Outbreak of WWII

• When did Hitler invade Czechoslovakia?

  March 1939
• What was the effect of appeasement on Hitler's actions?

  No amount of appeasement could stop him
• What was Hitler's goal regarding 'Greater Germany'?

  To unite the people and undo territorial losses
• Which country was likely to be Hitler's next target after Czechoslovakia?

  Poland
• What countries were involved in German expansion from 1933-1939?

  • Netherlands
  • Belgium
  • Luxembourg
  • France
  • Germany
  • Czechoslovakia
  • Poland
  • Austria
  • Hungary
  • Italy
  • Yugoslavia
• What zone did Hitler invade in 1936?

  The Rhineland
• What happened to Czechoslovakia after the Munich Conference?

  Czechoslovakia became vulnerable to invasion
• What was the Anschluss?

  Germany annexed Austria in 1938
• How did the Munich Agreement affect Czechoslovakia?

  It left Czechoslovakia weakened
• Who was the president of Czechoslovakia during the invasion?

  Emil Hácha
• What threat did Hitler use to persuade Hácha to surrender?

  A Luftwaffe attack on Prague
• What military equipment did Germany gain from Czechoslovakia?

  2000 field cannon, 450 tanks, 40000 machine guns
• Why did German troops meet little resistance in Czechoslovakia?

  They invaded on 15 March 1939
• What did Britain and France realize after the invasion of Czechoslovakia?

  Hitler was not reclaiming lost territory
• What did Chamberlain promise Poland?

  Britain would intervene to protect it
• When was the Nazi-Soviet Pact signed?

  23 August 1939
• What was the purpose of the Nazi-Soviet Pact for Hitler?

  To invade Poland without a two-front war
• What did Stalin gain from the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

  Land in Poland without fighting
• Why did Stalin distrust Britain and France?

  They did not consult him over the Munich Agreement
• What was the significance of the Nazi-Soviet Pact for Britain and France?

  It meant the Soviet army would not support Allies
• What event triggered the declaration of war in September 1939?

  The invasion of Poland
• What did Chamberlain demand from Germany regarding Poland?

  To withdraw from Poland by 11 am
• Why did Britain and France wait three days before declaring war?

  They hoped Hitler would back down
• What was Danzig's status after the Treaty of Versailles?

  Danzig was made independent and run by Poland
• What was Hitler's belief about the invasion of Poland?

  It would be quick and easy
• What mistake did Hitler make regarding the German army's readiness for war?

  He ignored generals' suggestions for more time
• What was the impact of the Great Depression on international politics?

  Countries focused on their own problems
• What were the long-term causes of the Second World War?

  1. Treaty of Versailles' harsh terms
  2. Resentment from the creation of Poland
  3. The rise of aggressive dictators
• What were the short-term causes of the Second World War?

  1. The failure of the League of Nations
  2. The Nazi-Soviet Pact
• What was the trigger for the Second World War?

  • The invasion of Poland by Germany
• How did Chamberlain's policy of appeasement contribute to the outbreak of war?

  It allowed Hitler to become more confident
• What was Hitler's view on the Treaty of Versailles?

  He believed it was too harsh on Germany
• What did Hitler aim to achieve through Lebensraum?

  To expand German territory through invasion
• Why was the League of Nations ineffective?

  Absence of the USA weakened its power
• What was the impact of the Abyssinian Crisis on the League of Nations?

  It showed the League's lack of military power
• How did the Great Depression affect dictators like Hitler?

  It allowed them to gain support by blaming others
• What was the significance of the Munich Agreement for Stalin?

  It led to his distrust of Britain and France
• What did Hitler's aggressive foreign policies aim to achieve?

  To regain Germany's strength through violence
• How did the Nazi-Soviet Pact affect Hitler's military strategy?

  It allowed him to focus on the west
• What was the role of key individuals in the outbreak of the Second World War?

  They influenced decisions and policies