World War II: Hitler's Expansion

World War II Europe

Hitler's Aggression

• Hitler's aim was to unite all Germans and expand their living space, known as Lebensraum.
• He rearmed the nation and sent troops to remilitarize the Rhineland, which was not opposed by any European power.

Hitler's Alliances

• Hitler established a Rome-Berlin military agreement with Mussolini, the Italian leader.
• In 1936, Germany and Italy agreed to work together.

Expansion of Germany

• Hitler created "Greater Germany" by annexing Austria, a German-speaking country.
• He took Sudetenland, part of Czechoslovakia, which was home to thousands of Germans.

Policy of Appeasement

• France and Britain responded to Hitler's aggression with a policy of appeasement.
• The Munich Agreement allowed Hitler to occupy Sudetenland in exchange for his promise to not take any more land.

Broken Promises

• Hitler broke his promise and seized Bohemia and Moravia, part of Czechoslovakia.
• He made a Nazi-Soviet pact with Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union.

Invasion of Poland

• Hitler demanded the return of Danzig and free access to East Prussia from Poland, but Poland fought back.
• Hitler invaded Poland, leading to the outbreak of World War II.