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Text Box: The Road to War
Europe Under Seige

Rise of FASCISM:
Hitler (Germany)
Mussolini (Italy)
Franco (Spain)

Policy of APPEASEMENT
Austria
Munich Agreement (Czechoslovakia)
Blitzkrieg (Poland)

Declarations of War
Britain & France
Canada

Japan: 1938
Invaded Manchuria in China to steal its coal and to create more living space for the Japanese (1931). The Japanese government renamed it Manchuko.

Italy: 1938
Benito Mussolini (Il Duce) was the Fascist leader. He outlawed political parties and wanted to make a second Roman Empire. His first step in doing so was invading Ethiopia for oil and crushing its army. No one could or would stop him.

Germany: 1936
Hitler orders troops into the Rhineland and they rebuild fortifications. This is a direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles.
The League of Nations does nothing, wanting to avoid confrontation.

Germany: 1938
Hitler promised to bring Germany out of its depression. He blamed Communists and Jews for Germany’s problems. In August of 1938, he instituted a policy called Anschluss: Hitler promised to unite all German-speaking people under one rule. His first act of Anschluss was to annex (takes over) Austria. In September, Hitler wants Sudetenland (an area given to Czechoslovakia after WW1) and told the world his intentions, hoping it would start a war. In response, Britain signs the Munich Agreement, which allows it, although Czechs protest and are obviously angry. In October, Germany and Italy sign ‘Axis’ cooperation pact; soon they are joined by Japan.
The Road to War: 1939
In March, Great Britain promises to protect Poland from Germany. In keeping with his policy of Anschluss, Hitler demands all ‘German’ territory in Poland. In August, Germany and the Soviet Union sign a non-aggression pact, promising to leave each other alone (sound familiar?). On September 1, Germany invades Poland, telling people that Polish people were terrorizing Germany. Seeing that the policies of appeasement didn't work, Britain and France declare war on Germany on September 3. On September 10, Canada declares war on Germany.
Blitzkrieg: A New Military Philosophy
Translated, it means ‘Lightning Warfare’. It was developed because Germany's military leaders were trying to avoid trench warfare by overrunning a country before it had time to defend itself.
Step One: Luftwaffe bombs strategic targets like air fields and factories; Step Two: Panzers and motorized infantry invade, sparing no one or nothing (soldiers in jeeps, motorcycles, etc). Using Blitzkrieg, Germany defeated Poland in less than one month.
Blitzkrieg = Quick Victory
1939: Poland
1940: Norway
1940: Denmark
1940: Holland
1940: Belgium
1940: Luxembourg
1940: France
1940
In April, using Blitzkrieg, Germany defeated Norway and Denmark. In May, Holland and Belgium were invaded. Within a month, the Germans caused France to surrender. Using BLITZKRIEG, Germany’s army swept Europe:
1940: The fall of France.
1940: Italy enters the war officially.
1941: Fighting extends beyond Europe to North Africa and China.
1942: Almost all nations in the world are involved.

Technology in World War Two
- Aviation and Saturation Bombing (controversial tactic employed by both sides)
- Weapons of Mass Destruction
- Skilled workers/highly-trained military personnel
- Large amounts of capital, labor, food, and raw materials (fuel) were needed to sustain the war effort. However, millions more civilians than military personnel would die.

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