The Road to War WORLD WAR II The Road to War timeline zRearmament zRhineland.March 1936 zAustria..March 1938 zMunich AgreementSept 1938 zSudetenlandOct 1938 zCzechoslovakiaMarch 1939 zNazi-Soviet PactAugust 1939 zPolandSept 1, 1939 Rearmament zHitler promised to make Germany a world power zRestore previous military strength zBegan to rearm in the mid-30s (army/airforcearmy/airforce/tanks/ tactics) zUnemployment dropped from 6 million in 1931 to just over 1 million by 1937 March 1936Rhineland zPrior to WWI it belonged to Germany but following WW1 it became a demilitarized zone under League of Nation control (occupied by allied troops) zHitler was determined to get it back & in March 1936 he peacefully invaded. zIt was the first outright violation of the Versailles Treaty zThe first instance of the appeasement policy(. more later). March 1938Austria zHitler wanted all Germans living within new German state..the Reich. zHitler argued that many Germans lived in Austria so it should be part of Germany. zMarch 1938 Nazi forces entered Austria. zBritain & France did nothing..didnt want to risk another war. Sept 1938Munich Agreement zBritain, France, Germany met in Munich & decided to give away the Sudetenland zHoped to save the world from war zCzechs were not invited zPeace in our Time zAppeasement zHitler promised no more demands for territory. Sept 1938Munich Agreement Oct 1938Sudetenland zNorthwestern Czechoslovakia (3 million German speaking people living there). zHeavy industry & defenses zCzechs wanted to fight but Britain & France would not support them zMunich Agreement allowed Germany to have the Sudetenland Oct 1938Sudetenland March 1939Czechoslovakia zBritain, France, stood by as Germany occupied all of Czechoslovakia zMunich Agreement was broken by Hitler August 1939Nazi-Soviet Pact zPromise by both not to attack each other in the event of war zSecretly agreed to divide Poland zGermany now could plan for war against Britain & France zEastern border secure from Soviet attack Sept 1939Invasion of Poland zHitler demanded Polish Corridor be handed back to Germany zPoland refused zGermany invaded using Blitzkrieg zBritain & France came to Polands aid & declared war on Sept 3, 1939 August 39Nazi-Soviet Pact August 39Nazi-Soviet Pact August 39Nazi-Soviet Pact August 39Nazi-Soviet Pact Why Appeasement? z1)Define the term appeasement. z2)Which of the reasons given for why the British practiced a policy of appeasement with regard to Hitler do you agree with? Disagree with? Respond in writing (point-form) and be prepared to discuss.