Same War Different time

1. WWII Same War Different time

2. German Path to War • Germany always felt as if the Treaty of Versailles was a harsh peace. • Now with the rise of Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler. Germany became poised to seek revenge on Europe for the Treaty of Versailles.

3. German Path to War • Hitler believed that Germany could build a great civilization, but needed more land to support more German people • In the 1920’s Hitler had indicated that this land would be found in the USSR. • Settled by German peasants, but built by Slavic slaves

4. Step 1: Deal with the Treaty of Versailles • Posing as a man of peace Hitler stressed that Germany wished to revise the Treaty of Versailles unfair provisions • However March 9, 1935 Hitler reinstated the German Luftwaffe • A week later he reinstated the draft and expanded the military to 550,000 troops

5. Step 1: Deal with the Treaty of Versailles • Britain, France and Italy all condemned these actions, but due to the Great Depression they were too distracted to do anything about it • Hitler was convinced that the Allied powers had no intention of using force to maintain the Treaty of Versailles

6. Rhineland Fly mein pretties!

7. Rhineland • Per the Treaty of Versailles the Rhineland is supposed to be a demilitarized zone • Germany was forbidden to have weapons of fortifications in the Rhineland, however France had the right to defend the Rhineland if Germany violated the Treaty • However would not act without British support.

8. Rhineland • Britain did not support the use of force against Germany • In fact the British government viewed the occupation of Germany territory by German troops as reasonable action by a dissatisfied power

9. Appeasement • The London Times noted the occupation of the Rhineland was Germany “going into their own back yard” • This naturally makes France nervous, especially after Italy and Germany start getting diplomatically closer

10. Hitler’s new allies • After successfully taking Rhineland, Hitler gained the support of Mussolini, whom he idolized. • Mussolini had long wanted to create a new Roman Empire. • Mussolini then invaded Ethiopia angering Britain and France.

11. Hitler’s New Allies • In 1936 both Italy and Germany send troops to Spain to aid the fascist uprising of General Francisco Franco • November 1936 Hitler and Mussolini officially formed the Rome-Berlin Axis or Axis Powers • That same month the Axis agrees to an Anti-Comiturn pact with Japan

12. Anschluss • 1937: Hitler was convinced that neither Britain or France would give any opposition of his plans of a Union with his native Austria • Threatening Austria with invasion was enough to convince the Austrian emperor to put Austrian Nazis in charge of the government

13. Anschlass • As soon as the Nazi government was in place, they promptly “Invited” Germany to enter into Austria to “help maintain law and order” • March 1938: Hitler annexes Austria to the German Empire

14. Munich Conference • Hitler’s next target was Czechoslovakia • Hitler demanded he be given Sudetenland in NW Czechoslovakia • Hitler said he would risk World War for this province • Britain & France caved in again giving Hitler nearly anything he wanted

15. Peace? • Hitler agreed to seek no more territory if he was given Sudetenland • British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain boasted when he returned home that the Munich Conference mean “peace for our time”

16. The Axis-spreads • Hitler was more convinced than ever that the Western Democracies were weak and would not fight • Hitler invaded and seized the rest of Czechoslovakia • Next stop Poland

17. Danzig, Poland • Hitler had begun to demand the Polish port of Danzig and the western democracies now knew Hitler’s promises were worthless • Britain offered to protect Poland but was not strong enough • Britain looked to Stalin for help • However so did Hitler

18. Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact • Hitler beats the Western democracies to the punch in negotiations with Stalin • Hitler could not afford a two front war with Russia and the Western Democracies • Hitler offered control of eastern Poland and the Baltic states. • The Nazi’s and the Soviet agree to not attack each other if Hitler invades Poland

19. Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact • Hitler fully planned to betray Stalin at some point but if this gesture keeps the Russian Bear off his back then all the better. • Stalin also fully expected Hitler to betray him, due to Hitler’s track record of breaking promises • However if Stalin can buy some more time before committing to war and gain some territory in the process then all the better. • Two days after Hitler invades Poland, Britain and France declare war on Germany.

20. Japanese Path to war

21. Mukden Incident • Since WWI, Japan had been rapidly industrializing and adopting new technologies and battle tactics. • Defeating Russia in the Russo-Japanese war of 1904 proved that Japan was ready to join the elite countries of the world • With this new found power the Japanese began to expand into mainland Asia in 1931, attacking Manchuria in Northern China

22. Mukden Incident • Japan wanted to exploit the natural resources of Manchuria, but had no reason to boldly attack China • A the city of Mukden it appeared as if Chinese soldiers attacked a Japanese railway • However the Japanese dressed as Chinese soldiers and attacked the rail depot to give the Japanese a reason to attack China • The League of Nations (a beta test of the future United Nations) sent investigators to Manchuria, discovered the “Mukden Incident” and condemned the act. • Japan withdrew from the League and strengthen its hold on Manchuria over the next several years. • They renamed the province “Manchukio “

23. War with China • Chiang Kai-shek tried to avoid conflict with the Japanese since he was dealing with Mao and the Communists • Chaing Kai-shek tried to appease Japan by allowing them to keep Manchuria • But then the Japanese kept moving south

24. War with China • December 1936: Chaing Kai-sheck called of his hunt for Mao to create a united front against Japan • Chinese Nationalists clashed with the Japanese south of Beijing, turning into a major conflict. • The Japanese proved victorious when Chaing Kai-shek had to withdraw to Chongqing in central China

25. New Asian Order • Japan hoped to lead East Asia into the modern age • Wanted to create a New Asian Order consisting of Japan, China and Manchuria/Manchukio • Felt who better to lead Asia into the modern age than the one country who had already done it. • Japan had designs to seize Soviet Siberia, but when the Non Aggression Pact was signed they had to look to other options

26. Provoking the Eagle • Since Japan could no longer attack the Soviets, the Japanese became interested in the resources of southeast Asia, but this action would provoke the European colonial powers and the United states. • 1940: Japan demands access to the natural resources of French Indochina (Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia) • The US objected and threatened to impose sanctions on Japan unless they withdrew to it’s 1931 boarders

27. Provoking the Eagle • Japan badly needed the oil and scrap metal provided by the US to maintain their war machine • Should these resources be cut off, Japan would have to find them elsewhere (which would have been difficult) • After much debate the Japanese planned a surprise attack on the US

28. December 7, 1941

29. December 7, 1941 • Not only did the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, but numerous Allied facilities in Southeast Asia • Targets: • US controlled Philippines • British controlled Malaysia • Dutch controlled East Indies (modern day Indonesia) • Countless other islands in the south pacific • By the spring of 1942 almost all of Southeast Asia and the western pacific were controlled by Japan

30. Why? • The Japanese needed raw materials and the US had cut them off • The Japanese felt that the December 7th attacks would force the allies and the US would accept Japanese control of the Pacific

31. Oops • When the US was attacked it actually had the opposite effect • The attacks actually polarized the US public to join the war against Japan • Hitler also felt that the US would be too involved in the pacific to be effective in Europe and declares war against the US on December 11, 1941