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?

Project Overview

GROUPS, TOPICS, GUIDELINES, AND REQUIREMENTS

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

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.

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?

Czechoslovakia Falls

At dawn on March 15, 1939, German troops poured into what remained of Czechoslovakia.

By nightfall, Czechoslovakia ceased to exist.

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.

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.

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.

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.