Beginning of World War II
By: Brian Goodge
“Nature is cruel, so we may be cruel, too… I have the
right to remove millions of an inferior race that breeds
like vermin”
-Hitler
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
“Blitzkrieg: German soldiers being parachuted into
Holland - May 10, 1940”
Early Axis Triumphs
• In April 1940 the quiet time of the war exploded into
action.
• Hitler launched a series of blitzkrieg.
• Norway and and Denmark both fell.
• Germany had overrun the Netherlands and Belgium.
• Germany along with Italy forced France to surrender.
World War II in 1939/1942
Fall of France
Hitler’s Major Blunder
• The Germans invaded France in May 1940.
•
• Retreating Allied forces made it to Dunkirk and found
themselves trapped between the advancing Nazis and
the English Channel. The British sent every boat they
could get across the English Channel to pick up troops
off the beaches of Dunkirk.
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.
June 22, 1940
• On June 22, 1940 France signs an armistice with
Germany in occupied France.
• An armistice is a cease fire or a truce.
• The Franco-German Armistice divided France into
two zones. One zone was under German military
occupation and the other was under French control.
• In 1942 Germans occupied all of France
June 22, 1940
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
• World War II: causes and outbreaks
Shows each phase of the war, tells the causes of WW II
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
• Blitzkrieg-the successful German World War II tactic
Good description of Blitzkrieg
http://www.2worldwar2.com/blitzkrieg.htm
Accessed 5/29/03
Credits
• The Miracle at Dunkirk
Good detail and a map of The Miracle at Dunkirk
http://www.smhs.net/history/14.html
Accessed 5/29/03
• June 22, 1940
Good Timeline of the events of World War II
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/jun40/f22jun40.htm
Accessed 5/30/03
• Blitzkrieg
Good picture of German paratroopers
http://isd.usc.edu/~anthonya/frank1/parabig.htm
Accessed 5/30/03