TIMELINE•Copy by hand the key events on the timeline and add at least 2 illustrations. You can create a mind map or an illustrated timeline. Your timeline should be thoughtful, neat, and well-created. Timelines will be turned in by tomorrow at the beginning of the class period.•Your timeline will span the years 1939-1945, and maybe a little before and after those dates if you wish.•Write down the 8-10 events that you think are interesting/important. Everyone’s timeline will look a little different.

By: Ms. Susan M. PojerHorace Greeley H. S. Chappaqua, NY

Additional material by Molly Lynde

The Versailles TreatyThe Versailles Treaty

A Weak League of Nations

A Weak League of Nations

The Ineffectiveness of the League of Nations

The Ineffectiveness of the League of Nations

y No control of major conflicts.

y No progress in disarmament.y No effective military force.

The “Stab-In-The-Back” TheoryThe “Stab-In-The-Back” Theory

German soldiers are dissatisfied.

Decadence of the Weimar Republic

Decadence of the Weimar Republic

International AgreementsInternational Agreements

Locarno Pact – 1925y France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy Guarantee existing frontiers Establish DMZ 30 miles deep on East bank of Rhine River

Refrain from aggression against each other

Kellogg-Briand Pact – 1928y Makes war illegal as a tool of diplomacy No enforcement provisions

France – False Sense of Security?

France – False Sense of Security?

The MaginotLine

Important Dates1931- Japan invades Manchuria1935- Italy invades Ethopia1936- Rome- Berlin Pact1936-1939 Spanish Civil War1936/37- Japan takes Nanjing China1936- Hitler takes Rhineland1938- Hitler takes Austria1938- Hitler takes Sudetenland1938- Munich Agreement/ Appeasement1939- Hitler takes Czhechoslovakia

Czechoslavakia Crisis• Created after WWI, millions of

ethnic Germans live there, it’s called Sudetenland

• Land rich in minerals• 1938, Hitler demanded return of the

Sudetenland to the Reich, or German gov’t

• Czechoslavakia turns to ally France for help and France seeks guidance from Brit.

• Brit. and France say they’ll support “self-determination” (right to choose gov’t)

• Hitler frustrated, Sept. 22 he demanded complete annexation and occupation

How Would Your Country Respond?A. Unconditional support German

demandsB. Neutral (not supporting either

side)C. Negotiated w/ Hitler. He can take

Sudetenland if he promises to make no more demands on Czech.

D. Oppose Germany but no threat to declare war on Germany if it attacks Sudetenland

E. Threaten to declare war on Germany if it tries to take Sudentenland

Britain• You try to talk to Germany – Munich

Conference Sept. 28, 1938• Appeasement (making

compromises to an aggressor to keep peace) by letting Germany occupy Sudetenland

• Agreement between Germany and Britain, France, Italy (called the Munich Pact) said Germany could occupy Sudetenland if it was their last territorial demand in Europe

• (C)

France • Claimed it would defend Czech.

if it was attacked by Germany, but in reality, French president doesn’t want fighting

• France attends Munich conference too and signed Munich Pact

• (C)

Soviet Union• Strictly opposed to extension of

German territory, so they didn’t attend Munich Conference

• Stalin supported Czech. against German aggression, but didn’t think his army was ready to fight Germany in 1938

• Reluctantly, he decided to not become involved in solving the crisis

• (D)

United States• Isolationist foreign policy after

WWI• Maintained neutrality toward

European problems• (B)

Poland• Supported Germany b/c it wanted

the rich, coal-producing region in northern Czech.

• For its support, Poland was awarded this northern region by Germany in Sept. 1938

• (A)

Switzerland• Remained neutral• But b/c it was close to both

Czech. and Germany, it accelerated its preparedness for war

• (B)

Violation of Munich• Munich Conference – Britain,

France, Germany, Italy• Britain and France want to strike

a deal – appeasement• Germany occupied Sudetenland

in Oct., but soon Germany begins to pressure Czech leaders and wants new Czech gov’t that’s sympathetic to Germany

• Threatens war • Occupy Czech. and annexes it

next day

How do you respond?A. Supported Germany’s annexation

of Czech.B. Declared war on Germany for

breaking Munich PactC. Continued appeasement, hoping

Germany would finish its territorial aggression

D. Tried to negotiate with Germany to pull out of Czech.

E. NeutralF. Neutral, but prepared for defensive

war in case of invasion

Britain• Didn’t respond, just stood by• (C)

France • Followed Britain’s lead, appeasing

Hitler in hopes that Czech. Crisis wouldn’t cause international war

• (C)

Soviet Union• Adopted a more friendly stance

towards Germany b/c Stalin thought Western countries could do nothing to stop the rise of Nazi Germany

• Hoped that good relationship w/ Germany would keep Russia out of European war

• (A)

United States• Maintained neutrality• Staying out of conflicts in Europe• (E)

Poland• Too small to stand up to Germany • Forced to accept appeasement

policy adopted by allies, Britain and France

• (C)

Switzerland• Maintained neutrality• But intensifies defensive

measures because of threat of invasion

• (F)

Invasion of Poland• After occupation of Czech, Hitler

looks towards Polish Corridor, strip of German land given to Poland in 1919

• This strip split Germany into two parts

• 1939, Hitler makes demands for territory to be returned to Germany

• Fearing aggression, Poland reinforced defense agreements w/France, Brit., USSR

• But, Hitler and Stalin shocked the world by signing the Nonaggression Pact (pledging to not attack one another in case of war

Invasion of Poland• Defense agreement between

Poland and USSR useless now• Neville Chamberlain, Brit. Prime

Minister, formally gives Brit. support to Poland

• France promises to attack Germany if they start war in Poland

• Sept. 1, 1939, Germany invades Poland

How do you respond?A. NeutralB. Neutral, but prepared for defensive

war in case of invasionC. Gave financial aid (money) to Allies

(all countries fighting against Germany)- Germany and its allies called Axis

PowersD. Joined Germany in its invasion of

PolandE. Declared war on Germany and

hoped they would retreat from Poland, but did not actually fight

F. Declared war on Germany and sent troops to fight the Germans

Britain• Could not help defend Poland

militarily• Declares war on Germany, but does

not start any fighting w/Germans• (E)

France • Declares war on Germany• Some minor attacks on the French-

German border, but for the most part, France does not aid the Poles despite their defense agreement

• France begins long process to defend its border w/ Germany

• (E)

Soviet Union• Supported German invasion of Poland• Stalin realizes war in Europe

inevitable so he signs secret agreements w/ Germany that would divide up Eastern Europe between the two countries

• Soviet Union invades Poland in alliance w/ Germany

• (D)

United States• With the invasion of Poland, the

official beginning of the war, the U.S. announces its neutrality

• Pres. Roosevelt says he’ll take all necessary measures except for war to help the Allies

• (A)

Poland• Fought for over 3 weeks before

surrendering to Germany and Soviet Union

• A Polish “gov’t in exile” established in London

• (F)

Switzerland• Stays neutral• But it does mobilize 430,000 troops

in case it was invaded by Germany• (B)

Invasion of France• After fall of Poland, Germany and

Allies didn’t fight for 8 months – the “phony war”

• Then, Germany invades Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium in May 1940 (they all surrender)

• Germany had already invaded France, but w/ Belgium conquered, its able to have full attention on capturing Paris (if Paris falls, France falls)

• French move their gov’t south to prepare

Response to fall of Paris?A. Surrender unconditionally to

GermanyB. Surrender on condition that your

gov’t retained limited independence and control of some of your territory

C. Proclaim neutralityD. Neutral, but prepare defenses in

case war spreadsE. Fought Germany wherever possibleF. Supported Germany’s invasion of

France

Great Britain• Britain had already evacuated its

troops from France b/c of German pressure, so British couldn’t help defend Paris

• But Brit. continues to fight Germans elsewhere

• Britain left alone after Paris fell, last Allied country not occupied/annexed by Germany

Soviet Union• Supported the invasion but doesn’t

participate in it• (F)

United States

• Maintained neutrality, but alarmed by success of Germany

• When Italy declares war on France and Britain, Pres. Roosevelt announces that the United States would “extend to the opponents of force (the Allies) the material resources of this nation”

• (C)

Poland• Had been partitioned by Germany

and USSR, but the troops who had been able to escape the country continued to fight Germany elsewhere

• (E)

Switzerland

• Maintains neutrality, but w/ the fall of France, it was completely surrounded by Axis countries or Axis-occupied lands

• Swiss plan to defend only the heartland of their country

• (D)

France• Surrendered and signed armistice

(cease-fire) w/ Germany on June 22, 1940

• w/ the armistice, Germany had direct control over northern and western 60% of France

• French gov’t would keep control of the rest of France, but it was set up as a puppet gov’t collaborating w/ Germans (Vichy Gov’t)

• Charles de Gaulle (a French general refuses the Vichy Gov’t and creates Free French Gov’t– He wants to continue fight against

Germany

France• Both (B) and (E) are right b/c Vichy

and the Free French Gov’t had individual responses to events

• So now France is divided into two gov’ts

Battle of Britain• When France surrenders in 1940 to

Germany, Hitler in control of all W. European countries except Great Britain

• Hitler hopes that new PM (Winston Churchill) would surrender, but he doesn’t

• Operation Sea Lion, invasion of Britain

• Battle of Britain, Luftewaffe (German Air Force)– Has to be preceded by massive air

assault to destroy Brit. air defenses (radar stations, air bases)

How do you respond?A. Surrender to GermanyB. Fought against Germany’s attack

Brit.C. Supported Germany’s attack on Brit.D. Proclaimed neutralityE. Neutral, but supported Brit. w/

military supplies and moneyF. Proclaimed neutrality, but prepared

defenses in case war spreads

Britain• Royal Air Force fights brilliantly• 40,000 Brit. causalities, 16,000

civilians dead• Germans lose almost 2,000 planes by

Oct. 31• Brit. wins Battle of Britain and HUGE

morale boost – its “finest hour”• (B)

France• Vichy supports the Nazis in Battle of

Brit.• Free French in Britain contributed to

defense of the country• Vichy (C)• Free France (B)

United States

• Neutral but transferred 50 American destroyers to Brit. navy

• U.S. loaned Brit. $ to pay for their defense

• (E)

Poland• Had been partitioned by Nazis and

Soviets in 1939• But four squadrons of Polish pilots

fought successfully in Battle of Britain

• (B)

Swiss• Maintained neutrality• Continues plans for defense against

possible German invasion

Invasion of Soviet Union• After victories in W. and S. Europe,

Hitler begins long-anticipated invasion of Soviet Union – “Operation Barbarossa”

• Nonaggression Pact (1939) had been purely pragmatic (practical) attempt to stall inevitable battle

• Nazis thought they could defeat Soviet Union in a few weeks

• June 22, 1941 – Hitler unleashes massive invasion in USSR

Response?A. Supported Germany’s invasion of

Soviet UnionB. Fought against the German invasion

of Soviet UnionC. Proclaimed neutralityD. Supported the Soviets by sending

military supplies and materials, but no troops

E. Surrendered to GermanyF. Opposed Germany’s invasion by

fighting Germans elsewhere

Britain• GB and Soviet Union captured Iran in

Aug. 1941– This allowed Brit. to send arms and

materials through India to USSR during the war

• (D)

France• Vichy France stays allied to Germany

and sent some troops to aid in Operation Barbarossa

• Free France fought in the war against Germany in N. Africa and still defended Brit.

• But unable to aid in defense of USSR• Vichy (A)• Free France (F)

United States• Agreed to give support of Allies to

Soviet Union (tanks, raw materials) through Iran

• In Dec. 1941 (after Pearl Harbor), U.S. joins Allies and begins fighting Axis (Germany, Italy, and Japan)

• (D)

Poland• Remained under German control

during Barbarossa• Polish prisoners captured during

Soviet invasion pf Poland formed into army in USSR that fought against Germans on Eastern Front

• (B)

Swiss

• NEUTRAL• (C)

Soviet Union• Higher number of troops and

severe winter save Soviet troops against Germany

• Germans have to wait out harsh winter

• Soviets use that time to reorganize and stockpile supplies

• More attacks in the spring, but USSR defend valiantly

• Feb. 1943, Germans forced to surrender at Stalingrad – tide turns

• (B)

Operation Overlord• By 1944, Allies ready to launch

Operation Overlord, invasion of Normandy coast of France

• D-Day June 6, 1944• Germany now in control of all of

France, ended Vichy Gov’t in 1942• Nazi generals had been expecting an

invasion of France and had reinforced defenses on Normandy

Response?A. Participated fully in invasion of

Normandy coastB. Supported Allies by sending some

troops and supplies to Operation Overlord

C. Did not participate in Operation Overlord, but fought Germans elsewhere

D. Gave financial support to AlliesE. NeutralF. Neutral but secretly helped Allies

Great Britain• Organized and housed Allied army

while it prepared for invasion of France

• 83,000 Brit. and Canadian soldiers made up over half of landing forces

• (A)

France • Vichy France had been overrun by

Nazis b/c Vichy generals were cooperating w/Allies

• All French forces came under control of Free France Gov’t

• French soldiers participate in Operation Overlord, which drives Germans out of France

• (A)

Soviet Union• Continued war against Germany in

the East, but does not participate in Operation Overlord

• By June 1944, Red Army had driven Germans off of almost all Soviet territory

• (C)

United States• 73,000 U.S. troops in the invasion• American general Dwight D.

Eisenhower commands Allied armies in Europe and accepts German surrender on May 8, 1945

• (A)

Poland• Poland’s government-in-exile

prepared for the liberation of Poland by the Soviets

• Polish forces active in invasion of Italy, but not Operation Overlord

• (C)

Swiss• Remained neutral• However, its Air Force secretly aided

the Allies in their bombing of Germany

• Swiss gave Allies precision instruments used in making of planes, tanks, bombs, etc.

• (F)

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression

The Manchurian Crisis, 1931

The Manchurian Crisis, 1931

Japan Invades Manchuria, 1931

Japan Invades Manchuria, 1931

Italy Attacks Ethiopia, 1935

Italy Attacks Ethiopia, 1935

Emperor Haile

Selassie

Germany Invades the Rhineland

March 7, 1936

Germany Invades the Rhineland

March 7, 1936

U. S. Neutrality Acts:1934, 1935, 1937, 1939

U. S. Neutrality Acts:1934, 1935, 1937, 1939

Rome-Berlin Axis, 1936Rome-Berlin Axis, 1936

The “Pact of Steel”

y Carlists [ultra-Catholic monarchists].

y Catholic Church.

y Falange [fascist] Party.

y Monarchists.

y Communists.

y Republicans.

y Socialists.

TheNational

Front[Nationalists]

TheNational

Front[Nationalists]

ThePopularFront

[Republicans]

ThePopularFront

[Republicans]

The Spanish Civil War:1936 - 1939

The Spanish Civil War:1936 - 1939

The Spanish Civil War:A Dress Rehearsal for WW II?

The Spanish Civil War:A Dress Rehearsal for WW II?

Italian troops in Madrid

“Guernica” by Pablo Picasso

“Guernica” by Pablo Picasso

The Spanish Civil War: 1936 - 1939

The Spanish Civil War: 1936 - 1939

The American “Lincoln Brigade”

The Spanish Civil War: 1936 - 1939

The Spanish Civil War: 1936 - 1939

Francisco Franco

The Japanese Invasionof China, 1937

The Japanese Invasionof China, 1937

The Austrian Anschluss, 1938The Austrian Anschluss, 1938

The “Problem” of theSudetenland

The “Problem” of theSudetenland

Appeasement: The Munich Agreement, 1938

Appeasement: The Munich Agreement, 1938

Now we have “peace in our time!” Herr Hitler is a man we can do

business with.

British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain

Czechoslovakia Becomes Part of the Third Reich: 1939

Czechoslovakia Becomes Part of the Third Reich: 1939

The Nazi-SovietNon-Aggression Pact, 1939

The Nazi-SovietNon-Aggression Pact, 1939

Foreign Ministers von Ribbentrop &

Molotov

Poland Attacked: Sept. 1, 1939

Poland Attacked: Sept. 1, 1939

Blitzkrieg [“Lightening War”]

German Troops March into Warsaw

German Troops March into Warsaw

Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis, 1940

Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis, 1940

The Tripartite Pact

European Theater of Operations

European Theater of Operations

The Phony War Ends

Hitler invaded Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.With everyone’s attention on Hitler’s sweep of these nations he sent an even larger force into France through the Ardrennes Forest, avoiding the Maginot Line - a system of fortifications along France’s border with Germany. Allied forces and German forces stared at each other. Became known as Stizkrieg

Dunkirk EvacuatedJune 4, 1940

Dunkirk EvacuatedJune 4, 1940

The War Comes to Europe