Turmoil & Tragedy:1933-1945

Attack on Pearl Harbour: Dec. 7, 1941

Causes of WWII:

1. Treaty of Versailles2. Great Depression –Germany and

Japan driven to radical political solutions to solve economic struggles

3. Failure of Collective Security (League of Nations)

Causes of WWII in the Pacific:

Japan in Depression:1. International trade reduced by 2/3rds 2. Factories closed3. Attempt out through Asian Keynesian

economics4. War of Conquest = Manchuria 19315. Invade mainland China 1937

U.S.A.’s Reaction to Japanese Aggression:

1. Froze Japanese assets in America in July 19412. October 1941 cut off Japan’s oil supply3. Roosevelt’s “Day of Infamy” speech following

attack on Pearl Harbour Dec.8, 19414. USA & Britain declare war on Japan

Germany = Declares war on USA

Causes of WWII in Europe: Nazi Foreign Policies

1. Cancelled reparations2. Increases armed forces3. Formed Luftwaffe4. Announced compulsory military service5. Reoccupied Rhineland with military

Nazi Domestic Policy:

United all German peoples with the fatherland:• Austria• Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia• Part of Western Poland (Polish Corridor)• East Prussia

Appeasement:

“Approach to foreign relations which attempts to maintain peace by making concessions to the aggressor so as to prevent the aggressor from going to war”

Mr. Pitre’s version:

Why Appeasement?

1. Fear of another World War2. From British point of view a stronger

Germany was good for trade purposes3. Greater fear of Communism than of Hitler

Rhineland Crisis:

1. Hitler’s army occupies demilitarized Rhineland (supposed to remain a buffer) March 1936

2. Hitler blames Franco-Soviet Pact3. Also claims it breaks Locarno Pact of 19194. Rest of Europe more concerned with Mussolini

and invasion of Ethiopia5. Hitler offers 25 years peace6. Offers demilitarized zone on either side of

Rhineland

Reaction to Rhineland Crisis:

1. French retaliation draws no support from British

2. French complain to League of Nations3. British appease Hitler’s aggression4. Appeasement becomes accepted policy

Kurt Alois Josef Johann Edler von Schuschnigg

Chancellor of the First Austrian Republic, following the assassination of his predecessor, Dr. Engelbert Dollfuss, in July 1934, until Germany’s invasion of Austria

Anschluss Crisis:(“Link-up”)

1.Versailles and St.Germain forbade unification of Germany & Austria

2. 1936 Hitler signs the Austro-German Treaty which declares Austria a German state (culturally) and Hitler promises an independent Austria

3. Schuschnigg forced to agree to Hitler’s demand of increased Nazi control in Austria

Annexation:1. Schuschnigg calls a plebiscite to question

Austrian independence2. Hitler angered, forces Sch. to resign,

Hitler’s man Seyss-Inquart replaces Schuschnigg

3. Goering makes S-I request the German gov. to restore law and order in Austria

4. March 1938 Austrian sovereignty abolished5. Another “plebiscite” called = 99.75%

approve of proceedings

                                                 

A British cartoon of 1938 shows Germany crushing Austria. Next in line is Czechoslovakia. At the back, Britain says to France, who is next-to-last: ‘Why should we take a stand about someone pushing someone else when it’s all so far away?’

British Reaction The British

government protested strongly (Churchill).

The many reasons behind the policy of appeasement, however, prevented them from taking stronger action.

British Reaction Nevertheless, it also seemed that: Austria

was too far away from Britain and too close to Germany for Britain to take effective action

The Austrian people generally welcomed the Anschluss and that it would be silly to defend their independence against their own wishes

Italian reaction Little Mussolini could do Germany was far too

strong and had widespread support inside Austria

Hitler did not clear ‘invasion’ plan with Italy

However Mussolini sent Hitler a message ‘Austria did not interest him at all’

Hitler was relieved

Czechoslovakia reaction Could not do

anything Now in a dangerous

position surrounded on 3 sides

Hitler sent message to assure Czechoslovakia that they had nothing to worry about

They did not believe Hitler

French reaction Changing

governments again

Not in a position to react

Although in agreement with the international community that nothing could or should be done!!

Significance of the Anschluss Austria no longer existed 7 million people added to Germany Gave Hitler common border with Italy

Gave Hitler control of Austria’s iron, steel, & engineering industries (for armaments)

Austria provided a springboard for any potential invasion of South-eastern Europe if Hitler so decided (Czechoslovakia)

Next Target: Czechoslovakia

Why? It held 3.5 million ethnic Germans

Sudeten's become excited

Opposition: Benes (PM) saw Hitler as aggressor

Munich Crisis 1938:

1. Benes surprisingly offers Sudeten’s everything they wanted

2. They only want annexation3. At Berchtesgaden Hitler and Chamberlain

(British PM) meet = appeasement4. Benes resists5. French and British panic fearing a war would

breakout

Munich Conference/Pact:

1. Mussolini enters, proposes conference (4 nations)

2. Hitler agrees to delay his occupation3. French and British hope that they can

pressure Benes4. Benes resigns, replaced by Emil Hacha

End of Czechoslovakia:

1. Nazis agitate other ethnic groups2. 1939 Slovak state grows turbulent3. Czech. gov. Dismisses local Slovak gov. 4. Hitler sides with Slovaks & troops assist5. March 15,1939 Hacha signs away Czech.

independence for fear of invasion, becomes a German protectorate (under control)

Results of Rhineland, Anschluss, Czechoslovakia Crisis

1. Hitler loses all credibility2. Anti-appeasement begins in Britain3. Some rearmament begins4. British look for support vs. Hitler

Poland: April 1938 France and Britain give

Romania and Bulgaria a guarantee of support

Stalin: Approaches the West with agreement that is ultimately rejected:

1. West suspicious of Stalin`s motives2. Fearful of Red Army3. West could not convince Poland to

allow Russian troops into Poland

Nazi-Soviet Pact:

August 23, 1939 Stalin gets nowhere with West so he signs

with Hitler1. Agree not to fight each other2. Agree to divide Poland

War Declared:

1. Hitler tried to convince Britain and France that claims on Polish Corridor and Danzig were legitimate

2. September 1, 1939 – Hitler uses blitzkrieg against Poland

3. September 3, 1939 Britain and France declare war on Germany

4. Winston Churchill promoted to First Lord of the Admiralty as part of the War Cabinet