Hitler aggressively expanded Nazi Germany's territory through a series of military actions and agreements in the late 1930s. He first occupied the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia in 1938. In March 1939, German troops invaded and occupied the remainder of Czechoslovakia within six months. Hitler also annexed Austria in 1938 and invaded Poland in September 1939, marking the start of World War II in Europe.

1. CHAPTER 21 Section 1: Threats to World Peace Section 2: Hitler’s Aggressions Section 3: Axis Gains Section 4: The Soviet Union and the United States Section 5: The Holocaust Section 6: The End of the War World War II

2. SECTION 2 Hitler’s Aggressions Bell Ringer 21.2: What are the events that demonstrate Hitler’s aggression against Czechoslovakia?

3. SECTION 2 Hitler’s Aggressions Hitler invades! occupies Czechoslovakia Nazis in Sudetenland martial law Munich Conference occupies Sudetenland

4. SECTION 2 Hitler’s Aggressions Rome-Berlin Axis 1936 Axis Powers Anti-Comintern Pact pledged to stop the spread of communism

5. SECTION 2 Hitler’s Aggressions A Nazi Party had formed in Austria – Hitler wanted to TAKE Austria with a show of force. 1938 annexation of Austria by Hitler

6. SECTION 2 Hitler’s Aggressions This British cartoon from 1938 shows Hitler as a poacher, stealing Austria. Mussolini is shown as a bad game-keeper. ‘I never heard a shot, Adolf’’, he is saying.

7. SECTION 2 Hitler’s Aggressions Reichstag Ovation 1938 Addition of Austria increased Germany’s population, territory, and resources. Germany now controlled the heart of Europe!

8. Visual Source Hitler’s Aggressions “ One People, One Reich, One Leader”

9. SECTION 2 Hitler’s Aggressions The Sudentenland – the area around the rim of Czechoslovakia – had a large population of German-speaking people. Taking the Sudenten would leave the country defenseless.

10. Visual Source Hitler’s Aggressions The title is: "80 million Germans live on 580,000 square kilometers." The point is that Germany is overcrowded, and needs more territory.

11. Why was Hitler so eager to take Czechoslovakia? SECTION 2 Hitler’s Aggressions Czechoslovakia was an industrial power – It was the Military Weapons Capital of Europe! The Czechs had major raw mineral deposits. Location, location, location!

12. Munich Conference 29 Sept 1938 Hitler invited GB & France to discuss the Sudetenland situation. SECTION 2 Hitler’s Aggressions GB & France were feared German military strength … they were not prepared to go to war. appeasement Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister of Great Britain

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14. Visual Source Hitler’s Aggressions 1930s-era Soviet poster by Kukryniksy showing Western powers giving Czechoslovakia to Hitler on a silver platter.

15. SECTION 2 Hitler’s Aggressions March 1939 – German troops invaded Czechoslovakia – within SIX months it would be erased from the map. Mussolini invades Albania in April 1939 . . . . The League of Nations failed to be effective . . . It was completely helpless.

16. Preparing for WAR Britain & France could no longer ignore Hitler & Mussolini Britain begins to rearm and pushes through conscription GB joins France in a promise to protect Poland if Germany attacks Asked USSR to join them but talks dragged with no agreement SECTION 2 Hitler’s Aggressions

17. Meanwhile Stalin is negotiating with ?? Secret negotiations with Germany Aug 1939 – Hitler announces a Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact Publicly stated that Germany & the Soviet Union would never attack each other Each would remain neutral if the other went to war. What were the secret parts of the treaty? SECTION 2 Hitler’s Aggressions Germany and the USSR were planning to divide Europe up into spheres of influence. Germany was to take western Poland. The Soviet Union would have a free hand in the Baltic countries AND would control eastern Poland & Bessarabia.

18. Political Cartoon Hitler’s Aggressions

19. 1 Sept 1939 Germany attacks Poland without warning. SECTION 2 Hitler’s Aggressions

20. Political Cartoon Hitler’s Aggressions

21. Visual Source Hitler’s Aggressions Soviet propaganda poster depicting the Red Army killing the Polish eagle which had supposedly oppressed the Belarusians and Ukrainian peasants under Polish rule.

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25. SECTION 2 Hitler’s Aggressions Hitler said he would invade Germany occupied Czechoslovakia Nazi growth in Sudetenland region put under martial law Munich Conference Germany occupied Sudetenland

26. Chapter Wrap-Up 1. How did regional conflicts grow to involve many nations in World War II? 2. How did Hitler use prejudice as a tool? 3. How was the technology of World War II both beneficial and destructive? CHAPTER 21

27. SECTION 2 Hitler’s Aggressions Bell Ringer 21.2: What are the events that demonstrate Hitler’s aggression against Czechoslovakia?