BELLWORK 1.Which member countries left the League in the 1930’s? Why? 2.Why did disarmament fail? List two reasons! 3.How did the Abyssinian Crisis show.

BELLWORK1. Which member countries left the League in the 1930’s? Why?2. Why did disarmament fail? List two reasons!3. How did the Abyssinian Crisis show the failure of the League

of Nations?4. List FIVE main reasons the League of Nations failed. Then,

rank them from 1 – 5 (1 is the biggest problem!)5. THINKER: How did the Japanese invasion of Manchuria and

the Italian invasion of Abyssinia effect Hitler and his desire to expand?

Failure of Disarmament

Causes of WWII in Europe

Hitler’s War

Hitler’s Background

The Alter Hof in Munich: Adolf Hitler (1914)

Hitler in WWI; 1915

Rise of Hitler• By 1923, Hitler was the leader of the Nazi Party.• When the Depression struck Germany in 1929, the

government could not help the 6 million unemployed workers.

• Hitler took advantage of the discontent to appeal to the German people.

• He promised to rebuild Germany’s economy if they brought him to power.

• Mein Kampf: Hitler’s autobiography which showed his political beliefs (“my struggle”)

Munich (Beer Hall) Putsch; 1923

Nazi Party Election Results

Date Votes % Seats in Reichstag Background

May 1924 1,918,300 6.5 32 Hitler in prison

Dec 1924 907,300 3.0 14 Hitler is released from prison

May 1928 810,100 2.6 12  

Sept 1930 6,409,600 18.3 107 After the financial crisis

July 1932 13,745,800 37.4 230 After Hitler was candidate for presidency

November 1932

11,737,000 33.1 196  

March 1933 17,277,000 43.9 288 During Hitler's term as Chancellor of Germany

Why did people support Hitler?• Promised to get Germany out of the Depression and restore

hope.• Used the Jews as scapegoats, blaming all problems on them.• Tear up the Treaty of Versailles to make Germany great again!• Farmers – higher prices for their produce• Unemployed – Jobs building public projects• Middle Class – restore profits of small businesses and savings

Hitler in Power• January 1933: Named Chancellor of Germany• February 1933: persuaded German president (Paul von

Hindenburg) to suspend civil rights• March 1933: using threats, he gained the power to make

laws without government consent• June 1934: demanded military swear allegiance to him• August 1934: Hindenburg dies, Hitler abolishes title of

President & declares himself the Führer, or supreme leader• Hitler is now the totalitarian dictator of Germany• Nuremburg Laws (1935): defined German races

Hindenburg’s Funeral

Time Magazine’s “Man of the Year” - 1939

Hitler’s Aggression• After rebuilding Germany’s army, Hitler

sent troops into the Rhineland.• In 1936, Hitler formed an alliance with

Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini.• This alliance created the Axis Powers.

Video: Over the Edge• To learn more about Hitler’s aggression in Europe

leading to WWII, we are going to watch the episode “Over the Edge” from the series The Century: America’s Time.

• As you watch, continue with notes/timeline on Hitler’s expansion.

• We will stop throughout the movie to discuss key events!

Hitler’s Aggression• In March 1938, Hitler proclaimed that Austria was part

of Germany• Sent troops into Austria to make it official• In September 1938, Hitler occupied the Sudetenland

region of Czechoslovakia.• The Sudetenland had a large German population and

Hitler justified his actions by saying: • “I was satisfying the wish of all Germans living there to

become part of Germany”

Appeasement• Munich Conference: Britain and France agree to

allow Hitler’s control of the Sudetenland if he promised to stay out of the rest of Czechoslovakia.

• Eagar to avoid another war, the leaders of Great Britain and France adopted a policy of appeasement.

• Appeasement: giving in to the demands of a nation in the hope of maintaining peace.

Hitler’s Aggression• 5 ½ months after the Munich Conference, Hitler broke his

promise and invaded Czechoslovakia.• STOP VIDEO DAY 1 HERE!!!!• In August 1939, Hitler signed the German-Soviet Non-

Aggression Pact: neither country would attack the other.• They secretly agreed to divide Poland (Germany had short-term

agreement w/Poland) • By securing his eastern border against Soviet attack, Hitler could

focus on the rest of Europe. • Could use Poland as a launch pad for an invasion of the USSR

Start of WWII• On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded

Poland.• Used blitzkrieg: “lightening war” – attack

combining air and land forces. • Great Britain and France promised to defend

Poland so they declared war on Germany. • Allies: Great Britain and France

Hitler Crushes Europe• In April 1940, Hitler used his powerful fighting tactics to

capture Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

• France was surrounded, but protected themselves using the Maginot Line.

• Maginot Line: armed steel concrete bunkers built after WWI, stretching across the German border.

• In May 1940, Hitler sent troops around the line.• France surrendered and sent their citizens to Britain.

German expansion by 1942

Lend-Lease Act• Prime Minister Churchill confessed to FDR that Britain was

nearly bankrupt and needed more American equipment.• FDR provided war supplies to Britain without any payment in

return. • Lend-Lease Act: The President could aid any nation whose

defense was vital to U.S. security.• After Germany attacked the Soviet Union, FDR extended the

Lend-Lease Act to the Soviets.• By the end of WWII, the U.S. had loaned or given away $49

billion of aid to over 40 nations.

Battle of Britain• After Germany’s victories in Eastern Europe & France,

there was only one major power left in western Europe to fight.

• Great Britain.• Germany made plans to invade Great Britain.• However, Great Britain’s Royal Air Force engaged German

forces in defense of the nation.• Battle of Britain- largest air assault in history.• German air force bombed British cities & industrial

centers.• Yet, could not force a surrender. Great Britain held their

ground until help came from U.S.