Reviewed what we talked about and took notes on about yesterday
Sudetenland/Munich Conference-1938: Hitler had taken Austria, and he then moved his eyes to Czechoslovakia. Some of Czechoslovakia was German speaking, and Hitler wanted to reunite the German speaking people of the world. Dictators that went to the Munich Conference: Neville Chamberlain of Great Britain was known as The Greatest Appeaser...which wasn't a title that you wanted. Adolf Hitler of Germany, Benito Mussolini of Italy, and Edouard Daladier of France were also there.
Munich Pact-Appeasement: Germany was given the Sudentenland of Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia had the option to accept Pact or deal with Germany itself. Czechoslovakia lost its defendable borders and fortifications. Czechoslovakia also lost 70% of its iron/steel, 70% of its electrial power and 3.5 million citizens to Germany as a result of the settlement. Hitler lied to Czechoslovakia and said that he was going to stop taking over land all together. He said that he only wanted to bring German speaking people back to Germany where they should be and bring it back together. Hitler told Czechoslovakia just what they wanted to hear because they really didn't want to get into a war.
Winston Churchill: He was very critical about the Appeasement acts and said that we looked like a bunch of wimps. The Eastern Countries had to stand up to Hitler. At first, Neville was viewed as a hero while Churchill was viewed as a war seeker. Later, that was turned on its head. Churchill became the new Prime Minister for Great Britain.
Hitler takes the rest of Czechoslovakia in March of 1939
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain started taking Nazi Germany and Hitler much more seriously after Germany took over all of Czechoslovakia. Winston Churchill had warned everybody about it too! Great Britain and France began mobilizing for war.
Nazi-Soviet Non-aggression Pact: Russia gave raw materials to Germay in exchange for money and weapons. They both agreed to stay neutral if the other entered the war. But, they also secretly agreed to invade and split Poland. Germany wouold get the Western half and USSR would get the eastern half. The world was shocked with this pact, and Poland was in a very rough spot. Hitler thought it would force Great Britain and France to back out of their promise to help Poland if it was attacked.
Blitzkrieg: Airforce attacks enemy front-line and rear positions, main roads, airfields, and communication centers. At the same time, infantry attacks on the entire frontline and engages the enemy. Tank (panzer) units breakthrough main lines of defense and advance deeper into the enemy territory. While following, mechanized units pursue and engage defenders preventing them from establishing defensive positions that could attack on both sides. The main force would link up with other units to encircle and cut off the enemy. The goal was to achieve victory as quickly as possible.
Allied Powers: Europe countries, Africa countries, Asia countries and others.
Comments