BELLWORK 1.Who was Paul von Hindenburg? 2.Why was Hitler arrested and imprisoned in 1923? 3.Describe how Hitler came to power in the German government.

BELLWORK1. Who was Paul von Hindenburg?2. Why was Hitler arrested and imprisoned in

1923?3. Describe how Hitler came to power in the

German government.4. What was the Enabling Act?5. Why was the Rhineland established as a

demilitarized zone after WWI?6. THINKER: While Hitler was in power he

targeted communists and considered them a “threat to national security.” In your opinion, why was Hitler threatened by communism?

Acts of Aggression

Dictators and Totalitarian governments in WWII

Mussolini’s Act of Aggression

• Act of Aggression: Recreate the Holy Roman Empire.

• Wanted to restore Italy’s power, influence, and pride by force!

• People supported Mussolini because he brought order to the nation, solved unemployment and rekindled feelings of patriotism and nationalism.

• It was the Italians destiny to recapture the greatness and glory of ancient Rome!

Stalin’s Acts of Aggression: pgs. 566-567

• Five Year Plans

1. Definition

2. Successes and failures

3. Collectivization

4. Conflict with Kulaks

5. Results

• Dictatorship

1. How did he rule?

2. Purges

3. Effects of the Purges

4. Limits on the arts

5. Purpose of the Comintern

Hitler’s Acts of Aggression• Enabling Act (1933)• Nuremburg Laws

(1935)• Breaking the Treaty of

Versailles (1936)• Kristallnacht (1938)

Hitler’s Background

The Alter Hof in Munich: Adolf Hitler (1914)

Hitler in WWI; 1915

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?• Most people didn’t know

Hitler as a harsh, racist, violent dictator who prohibited individual freedoms

• So why did so many people support him?

• These questions will be answered in a short article.

• As we read, answer the following questions in your notes

• Be ready to discuss!

1. Summarize how Hitler was able to maintain strict control over Germany.

2. What was the Gestapo?

3. How did the Nazis use fear to stop freedom of speech?

4. Summarize Hitler’s aims/goals as leader of Germany.

5. How was Hitler able to come to power?

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

Hindenburg’s Funeral

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

Hitler takes over Europe

Beginning of WWII

Hitler’s Aggression

• What is “demilitarization?”

• 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.

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• 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.

• 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.

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

Hitler broke his promise and invaded Czechoslovakia.

• In August 1939, Hitler signed the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact: neither country would attack the other

• By securing his eastern border against Soviet attack, Hitler could focus on the rest of Europe.

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.

Dunkirk• By this point, the Nazis trapped Belgian,

French and British forces in the Northwest corner of France.

• The only hope for the allies was an evacuation by sea from the French port of Dunkirk.

• British began a desperate rescue mission sending 850 ships to Dunkirk to rescue the Allied armies.

• In Britain, the commander Charles de Gaulle organized a free French government

German expansion by 1942

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.

CLOSURE• What is appeasement? Was this

effective?

• Why was the invasion of Poland important?

• How did Hitler take over France?

• What was the Battle of Britain?

• What are the two alliances of WWII?

Writing Assignment: Hitler takes over Europe• During WWII, most people got their news from the

radio. • By the end of WWII, 95% of Americans owned a radio.• For this assignment, you are going to create a short

radio broadcast that highlights Hitler’s aggression in Europe.

• You are to take on the role of a newscaster so be creative and SUMMARIZE.

• You may chose one event to highlight, or you can do all of them: it is up to you!

• It must be ½ page in length and include important events, people, battles, etc.

• Monday, some of you will be chosen to read yours to the class – so make it good!