Handout // March 30

Handout // March 30 World War II: How the Storm Gathered and Lessons

I. How the Storm Gathered in Europe:

A. Withdrawal of USA, Britain and USSR from Central European affairs.

B. Hitler wins without war! Conquests without significant opposition:

1.) Re-militarize the Rhineland, March 7, 1936

2.) Anschluss (union) with Austria, March 11, 1938

3.) Sudetenland (western Czechoslovakia), Sept 30, 1938

4.) The rump Czech state disappears, March 14-15, 1939

5.) Memel (in Lithuania), March 23, 1939.

C. German success breeds success!
1.) Germans fell more firmly in line behind Hitler as he succeeded.

2.) Growth of German power through increased resources.

3.) Destroyed allied credibility.

4.) Eventually destroyed German credibility.

D. The Launching of World War II:
1.) Hitler attacks Poland, Sept. 1 1939.

--defeats Poland in 5 weeks

--defeats France in 6 weeks, ending June 17 1940.

2.) Tripartite Pact, Sept. 27, 1940threatens USA! (Dumb idea.)

2.) Hitler attacks the USSR, June 22, 1941. (To get at Britain?!?)

E. Hitler’s other wars: The Holocaust and Hitler’s other mass murders. II. Lessons of WW II in Europe: A. Hitler’s warHitler’s Personal "Window of Opportunity" 1.) German military reluctant at points/ German population not elated by the thought of major war!
B. Deterrence Model: Not a sudden war, many steps to war. Many lost opportunities?
1.) The Rhineland, 1936---ouch, what a mistake.

2.) A firmer stand in Czechoslovakia?

2.) Alliance with USSR 1938-1939? Why not?

C. Five reasons why deterrence failed:
1.) British non-strategy, early and late.

2.) Growth of German power, 1932-1939.

--When aggressors are stronger than status quo powers, we get war.

--This is particularly true when the aggressor’s advantage is fleetingthis spurs preventive war.

3.) Appeasement destroyed British and French credibility.

4.) Britain made the wrong threat to Germany? Some say Britain should have written off Poland and only warned Germany not to invade the USSR. What would this have looked like?

5.) Lack of allied offensive capability against Germany?

C. End of "pacifism"realization that true evil can and does exist in the world, and war is often not accidental or unwantedaggressor types take advantage of "nice guys." --Hitler was evil, but also Stalin, Mussolini, Japan ….wowevil many places!!!

III. Big Questions: A. Would Hitler’s policy of "peaceful expansion" work in a Europe of nuclear-armed powers?

B. Does this prove the dominance of the "deterrence model"? It is clearly HIGHLY DANGEROUS to appease, especially if there is any doubt that the one who seeks appeasement may not have limited aims (Hitler lied repeatedly, convincingly)what else can be done but to deter?