War Again
Total War Through Technology
- WWII saw the catastrophic consequences of a huge leap in technology. Aircraft & German “terror bombing” Targeting of civilians was a terrible feature of war.
- WWII was a total war… all resources fof a country to destroy everything & everyone of the enemy.
The Invasion of Poland
- People surprised by how quickly Germany took Poland. German Blitzkrieg (lightning war) tore through Poland. By end of Sept Hitler controlled Poland, setting it up as a worker state to supply German war machine.
The Phony War
- In Western Europe allies mobilized into 1940. Hitler & Stalin eating up Eastern Europe… May 15^th, Hitler smashed Netherlands & Belgium… ready to invade France.

Conflict & War: Europe, 1939
- Versailles did not restore peace & stability in Europe.
The Politics of Appeasement: diplomacy used in the 1930s by Western powers of Europe. Attempt to avoid conflict through compromise. Easy to criticize in retrospect, but many Euro countries felt the Treaty of Versailles was too harsh anyway.
- 1935: Rome-Berlin Axis
- 1936: Germany reoccupies Rhineland
- 1937: Hitler declares Germany needs Lebensraum, greater living space to support the growing population & food needs.
- 1938: Anschluss- annexation of Austria.
Maintaining International Order: U.S. isolationist, many others were soft on Hitler, claiming he was restoring order & respectability to Germany. France built up defenses, built Maginot Line. Western countries unwilling to stand against Hitler and Germany. West also avoided Spain.
The Spanish Civil War: 1936-1939
- In 1936, General Francisco Franco led a fascist coup d’etat. Republican government fought fascists. Franco was supported by Hitler & Mussolini. West stayed out, uninterested. Spain became a testing ground for Nazi technology and a “practice range” that honed Nazi military strategy. Guernica, made famous by Picasso, was an unthinkable bombing of a civilian city of little strategic importance. Britain and France still seemed to think appeasement could stop war.
Peaceful Coexistence? The Munich Agreement
Appeasement at pinnacle with signing of Munich Agreement of Sept 29^th 1938. British PM Chamberlain strong supporter of appeasement. Initially seen as great diplomat, later seen as naïve & short sighted.
Hitler & the Sudetenland
- Hitler demanded Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia. Britain’s Chamberlain & Daladier of France agreed. Hitler now targeted Jews with increased fury Kristallnacht Night of Broken Glass where Jewish Synagogues and stores were destroyed. March 1939: Hitler claimed rest of Czechoslovakia. War was imminent.
Nazi-Soviet Non Aggression Pact
- Germany & Russia resented creation of Poland at their expense. World was surprised when bitter enemies Hitler & Stalin signed pact, mainly for Hitler to avoid 2 front war & give Soviet Union time to mobilize.
- Sept 1, 1939 Germany rolls into Poland. Sept 3 Britain declares war.

Chapter 12 World War II, 1939-1945
Legacy: West & the World