CHAPTER 20A WORLD IN FLAMES

(1931 - 1941)

20.1 – AMERICA AND THE WAR

• See 20.1 packet

20.2 – WORLD WAR II BEGINS

• In 1935 Hitler began to violate the Treaty of Versailles:

a. Germany began building a new air force

b. Began a draft to increase the size of the army

• Why didn’t the European nations stop him at this time?

ANSCHLUSS

• In 1937 Hitler called for the unification of all German speaking peoples, including those in Austria and Czechoslovakia

• 1938 – Hitler sent troops into Austria and announces the Anschluss (unification) of Austria and Germany

MUNICH CRISIS - SUDETENLAND

• 1938 – Hitler announced German claims to the Sudetenland• German-speaking

area in Czechoslovakia

• At the Munich Conference G.B. and France agreed to Hitler’s demands• Appeasement?

Why did G.B. and France do this?

DANZIG

• 1938 – Hitler demanded that Danzig, Poland be returned to Germany

• Great Britain and France decided enough was enough, would go to war with Poland if Poland fought back

• Hitler ordered his army to prepare for a German invasion and began negotiations with the USSR (why?)

NAZI-SOVIET PACT

• 1939 – Germany and the USSR sign the pact, world was shocked• Germany was now free or

its Eastern Front concerns• Secret deal to divide Poland

between Germany and the USSR• Why would the USSR agree

to this?

STALIN

WORLD WAR II BEGINS

• Sept. 1, 1939 – Germany invades Poland• Blitzkrieg tactics

overwhelm Poland in 1 month

• Sept. 3, 1939 – GB and France declare war on Germany

Video clip

WORLD WAR II BEGINS

• W. Europe was quiet as British and French troops waited behind the Maginot Line• Defensive along Fr./Ger.

border- Big mistake, why?

• Germans went around the ML into Luxembourg and Belgium; F and B troops were trapped in Belgium

Video clip

MIRACLE AT DUNKIRK

• 338,000 British and French troops were evacuated from the port at Dunkirk and sent across the English Channel in early June, 1940

Video clip

GERMANY CONQUERS FRANCE

• June 22, 1940 – Germany conquers northern and western France

• Vichy France – established as puppet gov’t under Petain to govern France• De Gaulle challenged the

legitimacy of the Vichy gov’t

BRITISH RESISTANCE TO GERMANY

• GB was led by Prime Minister Winston Churchill

• Germany bombs London, hoping to break the will of the people and force a surrender (video clip)

• Battle of Britain (summer – fall of 1940) – massive air battle between GB and Germany• Both sides bombed civilians in cities• British used radar• Hitler called off the invasion of GB

20.4 – AMERICA ENTERS THE WAR

• See 20.4 packet

PEARL HARBOR – DEC.7, 1941