The Rise of Hitler and beginnings of war

1. The Rise of Hitler and beginnings of war SWBAT: explain how Hitler was able to conquer Europe at the beginning of his quest for global domination. Homework: Finish “Letter to Roosevelt” activity if not finished in class and Vocab due Wednesday Do Now: using your homework, which event do you think was the most important? Why?

2. Groups, Topics, Guidelines, and Requirements Project Overview

3. Hitler Gains Popularity…But why? • In the early 1930s, the mood in Germany was grim. • The worldwide economic depression had hit the country especially hard and unemployment was high. • Germany's humiliating defeat during World War I was still humiliating. • Germans lacked confidence in their weak government, known as the Weimar Republic. • Hitler was a powerful and spellbinding speaker who attracted a wide following of Germans desperate for change. • He promised a better life and a new and glorious Germany. • The Nazis appealed especially to the unemployed, young people, and members of the lower middle class.

4. Nazism becomes popular quickly • The party's rise to power was rapid. • In the 1924 elections, the Nazis were practically unknown, winning only 3 percent of the vote to the Reichstag (German parliament) • In the 1932 elections, the Nazis won 33 percent of the votes, more than any other party. • In January, 1933 Hitler was appointed chancellor, the head of the German government, and many Germans believed that they had found a savior for their nation. • Hitler quickly dismantled the Weimar Republic and est. the Third Reich.

5. Going back to yesterday… • What was the League of Nations response to aggression from world powers (i.e. Italy attacking Ethiopia, Japan attacking Manchuria, etc.)? • What message does this send to someone like Hitler who is looking for room to expand?

6. Austria Falls • November, 1937 Hitler met with his top military advisors and declared that he planned to absorb Austria and Czechoslovakia into the Third Reich. • Why Austria? • A majority of Austria’s 6 million people identified themselves as German and supported unification with Germany. • In March, 1938, German troops marched into Austria unopposed. • The U.S. and the rest of the world did nothing.

7. Czechoslovakia • Like Austria, there were many people living on the Germany/Czech border who identified themselves as German. • This area was called Sudetenland. • Hitler claimed that the Czechs were abusing the Sudeten Germans. • Newspapers ran headlines like “Germans run down by Czech tanks killing women and children” Germany Sudetenland

8. The Sudetenland Falls • Earlier in the crisis, both France and Great Britain claimed they would protect Czechoslovakia. • Hitler invited the French premier and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain to Munich, Germany and told them this would be his last demand. • Eagar to avoid war, they both chose to believe him and signed the Munch Agreement which turned the Sudetenland over to Germany with no shots being fired. • Thus began the policy of appeasement: giving up principles to pacify an aggressor.

9. Not everyone agrees with appeasement… • Winston Churchill, the main political opponent of Neville Chamberlain, disagreed with this policy and stated: • “Britain and France had to choose between war and dishonor. They chose dishonor. They will have war.” • What is Churchill saying in this quote?

10. Czechoslovakia Falls • At dawn on March 15, 1939, German troops poured into what remained of Czechoslovakia. • By nightfall, Czechoslovakia ceased to exist.

11. The Invasion of Poland Begins • Poland, like Czechoslovakia and Austria, also had a sizeable German-speaking population. • Again, Hitler claims the Poles were abusing the German population. • Invading Poland, however, would cause a conflict with Russia, Poland's neighbor to the east. • Invading Poland would also probably lead to a declaration of war by England and France, which could mean a 2 front war.

12. Stalin’s Surprises Everyone • Stalin surprised England and France by signing a nonaggression pact with Germany, their once bitter WWI enemy. • It agreed they would not attack one another. • They also signed another secret pact agreeing to divide Poland between them. • With the elimination of the 2 front war, Poland’s fate was sealed.

13. Invasion of Poland • Using blitzkrieg (lightning war) tactics, Poland quickly fell. • Utilized advances in military technology, such as fast tanks and powerful aircraft, to surprise and overwhelm the enemy. • France and Great Britain declare war on Germany. • Poland is divided in 2 with Germany receiving the western half and the Soviet Union receiving the eastern half. • World War II had officially begun.

14. Activity- a Letter to Roosevelt • One country we have not discussed yet is the U.S., who at this point is staying out of the war in Europe. • Imagine you are Winston Churchill (Prime Minister of England as of 1940). • Write a letter to Franklin Roosevelt explaining the events that are happening in Europe up to 1940 and finish by asking for his assistance in fighting Hitler. • The letter should be a paragraph in length (6-8 sentences). • Title the document “Letter to Roosevelt” and put it in your US I folder in your drive. • If this is not finished in class, it is for homework.