The Road to WWII

Result of Munich Conference:

- Czechslovakia is abandoned and weakened bu the loss of military defenses and rescources - Germany gained the Sudentenland - Britain and France gained time to build up their armed forces, but so did Germany - Hitler decided Britain and frnace were unlikely ever to oppose him by force - Stalin was offended at being excluded from the talks and decided he could not rely on Britain to help the USSR stand up against Germany

Results of Invasion:

- Hitler stabs Stalin in the beak and Blitz' Russia, parts of Europe, and England - Germans are successful at this - First 2-3 years, Germans are thought of to win the war - War is officially on after the invasion of Poland - England and France declare war on Germany, and Russia joins eventually when Hitler takes the rest of Poland

Poland 1939

- Hitler wants to take yellow section (Poland) back - Decides he is going to go into Poland, however Russia is near and he is nervous that Stalin will give him issues, so he doesn't want to appear violent. He then makes a deal with Russia in order to split Poland

Hitler's Goals

- Reverse the Treaty of Versailles - Create a "Greater Germany" by uniting all German speaking people - The creation of Lebensraum- living space for the German people

Why did Stalin sign the Pact?

- Stalin does not trust England and France will be strong enough to defend Russia against Germany also wanted parts of Poland - Did not believe that Hitler would take his word, but he wanted to "buy time" in order to build up a military

What did the Treaty do?

- Treaty weakened Germany - Forced them to pay reparations - Blamed for the war - Lost territory

Non-Aggression Pact:

- Will not fight one another - Will equally divide Poland

What happened at the Munich Conference, according to Shirer? What did he feel was the reaction in Czechoslovakia and the rest of Europe?

According to Shier, the big four agreed to give the Sudetenland to Germany to give Hitler what he wanted. He felt that all of Europe was happy to not go to war, but the Czechs were not.

What evidence did this historian give for his belief that Hitler would not have been stopped prior to 1939?

Because before then, Hitler had done nothing that anybody considered dangerous enough to begin a war, and there was no existing coalition that could have opposed his forces.

What are two reasons Kennan felt the Munich Agreement was unnecessary?

Because the Czech defenses were very strong, and because Hitler was about to be removed by Germany.

What strategy did Churchill suggest for keeping peace and stopping the growth of Nazi power?

Churchill said that Britain and france will secure the power of Czechslovakia.

Munich Conference

Countries meet in Munich 1938 in a conference organized by Mussolini. They discuss what do with Sudetenland, and they agree to give Hitler this land, if he does not go any further. Hitler promises to do so, but he does not keep his promise.

Policy of Appeasement

Neville Chamberlain was the British Prime Minister, who wants peace, and thinks the best way to do this would be pleasing Hitler, by saying that they should give him a piece of the Sudetenland.

What were two reasons used to explain why appeasement was logical at that time?

The Germans were the only ones who could take Hitler out of power, and the defeat of Germany would be followed by a Russian domination over Europe.

In his opinion, what opportunities had been lost in the quest for peace?

The opportunities to stop the growth of the Nazi power

Who was responsible for these lost opportunities?

Those who have control of their political affairs.

Czechoslovakia: 1938

allies want Hitler to stop, but they don't know if they should stop him of give him the land.

Austria: 1938

eventually they will expand in Austria. Mussolini begins to get nervous here, because Germans are coming closer to Italy. The rest of the world notices Hitler, but they do not want to fight him and Mussolini. Violation of the TOV

Rhineland: 1936

send troops in (first attempt to break the TOV) nobody goes to stop him, so he realizes that he can continue to expand

Austria: 1934

still nervous about expanding, so at this point, they just discuss with Austria about being friends, but they must be sneaky because it is against the treaty