Unit 10: World War II
Topic 1: War Begins in Europe and the
US Watches…Again
What are conditions like in Germany in the
1930’s?
Name: ______________________
Block ______________
Date: ________________
How could these conditions lead to the rise of
a leader like Hitler?
Adolf Hitler
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Hitler is named Chancellor of Germany in 1933
He creates a _________________________Nazi government
Demands “lebensraum” or _________________for German people
What do you think he means by this? How do you think he intends to get that space?
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Ignores Treaty of Versaiiles and re-arms Germany
_________________ Austria in 1938 and then occupies the Sudetenland and the following
year all of Czechoslovakia
How do you think the US and Allies (Great Britain and France) should respond to Hitler’s
aggression in Europe?
Based on the cartoon, what do you think they do?
Nazi – Soviet Pact: August 1939
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Germany signs a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union. This means that : __________
________________________________________________________________________
Hitler really hopes the non-aggression pact will keep Britain from entering a war. How does
that work? _________________________________________________________.
Germany and the Soviet Union agree to split Poland among themselves
German Invasion of Poland: September 1939
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German blitzkrieg overruns ______________
Quick German victory
( Blitzkrieg = __________________ war )
Britain & France declare war on Germany
What should the US do? Why?
Continued Aggression in Europe
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The Soviets invade Poland and the Baltic countries from the East
France’s defenses cannot hold back Germany’s advance
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In May _____________, Hitler’s army reaches France’s northern coast in 10 days &
_______________________________________ to Germany
French & British troops are rescued by 850 British ships from the beaches at Dunkirk
Germany invades _____________________________and Denmark
Who is left to preserve democracy in Europe??? What should the US do?
The Battle of Britain: Summer of 1940 – May 1941
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German Luftwaffe (_______________) makes nightly ________ raids over Great Britain
New technology allow British RAF to hold off Germany and prove Hitler can be __________
o ______________: Code-breaking machine – can intercept German plans
o ______________: Air Force (RAF) can “see” German planes to shoot them down
Operation Barbarossa: June 1941
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Germany breaks non-aggression pact & ______________________________________
Soviet Union uses Scorched Earth Policy and holds back Germany at Leningrad
Germany tries to move on to Moscow and ______________________
US Neutrality?
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During the first two years of the war, the United States stayed officially _____________
and _____________________.
Neutrality Acts (1935-36) 
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“Cash & Carry” (1939) 
“Lend-Lease” (1941)
The US helps Great Britain more and more. Even though the US is officially isolationist,
Roosevelt wants the US to enter the war.
When Britain can't pay for materials any more Roosevelt pushes through the
________________________. The US “loans” Britain war ships and supplies in exchange
for military bases in the Caribbean (Bermuda)
Roosevelt says it is like "lending a____________________ to a next-door neighbor whose
____________________________________.”
While most Americans wanted England to defeat Germany, public opinion was divided on
whether the US should enter the war. What does this debate remind you of? In 1941, would you
have supported US involvement in World War II?
Pearl Harbor: December 7, 1941 (Hawaii)
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_____________________ surprise attack on the US in retaliation for cutting off their
______ supply. (US was alarmed at Japanese imperialism in Manchuria and Asia)
19 American ships sunk or damaged
More than 2,300 Americans ___________ & the US ______________________
___________ and _______________ are allies, so America is at war with Germany as well.