Hitler’s Lebensraum The Path to War
Building up the military ▪ The Treaty of Versailles mandated that Germany only have 100,000 soldiers in the army. ▪ Possible Notes: ToV said Ge only 100,000 in army
▪ Hitler violated this by building an air force and building his army from 100,000 to 550,000 ▪ Possible Notes: Hitler violated: built Air Force and increased army to 550k
▪ He sent troops to the Rhineland which had been demilitarized, meaning that Germany was not allowed to have troops there ▪ Possible Notes: Troops to Rhineland demilitarized zone – Vocab word: demilitarized: an area in which Germany is not allowed to have troops
▪ Western states would not use force so created a policy of appeasement, meaning that if they gave in to reasonable demands, it would prevent further aggression.
▪ Possible Notes: Western states, no force policy of appeasement – Vocab word: appeasement: European states satisfy reasonable demands of Hitler, he would be peaceful and not increase aggression
Alliances ▪ Benito Mussolini ▪ Japan: a common front against Communism ▪ Austria: Anschluss: union between Austria and Germany, created by forcing Austria to put Austrian Nazis in power. Hitler annexed Austria – Vocab word: annexed: made a part of
▪ USSR: non-aggression pact. They won’t go to war with each other
Munich Conference ▪ Hitler demanded Sudetenland in northern Czechoslovakia and suggested he might go to war to get it. ▪ the Munich Conference was arranged
▪ British, French, German, and Italian representatives gave Germany anything they demanded (appeasement) ▪ Hitler promised Britain he would make no further demands ▪ Everyone believed him
Britain and France ▪ Hitler invaded more parts of Czechoslovakia ▪ Britain and France decide to act ▪ USSR only country strong enough to defeat Hitler ▪ Begin negotiations with Stalin
Poland ▪ Non-aggression pact between Germany and USSR gave Germany permission to invade Poland ▪ Possible Notes: non-aggression pact = Germany can invade Poland
▪ September 1, 1939, Germany invades Poland ▪ September 3, France and Britain declare war on Germany ▪ September 28, Poland is conquered