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The Road to War: 1919-1939

The Road to War: 1919-1939. Europe 1919-1938. German Geographic Problems--World War I. short Atlantic coast narrow access to the North Sea the Alps limit movement south Britain controls Gibraltar and the seas. Germany had inadequate resources to fight a two front war for very long.

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The Road to War: 1919-1939

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  1. The Road to War: 1919-1939

  2. Europe 1919-1938

  3. German Geographic Problems--World War I • short Atlantic coast • narrow access to the North Sea • the Alps limit movement south • Britain controls Gibraltar and the seas. • Germany had inadequate resources to fight a two front war for very long.

  4. German Geographic Problems--World War I limited access to North Sea short Atlantic coast the Alps Gibralter

  5. The Treaty of Versailles • Austria-Hungary was dissolved • Russia became communist • Germany loses land to France and Poland

  6. The Treaty of Versailles • This infuriated many Germans, including a young corporal named Adolf Hitler

  7. Hitler in Prison • By 1924, Hitler led the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) or Nazis • led an unsuccessful coup attempt • sent to jail • wrote Mein Kampf--or My Struggle. Hitler with friends in prison

  8. Mein Kampf • tells his master plan • Germans are Aryan race • the Master Race. • others, esp. Jews and Slavs, are “sub-human.” • blames the Jews • for Germany’s defeat • links them to communism. • “Lebensraum”

  9. Lebensraum • “room to live” in the East • occupied by Slavs, Jews, Poles, and other “sub-humans.”

  10. Hitler in Power Hitler • By 1935, Hitler was “führer” or leader of Germany. Soldiers listening to Hitler

  11. The Rhineland, 1936 • No German troops allowed under the Treaty of Versailles • Hitler marches in

  12. The Rhineland, 1936 • Hitler cancels the Treaty of Versailles • Begins to rearm Germany • British and French do nothing • Want a strong Germany as a buffer between them and Soviet Union • Felt Hitler was the lesser of two evils

  13. German Geographic Problems limited access to North Sea Eastern Front • couldn’t win a two front war • Britain & France might object to plans • Britain controlled the seas. short Atlantic coast Western Front the Alps Gibralter

  14. Lebensraum meant taking Poland

  15. Germany and Poland • short border with Poland • Poles would fight fanatically.

  16. Czechoslovakia • Hitler wanted to go around the Polish defenses. • That meant Czechoslovakia.

  17. Czechoslovakia • Sudetenland • mountains occupied by Germans • Czechs had it heavily fortified

  18. Austria • would go through Austria

  19. The Anschluss of Austria--March 1938 • Austrian Nazi party wanted to join Germany. • Italy and Spain abandoned Austria • Hitler forces Austrians to give up planned elections • Nazi put in charge of the gov’t. • the Wehrmacht--the German army--asked to “restore order.”

  20. The Sudetenland--Autumn 1938 • Hitler said that Germans were being persecuted • should be part of “Greater Germany” • The Czechs--strong army and mountains

  21. The Sudetenland--Autumn 1938 • The Czechs asked for British and French help • Hitler • said--surrender the Sudetenland or fight. • called the Munich Conference • Germany, Italy, Britain, and France invited. • Not Czech. or Soviet Union Can you say, "homefield advantage?"

  22. The Sudetenland--Autumn 1938 • Br. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and Fr. Premier Eduard Daldier appease Hitler • agreed to no further expansion Chamberlain Hitler Daldier Mussolini

  23. Who’s this?? Appeasement • To allow an aggressor to take what he wants rather than to fight him. • was criticized by many, • Chamberlain and Daldier chose to believe Hitler • The Czechs gave up in October 1938.

  24. March 1939 • March 1939, takes the rest of Czechoslovakia. • British and French again did nothing, but begin to rearm • Poland and the Soviet Union got scared

  25. Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact dictator of Soviet Union • Hitler preparing to invade Poland. • Britain/France supported Poland • Nazis talk to Joseph Stalin • Stalin needed time • purges had killed off his army officers • “commissars” controlled officers Joseph Stalin

  26. Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact Isn't she lovely? • August 1939 • allowed Hitler to invade Poland • Stalin • got eastern half of Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania • Time to prepare • Poland would be isolated. WONDER HOW LONG THE HONEYMOON WILL LAST?

  27. Poland--August 1939 • Hitler-- Germans in Poland were being persecuted. • staged a fake attack on a radio station

  28. September 1, 1939 • The Wehrmacht crashes into Poland.

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