M+OVERVIEW+OF+THE+STEPS+TO+WAR

This page can be used to give you an idea of the key reasons why World War II broke out in 1939 ( or if you are an American), in 1941.

We are dealing with THREE antagonists during this period:

=GERMANY= =JAPAN= =ITALY=

By the mid 1930s they have divided the world into three spheres of interest:


 * Germany - heartland Europe**
 * Japan - Asia and America**
 * Italy - Africa and the Middle East**

So what are the key events?

**For Germany**

 *  Steps to War up to 1939 **

**1 CONSCRIPTION & RE-ARMAMENT** Hitler began to build up his armed forces. In 1935 he introduced conscription (calling up men to the army). This __broke the Treaty of Versailles,__ but Britain and France let him get away with it.

**2 RHINELAND** Hitler invaded the Rhineland on 7 March 1936. This __broke the Treaty of Versailles.__  It was a bluff – the German army had only 22,000 soldiers and had orders to retreat if they met any resistance. But once again, Britain and France did nothing.

**3 AUSTRIA** In 1938, Hitler took over Austria. First, Hitler encouraged the Austrian Nazis to demand union with Germany. Then Hitler invaded Austria. This __broke the Treaty of Versailles__, but Britain and France did nothing.

**4 MUNICH ** In 1938, Hitler tried to take over the Sudetenland. First, Hitler encouraged the Sudeten Nazis to demand union with Germany. Then, Hitler made plans to invade Czechoslovakia. __Neville Chamberlain appeased Hitler.__ At Munich, on 29 September 1938, Britain and France gave Hitler the Sudetenland.

**5 CZECHOSLOVAKIA ** In March 1939, Hitler’s troops marched into the rest of Czechoslovakia. This, for most British people, was the time <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">when they realised that the only thing that would stop Hitler was a war.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**6 USSR/NAZI PACT & POLAND** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In 1939, Hitler tried to take over Poland. First, the Germans in Danzig demanded union with Germany. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then, Hitler threatened war. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Chamberlain promised the Poles that Britain would support them if Germany attacked Poland. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> In August 1939, Hitler made a secret treaty with Russia. He thought this would stop Britain & France helping Poland. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> On 1 September 1939, Hitler invaded Poland. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> On 3 September 1939, Chamberlain declared

1. 1935 attacks Ethiopia/Abyssinia. Br and Fr allow them to get away with it
2. Joins with Germany and Japan to create Axis

3. Fights in the Spanish Civil war on the side of the fascists <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Most of the aggressions, leading step by step to open war in September 1939, were the outcome of the deliberate policy of Hitler. <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif;">S Reed Brett, //European History 1900-1960// (1967)
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 24pt;">Eight Steps to War ****<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">[ ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">SCRAMCUP ****<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">] **

**<span style="color: #20b3cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">1 ** **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"> S AAR ** **<span style="color: #20b3cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> PLEBSICITE ** <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 2.85pt 0cm 5.65pt;">The Treaty of Versailles had put the Saar under the control of the League of Nations for 15 years. In 1935 the inhabitants of the Saar voted to return to Germany. The Saar plebiscite is cited by many historians as the first step to war. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0cm 2.85pt 0cm 5.65pt;"> The Saar Plebiscite - more info **<span style="color: #20b3cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2 ****<span style="color: #20b3cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> C ONSCRIPTION ****<span style="color: #20b3cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> & RE-ARMAMENT ** <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 2.85pt 0cm 5.65pt;">Hitler began to build up his armed forces. In 1935 he introduced conscription (calling up men to the army). This broke the Treaty of Versailles, but Britain and France let him get away with it. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; margin-right: 2.85pt;"> History Learning - very clear <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; margin-right: 2.85pt;"> Rearmament in Germany - more detailed <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; margin-right: 2.85pt;"> Rearmament: The British Reaction – documents <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; margin-right: 2.85pt;"> Axis Militarism - sets Nazi re-armament in its wider setting.

**<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">3 R ****<span style="color: #20b3cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">HINELAND ** <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 2.85pt 0cm 5.65pt;">Hitler invaded the Rhineland on 7 March 1936. This broke the Treaty of Versailles. It was a bluff – the German army had only 22,000 soldiers and had orders to retreat if they met any resistance. But once again, Britain and France did nothing. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; margin-right: 2.85pt;"> History Learning - very clear <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> Wiesenthal Centre - good <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> Britain's reaction to the Rhineland - Learning Curve exercise <span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Rhineland Crisis: British Reaction <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> Rhineland Crisis: French Reaction - documents

**<span style="color: #20b3cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">4 ****<span style="color: #20b3cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> A USTRIA ** <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 2.85pt 0cm 5.65pt;">In 1938, Hitler took over Austria. First, Hitler encouraged the Austrian Nazis to demand union with Germany. Then Hitler invaded Austria (11 March 1938). This broke the Treaty of Versailles, but Britain and France did nothing. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; margin-right: 2.85pt;"> History Learning - very clear <span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Spartacus site //<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Anschluss //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> The British Reaction - documents <span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Radio Days - detailed account

**<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">YouTube ** <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; margin: 0cm 2.85pt 0cm 14.2pt; text-indent: -11.35pt;"> Anschluss - documentary

**<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; text-transform: uppercase;">5 M ****<span style="color: #20b3cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;">UNICH ** <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 2.85pt 0cm 5.65pt;">In 1938, Hitler tried to take over the Sudetenland. First, Hitler encouraged the Sudeten Nazis to demand union with Germany. Then, Hitler made plans to invade Czechoslovakia. <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 2.85pt 0cm 5.65pt;"> Neville Chamberlain appeased Hitler. At Munich, on 29 September 1938, Britain and France gave Hitler the Sudetenland. **<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Page on ****<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> the Sudeten Crisis **

**<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">YouTube ** <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; margin: 0cm 2.85pt 0cm 14.2pt; text-indent: -11.35pt;"> Hitler and Czechoslovakia - old educational video (very biased) = **<span style="color: #20b3cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">6 ** **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;"> C ZECHOSLOVAKIA ** = <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 2.85pt 0cm 5.65pt;">On 15 March 1939, Hitler’s troops marched into the rest of Czechoslovakia. This, for most British people, was the time when they realised that the only thing that would stop Hitler was a war. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; margin-right: 2.85pt;"> History Learning - very clear **<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Page on Britain's decision to go to war **

**<span style="color: #20b3cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">7 ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">U ****<span style="color: #20b3cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">SSR/NAZI PACT ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 2.85pt 0cm 5.65pt;">In summer 1939, Hitler began to unfold his plan to take over Poland. First, the Germans in Danzig demanded union with Germany. Then, Hitler threatened war.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 2.85pt 0cm 5.65pt;">Chamberlain promised the Poles that Britain would support them if Germany attacked Poland.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 2.85pt 0cm 5.65pt;">In August 1939, Hitler made a secret treaty with Russia. He thought this would stop Britain & France helping Poland. **<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Page on the Nazi-Soviet Pact **

**<span style="color: #20b3cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">8 ****<span style="color: #20b3cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> P OLAND ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 2.85pt 0cm 5.65pt;">On 1 September 1939, Hitler invaded Poland.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 2.85pt 0cm 5.65pt;">On 3 September 1939, Chamberlain declared war on Germany.

<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; margin: 0cm 2.85pt;">Eight reasons Hitler invaded Poland

**<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">YouTube ** <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; margin: 0cm 2.85pt;"> Invasion of Poland - old educational video