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Beginning of World War II
Beginning of World War II
Adolf Hitler
Immediate Causes of WW II
In Germany Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933 as a
fascist dictator.
Hitler Hated the Treaty of Versailles and violated it.
First he built up the German military. Then he sent
troops into the Rhineland. This was a direct violation
of the Treaty of Versailles, which said in 1919 that
Rhineland was a demilitarized zone.
Immediate Causes of WW II
Hitler wanted to conquer whoever he felt was inferior
to the Germans or Aryans. He wanted living space
for the Germans in Eastern Europe.
On September 1, 1939 Germany invaded Poland
without a declaration of war. This starts World War
II.
Immediate Causes of WW II
Britain and France declared war on Germany on
September 3, 1939.
Italy declared war on France and Britain on June 10,
1940.
Blitzkrieg
In German blitzkrieg means lightning war.
Hitler used blitzkrieg during his invasion of Poland.
Blitzkrieg included surprise attacks, rapid advances
into enemy territory, and massive air attacks that
struck and shocked the enemy.
Germany achieved most of its victories in World War
II with the Blitzkrieg tactic.
Blitzkrieg
Phony War
Britain sent troops to wait with the French down behind
the Maginot Line.
Reporters called this quiet time of not much action the
phony war
Maginot Line
The Maginot Line was a defensive for France against
an invasion of Germany.
The Maginot Line was established after World War I.
The line showed to be little use in 1940 when
Germany invaded France for the third time.
Maginot Line
Fall of France
Miracle at Dunkirk
The event at Dunkirk is called a miracle because the
retreating allies had lost hope and then the British
pulled through for them and rescued 338,000 men.
Questions
What was the immediate cause of World War II?
Describe the German concept of the blitzkrieg.
Where were the early Axis triumphs, and what was the
phony war?
What was the miracle at Dunkirk?
What was the significance of June 22, 1940?
Credits
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0862008.html
Accessed 5/29/03
Western Europe Timeline
http://www.usd230.k12.ks.us/PICTT/timelines/westerneurope.html
Accessed 5/29/03
http://www.2worldwar2.com/blitzkrieg.htm
Accessed 5/29/03
Credits
The Miracle at Dunkirk
http://www.smhs.net/history/14.html
Accessed 5/29/03
http://isd.usc.edu/~anthonya/frank1/parabig.htm
Accessed 5/30/03