Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Section 2Section 2

War In EuropeWar In EuropeMain Idea:Main Idea:

Using the sudden mass Using the sudden mass attack called attack called

blitzkriegblitzkrieg, Germany , Germany invaded and quickly invaded and quickly

conquered many conquered many European countries.European countries.

Austria and Czechoslovakia Austria and Czechoslovakia FallFall

Nov 5, 1937 Hitler met w/ military Nov 5, 1937 Hitler met w/ military advisorsadvisors

Declared that to grow and prosper Declared that to grow and prosper Germany needed the land of the Germany needed the land of the neighborsneighbors

HitlerHitler’’s 1s 1stst target =Austria target =Austria March 12, 1938 German troops March 12, 1938 German troops

marched into Austria unopposedmarched into Austria unopposed HitlerHitler’’s 2s 2ndnd target Czechoslovakia target Czechoslovakia

Bargaining for the Bargaining for the SudetenlandSudetenland Hitler said the Czechs were Hitler said the Czechs were

abusing the Sudeten Germansabusing the Sudeten Germans Great Britain and France Great Britain and France

promised to protect promised to protect CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia

Hitler met with French premier Hitler met with French premier Edouard Daladier and British Edouard Daladier and British Prime Minister Neville Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain Chamberlain

He stated that this would be his He stated that this would be his ““last territorial demandlast territorial demand””

To avoid war they believed him To avoid war they believed him and signed the Munich Agreementand signed the Munich Agreement

Munich AgreementMunich Agreement To avoid war France and Britain To avoid war France and Britain

believed Hitler and signed the believed Hitler and signed the Munich AgreementMunich Agreement

This turned the Sudetenland over This turned the Sudetenland over to Germanyto Germany

Winston Churchill said that Winston Churchill said that Britain and France adopted the Britain and France adopted the policy of:policy of:Appeasement-giving up Appeasement-giving up principles to pacify an aggressorprinciples to pacify an aggressor

The German Offensive The German Offensive BeginsBegins After Hitler conquered After Hitler conquered

Czechoslovakia he turned to Czechoslovakia he turned to GermanyGermany’’s eastern neighbor s eastern neighbor POLANDPOLAND

An attack on Poland wouldAn attack on Poland would Bring Germany in conflict w/ the Soviet Bring Germany in conflict w/ the Soviet

UnionUnion Provoke declaration of war from Provoke declaration of war from

Britain and France (promised military Britain and France (promised military aid to Poland)aid to Poland)

Result would be fighting a 2 front warResult would be fighting a 2 front war

Nonaggression PactNonaggression PactStalin surprised everyone by Stalin surprised everyone by signing a nonaggression pact signing a nonaggression pact with Hitlerwith Hitler

Fascist Germany and Fascist Germany and Communist Russia committed Communist Russia committed to never attack each otherto never attack each otherAlso signed a secret pact to Also signed a secret pact to split up Polandsplit up Poland

BLITZKRIEG IN POLANDBLITZKRIEG IN POLAND BlitzkriegBlitzkrieg (lightning war)- (lightning war)-

GermanyGermany’’s new military strategys new military strategyAir force rained bombs over Air force rained bombs over military bases, airfields, railroads military bases, airfields, railroads and citiesand cities

Made use of tanks and powerful Made use of tanks and powerful aircraftaircraft

September 3 (2 days after September 3 (2 days after invasion) Britain and France invasion) Britain and France declared war on Germanydeclared war on Germany

WWII had officially begun! WWII had officially begun!

THE PHONY WARTHE PHONY WAR After the fall of Poland French After the fall of Poland French

and British troops held the and British troops held the Maginot Line Maginot Line (along France(along France’’s s eastern border)eastern border)

Hitler sent Generals through the Hitler sent Generals through the Ardennes (region of wooded Ardennes (region of wooded area) in northwest Francearea) in northwest France

Italy entered the war on the side Italy entered the war on the side of the Germany and defeated of the Germany and defeated FranceFrance

The Battle of BritainThe Battle of Britain Summer of 1940Summer of 1940 Germany could not compete Germany could not compete

with Britainwith Britain’’s navys navy Germany launched an air war Germany launched an air war

over Britainover Britain On a single day (August 15On a single day (August 15thth) )

about 2,000 German planes about 2,000 German planes attacked Britainattacked Britain

Every night for 2 months Every night for 2 months bombers pounded Londonbombers pounded London

RAF (BritainRAF (Britain’’s Royal Air s Royal Air Force)Force)RAF fought back RAF fought back

against Germansagainst GermansUsed radar to detect Used radar to detect and plot the flight paths and plot the flight paths of German planesof German planes

RAF shot down over 185 RAF shot down over 185 German planesGerman planes

Hitler called off the Hitler called off the attack indefinitelyattack indefinitely