Unit 14 Part 3 The Road to World War II. ADOLF HITLER ADOLF HITLER.

Unit 14Unit 14

Part 3Part 3

The Road to World War IIThe Road to World War II

ADOLF HITLERADOLF HITLER

The Night of the Long KnivesThe Night of the Long Knives

June 30-July 2 1934June 30-July 2 1934: Hitler purges the SA : Hitler purges the SA and their leader Ernst Roehmand their leader Ernst Roehm– They had become too powerful (1 mil active and 2 They had become too powerful (1 mil active and 2

mil reserves) and posed a threat to the regular mil reserves) and posed a threat to the regular armyarmy

– 1,000 people murdered without trials (Carried out 1,000 people murdered without trials (Carried out by by Heinrich Himmler and the SSHeinrich Himmler and the SS))

August 2,1934 Hindenburg dies and Hitler August 2,1934 Hindenburg dies and Hitler combines the positions of Chancellor and combines the positions of Chancellor and President President

The Police State and Anti-SemitismThe Police State and Anti-Semitism

Anti-Semitic lawsAnti-Semitic laws– 1933: Jews excluded from civil service and 1933: Jews excluded from civil service and

Jewish shops are boycottedJewish shops are boycotted– 1935: 1935: The Nuremberg LawsThe Nuremberg Laws took away took away

citizenship (legal exclusion and humiliation)citizenship (legal exclusion and humiliation)– 1938: 1938: KristallnachtKristallnacht The beginning of state The beginning of state

sanctioned violence against the Jews. sanctioned violence against the Jews. Synagogues and shops burnedSynagogues and shops burned

Hitler’s inner circleHitler’s inner circle

– Herman Goehring Herman Goehring (Luftwaffe)(Luftwaffe)– Ernst Roehm Ernst Roehm (SA)(SA)– Heinrich Himmler Heinrich Himmler (SS)(SS)– Karl DoenitzKarl Doenitz (U-Boats; (U-Boats; KriegsmarineKriegsmarine))

Fuhrer # 2Fuhrer # 2

– Joseph GoebbelsJoseph Goebbels (Propaganda minister)(Propaganda minister)

Himmler Goehring

Heydrich

Doenitz

THE GERMAN MILITARY THE GERMAN MILITARY STRUCTURESTRUCTURE

GERMAN MILITARY: THE GERMAN MILITARY: THE ““WERMACHTWERMACHT”” COMPONENTS:COMPONENTS:

– ““HEERHEER”: ”: GERMAN ARMY (INFANTRY, GERMAN ARMY (INFANTRY, ARMOR, ARTILLERY, etc.)ARMOR, ARTILLERY, etc.)

– ““LUFTWAFFELUFTWAFFE””:: GERMAN AIR FORCE GERMAN AIR FORCE (including airborne /paratrooper units)(including airborne /paratrooper units)

– ““WAFFEN – SSWAFFEN – SS””: : SS COMBAT UNITS (infantry, SS COMBAT UNITS (infantry, armor, military police) – SERVED IN COMBAT armor, military police) – SERVED IN COMBAT ALONG W/ ARMYALONG W/ ARMY

– ““KRIEGSMARINEKRIEGSMARINE””: : GERMAN NAVYGERMAN NAVY

– POINTS OF NOTE: POINTS OF NOTE:

The Road to WW IIThe Road to WW II Hitler’s goals laid out in Hitler’s goals laid out in Mein KampfMein Kampf

– Unite all Aryan people, Lebenstraum, slavs)Unite all Aryan people, Lebenstraum, slavs)– Rid Germany of the JewsRid Germany of the Jews

Germany re-armsGermany re-arms– Stopped reparation payments in 1933Stopped reparation payments in 1933– 1933 Germany withdrew from the League of 1933 Germany withdrew from the League of

NationsNations– Signed a non-aggression pact with Poland Signed a non-aggression pact with Poland

(undermined France’s ability to contain Germany)(undermined France’s ability to contain Germany)– March 1935: Hitler formally renounced the Treaty March 1935: Hitler formally renounced the Treaty

by forming the air force by forming the air force (Luftwaffe) under (Luftwaffe) under Herman GoehringHerman Goehring and conscripting a 250,000 and conscripting a 250,000 man armyman army

The League of Nations FailsThe League of Nations Fails Japan grabbed Manchuria and Japan grabbed Manchuria and

they did nothingthey did nothing Germany rearms they took no Germany rearms they took no

actionaction Italy attacked Ethiopia and their Italy attacked Ethiopia and their

Emperor Haile SelassieEmperor Haile Selassie in in October of 1935October of 1935– Used poison gas to restore the Used poison gas to restore the

Imperial “Glory” of Rome and Imperial “Glory” of Rome and distract from problems at home distract from problems at home avenge loss in 1896 (1 million died avenge loss in 1896 (1 million died from 1936-1941)from 1936-1941)

Remilitarization of the RhinelandRemilitarization of the Rhineland

Hitler makes this decision based on the Hitler makes this decision based on the impotence of the League of Nations in the impotence of the League of Nations in the Ethiopian problemEthiopian problem– March 7, 1936 marched troops into the March 7, 1936 marched troops into the

RhinelandRhineland AppeasementAppeasement begins begins

– Britain would not support any action and Britain would not support any action and France could not stand alone (FEAR)France could not stand alone (FEAR)

– Great opportunity to stop him and no one did Great opportunity to stop him and no one did anythinganything

Austria and the AnschlussAustria and the Anschluss

Hitler had attempted a Nazi coup in Austria in Hitler had attempted a Nazi coup in Austria in 1934 but was stopped when Mussolini moved 1934 but was stopped when Mussolini moved troops to the Austrian bordertroops to the Austrian border– 19381938: There was a new diplomatic situation and : There was a new diplomatic situation and

Hitler was ready to try againHitler was ready to try again– The Austrian Chancellor called for a vote and Hitler The Austrian Chancellor called for a vote and Hitler

sent his army into Austria on March 12 1938sent his army into Austria on March 12 1938– After the After the anschlussanschluss France’s ally Czechoslovakia France’s ally Czechoslovakia

was now surrounded on 3 sideswas now surrounded on 3 sides

CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia

Problems for Hitler: Czechoslovakia was Problems for Hitler: Czechoslovakia was democratic and pro-Western (allied to both democratic and pro-Western (allied to both France and the USSR)France and the USSR)

He concentrates on a region known as the He concentrates on a region known as the SudetenlandSudetenland (3.5 mil Germans) (3.5 mil Germans)– The Nazi party in this area continually demanded The Nazi party in this area continually demanded

concessions from the Czech governmentconcessions from the Czech government– May of 1938 tensions were running high based on May of 1938 tensions were running high based on

the rumor of a German attack (riot in September the rumor of a German attack (riot in September after a speech in Germany)after a speech in Germany)

The Munich ConferenceThe Munich Conference September 29September 29thth 1938 1938: Mussolini called for a : Mussolini called for a

meeting in Munich of Germany, Italy, GB and meeting in Munich of Germany, Italy, GB and France (France (Edourd Daladier)Edourd Daladier) to settle the to settle the Sudetenland questionSudetenland question– Germany received everything they asked for and the Germany received everything they asked for and the

Czechs lost their buffer German attackCzechs lost their buffer German attack– Hitler promised that he had “no more territorial demands Hitler promised that he had “no more territorial demands

to make in Europe”to make in Europe”– Neville ChamberlainNeville Chamberlain of GB announces that they have of GB announces that they have

achieved peace with honor and peace in our time”achieved peace with honor and peace in our time”– Problem: Russia was not invited which cut them out of Problem: Russia was not invited which cut them out of

the anti-Hitler loop (led to non-aggression pact)the anti-Hitler loop (led to non-aggression pact)– March 15March 15thth 1939 Hitler violates the agreement and takes 1939 Hitler violates the agreement and takes

the rest of Czechoslovakiathe rest of Czechoslovakia

PolandPoland

The next target for Hitler was the formerly The next target for Hitler was the formerly German city of German city of DanzigDanzig on the Baltic Which was on the Baltic Which was run by the League of Nationsrun by the League of Nations– Also he wanted direct access to East PrussiaAlso he wanted direct access to East Prussia– Propaganda insisted that Germans were being Propaganda insisted that Germans were being

mistreated by the Polesmistreated by the Poles– March 31 1939 Chamberlain announces the March 31 1939 Chamberlain announces the Franco-Franco-

British Guarantee of Polish independenceBritish Guarantee of Polish independence– However..there was not a lot of support for war to However..there was not a lot of support for war to

defend Poland in either country (needed Stalin’s defend Poland in either country (needed Stalin’s help)help)

The Nazi-Soviet PactThe Nazi-Soviet Pact

August 23August 23rdrd 1939 Hitler and Stalin announce the 1939 Hitler and Stalin announce the Nazi-Soviet non-aggression PactNazi-Soviet non-aggression Pact– Divided Poland and allowed the Soviets to occupy Divided Poland and allowed the Soviets to occupy

the Baltic States and take part of Romaniathe Baltic States and take part of Romania– September 1September 1stst 1939 Hitler invades Poland 1939 Hitler invades Poland– September 3September 3rdrd Br/Fr declare war on Germany Br/Fr declare war on Germany– September 17September 17thth Russia invades Poland (occupied Russia invades Poland (occupied

the Baltic States)the Baltic States)– November the Russians invade Finland (took 6 November the Russians invade Finland (took 6

months to defeat them)months to defeat them)