World War 2: Causes and Hitler's Aims

The Second World War

• Grade 9 Topic 1 introduces the Second World War

The Treaty of Versailles

• The failure of the Treaty of Versailles was one reason for another war.

Weimar Government

• The Weimar government and the Wall Street crash were causes of a subsequent war.

Adolf Hitler

• Hitler wanted to rebuild Germany.
• Hitler's aims:
  • Expand German territory to gain more "living space“- (Lebensraum) for the German people.
  • Purify the German population, the Greater German Reich by the elimination of what he saw as inferior races, particularly Jews.
  • Create a strong, centralized government and a dominant military.
• Hitler's main aim was to create a "new order" in Europe dominated by Germans.
• Hitler wanted to create a "Thousand-Year Reich" that would last long after his own lifetime.
• Hitler and the Nazi Party implemented aggressive military expansion and the extermination of millions of Jews and other "undesirable" people in the Holocaust to achieve these goals.

Fascism and Dictatorship

• Fascism and dictatorship were motives for war.

Rebuild Military Might - 1935

• In 1935, Germany rebuilt and expanded its military capabilities in violation of the Treaty of Versailles, which had imposed limitations on the size and capabilities of the German armed forces.
• It was a key part of Hitler's plans to make Germany strong again and pursue his aggressive foreign policies.
• It involved development of new weapons and technology, the expansion of the military and the building of new military facilities.
• The effort included the conscription of large numbers of young men into the armed forces and the re-establishment of military training schools and academies.
• Other countries did nothing out of fear or because they believed Germany had a right to protect themselves.

Rhineland Invasion - 1936

• In 1936, German forces entered the Rhineland region of western Germany.
• The Rhineland had previously been demilitarized under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.
• The German army carried out the operation in March 1936.
• It was viewed as a bold move by the German leader, Adolf Hitler, who had come to power in 1933.
• Other European powers showed hesitation in confronting Germany, and the invasion was met with little resistance.
• The invasion was seen as a major victory for Hitler and the Nazi regime.
• The invasion of the Rhineland was a violation of the Treaty of Versailles and a major step towards the outbreak of World War II.

War Facts

• The Second World War lasted from 1939 to 1945.
• It was fought over 6 continents.
• Over 50 million people were killed.
• The conflict was between the Axis and Allied powers.

Munich Agreement

• In 1938, Germany invaded Austria and the Sudetenland.
• The Munich Agreement was a political settlement that major European powers reached in 1938.
• The Axis and Allied powers signed the agreement, and it allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland, a predominantly German-speaking region of Czechoslovakia.
• The agreement was seen as a way of avoiding war and described as diplomatic success, but later criticized for encouraging Hitler.
• Germany was able to expand its territory without facing consequences.
• The Munich Agreement was followed by the German invasion of the rest of Czechoslovakia in 1939, leading to the outbreak of World War II.

Hitler the Liar

• After the Munich agreement, Hitler signed a document with the British PM Chamberlain stating Germany would not go to war with the Allies.
• Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia in 1939, and the Allies prepared for war.
• Poland was next on Hitler's list.

Nazi-Soviet Pact

• The pact was a non-aggression treaty between Germany and the Soviet Union.
• The agreement specified that the two countries not attack each other, and instead focus on expanding their territories.
• It also included a secret protocol to divide control of Eastern Europe between Germany and the Soviet Union, with the former taking control of Western Poland and the latter taking control of Eastern Poland and the Baltic states.
• The pact was seen as a major victory for Hitler, as it allowed him to invade Poland without fear of Soviet intervention.
• It was short-lived, as the two countries eventually went to war against each other in 1941

War Starts

• Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939.
• France and Britain declared war on September 3.

Blitzkrieg

• Blitzkrieg was a military strategy used by the German army during World War II, meaning "lightning war!".
• It involved a combination of fast-moving tanks and aircrafts used to surprise and overwhelm the enemy, followed by a rapid advance on foot to capture key strategic positions.
• The goal of catching the enemy off guard and quickly defeating them.
• The strategy was used effectively during the early years of the war.
• The German army acquired and conquered much of Europe.
• The effectiveness of the Blitzkrieg diminished as the war progressed and the Allies developed countermeasures.

Europe Attacked

• By 1940, Germany attacked the center of Europe, including France, Denmark, Norway, Netherlands and Belgium.
• Thousands of allies consisting of British, French and Belgium troops escaped to England through boats, warships and yachts.

Operation Sealion

• It was the codename for the planned German invasion of the United Kingdom during World War II.
• Adolf Hitler proposed this operation in 1940, after the fall of France, as a way to complete the conquest of Western Europe and force Britain to surrender.
• The plan was a large-scale amphibious and airborne assault on the British coast.
• The German navy could not provide adequate support for the invasion.
• During the Battle of Britain, the British were able to repel the German air force.

The Battle of the Blitz

• A strategic bombing campaign that the German air force (the Luftwaffe) carried out against the United Kingdom during World War II.
• The campaign began in September 1940 and lasted for eight months.
• Germany bombed British cities and industrial centers to weaken the country's ability to fight.
• The British were able to develop effective countermeasures, such as radar technology and air defence systems, which helped to turn the tide of the battle in their favour.
• Initial bombing by Germany caused significant damage and loss of life.
• By May 1941, the Germans had largely ended their bombing campaign, marking the end of the Battle of the Blitz.

The Tripartite Pact

• Also known as the Three-Power Pact.
• It was a political agreement signed on September 27, 1940 by Germany, Italy, and Japan.
• The pact was a defensive alliance between the three countries promising support each other.
• It was seen as a response to the formation of the Allied powers:
  • United Kingdom
  • France
  • United States
• It was intended to strengthen the position of the Axis powers in World War II. Added later:
  • Hungary
  • Romania
  • Bulgaria

Operation Barbarossa

• The code name for the German invasion of the Soviet Union, which took place in June 1941 during World War II.
• The largest military invasion in history, involving over three million German soldiers, tanks and aircraft.
• The goal was to quickly defeat the Soviet Union, capture Moscow, and secure German control of Eastern Europe.
• The surprised Soviet forces could not resist the German onslaught.
• The Soviet Union regrouped and launched a counterattack, which pushed the Germans back and led to their defeat.
• The failure of Operation Barbarossa was a major turning point.
• The start of the end for the German army.

Pearl Harbour

• Pearl Harbor was a naval base in Hawaii attacked by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941.
• The United States was not yet at war with Japan, so the attack was a surprise.
• The attack resulted in the destruction of much of the U.S. Pacific fleet.
• The attack led to the United States declaring war on Japan.
• It became a major part of the war.
• It was part of a broader Japanese plan to defeat the United States and gain control of the Pacific region.
• The United States recovered and eventually emerged victorious.

War Changes - 1942

• By 1942, the Allies were going to lose the war.
• Germany was almost in Moscow and nearly pushed Britain out of Africa.
• Japan was also pushing America back.
• 3 major battles changed this.

Battle of Midway - June 1942

• Naval battle in June 1942 between the United States and Japan fought in the Pacific Ocean near the Midway Atoll.
• The United States was able to anticipate and prepare for it, due to code-breaking that deciphered Japanese plans.
• It was a U.S surprise attack on the Japanese fleet, sinking 4 ships.
• This marked the beginning of the end for Japanese expansion in the Pacific.

Battle of Stalingrad - July 1942-Feb 1943

• Prolonged and brutal battle that took place in the city of Stalingrad (now Volgograd) in the Soviet Union between 1942 and 1943.
• The battle was fought between the German army, advancing into the Soviet Union as part of Operation Barbarossa, and the Soviet army, which defended.
• Intense street fighting and close combat, as well as the use of heavy artillery and airstrikes.
• The Soviet forces encircled and trapped the German army leading to their surrender in February 1943.
• The victory at Stalingrad was a major defeat for the Germans and marked the beginning of their retreat on the Eastern Front.

El Alamein Oct/Nov 1942

• It was a battle that took place in Egypt in October 1942 between the British and Commonwealth forces and the advancing Axis powers.
• The the British and allies were trying to defend Egypt from the Axis powers, who were attempting to capture the Suez Canal.
• The battle included intense fighting and artillery and the use of tanks.
• A major victory for the Allies, the British forces drove the Axis powers back.
• El Alamein marked the beginning of the end for the Axis powers in North Africa and paved the way for the Allied liberation of the region.

Italy Surrenders

• During the war, Italy's fortunes declined, and Mussolini's leadership met criticism.
• In 1943, the Italian parliament removed him from power and had him arrested.
• German forces rescued him later but captured and executed him in 1945.

D-Day

• Code name for the Normandy landings, which took place on June 6, 1944 during World War II.
• A major Allied operation that involved the landing of soldiers on the beaches of Normandy, France to establish a foothold in Western Europe and beginning a full-scale invasion of Germany.
• The Allied forces established a beachhead and began advancing inland.
• The D-Day marked the beginning of the end for the German army in Western Europe.
• The operation involved a lot of troops, ships, and aircraft.

Germany Surrenders

• Germany surrendered in World War II as the Allied powers had defeated them.
• German army had been pushed back on all fronts so it could no longer stop the Allied.
• The country had shortages of food and supplies as many cities had been heavily bombed.
• Due to war and domestic hardship Germany could not be won
• Hitler and closest followers retreated to underground bunker in Berlin and Hitler killed himself on April 30th
• Germany surrendered formally on May 8, 1945, and the war was over.

Nuclear Bombs

• In August 1945, The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan to force Japan to surrender and brought an end to World War II.
• Japan was still a strong enemy and refused to surrender despite suffering defeats.
• The United States believed dropping bombs was necessary to avoid a long and costly invasion of Japan.
• These bombs showed to show the impact of nuclear bombs and the end of continued fighting.
• The bombings resulted in Japan surrendering.

Dunkirk

• The evacuation of Dunkirk, also known as the Dunkirk evacuation, was a military operation that took place in May-June 1940.
• The Allied forces evacuated lots of troops from the beaches of Dunkirk, France, after they’d been encircled by the German army.
• Flotilla of civilian and military ships saved over 300,000 Allied soldiers.
• The evacuation was a boost morally for the Allies and the Germans were expecting an easy victory.
• The allies left Equipment and supplies that were taken by the Germans.
• The evacuation occurred due to Germans stopping their attack on Dunkirk and this assisted the Allies with organizing.

The Homefront

• During World War II, the home front assisted the British government and people to support the war and maintain unity.
• Mobilization of economy to produce ammunition and supplies
• To ration and measures to save resources
• mobilization of civilians to assist the war effort
• enlistment in the military
• the Home Guard
• civil defense
• maintain the war effort to maintain national morale
• propaganda activities

Holocaust Key Words

• Holocaust:
  • Commonly known name for the Nazis' attempt to eliminate of the Jewish race.
• Persecution:
  • Unfair and cruel act carried out due to religion,race, or political beliefs.
• Antisemitism:
  • Extreme dislike and unfair treatment of the Jewish community.
• Aryan:
  • A german, blue eyes and blonde hair, viewed to be apart from the superior race.
• Scapegoat:
  • person is blamed for mistakes they didn't commit.
• Ghettos:
  • An area, often rundown where Jews were forced to live.

Antisemitism Through History

• Has been around for centuries
• Jewish people had been accused for the death of Jesus Christ and stingy with money.
• It did not start with the Germans – Treated with mistrust and constantly viewed with suspicion.

Other Groups Affected

• Romani people
• Homosexuals.
• Those with who had disabilities.
• Minorities -Black
• Nazi Regime faced political people who didn’t agree with regime policy
• Groups were always imprisoned death and persecution.

The Final Solution

• Term to define the death and extermination of Jewish people during WW2 by Nazis
• Nazis felt Jews were an inferior race set out to destroy them by mass murder.
• To impose enslaving on Jews.
• Two Main Stages
  • To Enforce ghettos to specific areas
  • Deport many people into concentration camps often working as slave labor. 1942 and 1943 are years these event occurred.

About Ghettos

• Left Germany only to find countries being enforced by Nazi Regime
• Forced to live in Ghettos , disease cause half a million deaths.
• Were subjected to persecution and violence from hands of Nazi Soldiers
• Eventually sent to camps where they were also murdered

Einsatzgruppen

• Otherwise known as execution Squads
• Responsible for murders of Jews,Romani and those whom didn't stand with Regime
• Einsatzruppen operated under the direct support form SS and to Heinrich Himmler
• Went to side of countries and hunted Jewish People
• In January 20,1942, Wannsee Conference was in Berlin
• Nazi leaders wanted "Final solution "on to exterminate the Jewish people, close to 11million

Coordination and Planning of the "Final Solution"

• Nazis talked about logistics to move Jews everywhere to Ghettos
• Then to extermination camps to Poland.
• Cold hearted bureaucracy behind this
  • Most were held in Asuwchwitz-Birkenau( detention)
    • Many Main death camps

Main Death Camps

• Auschwitz-Birkenau (Largest , origainlly as detention) - Chelmno - Berzec - Maidnek
• Sobibor- Treblinka

Life At Camps

• Work camp- were often killed for the gas
• Some were medically experimented or death, hunger and exhaustion
• Prisoners would show up a dawn, stand for roll calls that lasted hours- breakfast- bread
• Life was short especially when braking camp rules

Casualties Of The Camps

• Around 6 Million Death
• 5 Million Others
• The logistics used required all these camps impossible for people to be unaware and or not knowing that this happening
• The White rose and group of individuals intellectuals helped spread flyers -Passive towards government

Confessing Church group and Oskar Schindler

• There were Protestants and Theologians that stood aganist Regime interference and helped jews from persecution
• People stood up and helped Jews often faced persecution and execution

WW2 Propaganda.

• Meant to inform, atuttiandes and to make people believe with a strong cause
• Used to promote Germany Power and persecute all other groups in the nation
• Allied Used promote WW2 to help with freedom