% Dec 7,
1941: Pearl Harbor Sank or crippled every American battleship but
all aircraft carriers were out at sea and unharmed Killed 2,400
people A date which will live in infamy
Slide 21
The Big Three FDR, Winston Churchill, and Stalin FDR and
Churchill were true allies, not Stalin Only cooperated to defeat
Hitler Stalin wanted FDR and WC to open a 2 nd front against
Germany to take pressure off USSR Didnt until 1944.
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Slide 23
Turning Points May 1942 Battle of the Coral Sea June 1942
Battle of Midway Americans destroyed several Japanese ships and
planes Jan 1943 Russians defeat Germans at the Battle of Stalingrad
May 1943 Allies led by Dwight. D. Eisenhower force an Axis
surrender in North Africa
Slide 24
D-Day June 6, 1944 Allies land at Normandy (France) Free
France, Belgium, enter Germany by March 1945 Soviets also advancing
from East Mussolini executed Hitler suicide Apr 30, surrender May 7
May 8, 1945 V-E Day (Victory in Europe)
Slide 25
Japan? Will not surrender Kamikaze Manhattan Project code name
for the research on atomic bomb Harry S Truman is now President of
US FDR died April 12, 1945 August 6 Hiroshima 70,000 killed
instantly August 9 Nagasaki 40,000; surrender Many more died later
from radiation