By April 1939 Hitler had:

introduced rearmament in Germany (1933 onwards)Democratically took back the Saarland (1935)Remilitarized the Rhineland (1936)United with Austria (1938)Took over the Sudetenland (1938)

(As this happened an Appeasement was agreed too between Germany and its

allies)Took over the rest of Czechoslovakia (March 1939)

When Hitler made speeches attacking the Polish government, demanding the return of Danzig and laying claim to western Poland it became clear that Poland would be the next target. Chamberlain (Prime Minister of Britain) made a promise to Poland that if they came under German aggression they would come to their aid.

23rd August 1939

As Hitler did not want to stop there he wanted to reclaim the German city of Danzig and join German east Prussia (Polish Corridor) with the rest of Germany. The problem was Poland. If Hitler attacked Poland he’d come face to face with the USSR. He was not ready for that conflict ..... YET.

The allies saw this as good news however4, the illusion was shattered in August 1939. Stalin (the leader of the Soviet Union) and Ribbentrop (Hitler’s foreign Minister) announced the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact to the stunned world. The two enemies had done a deal.

The public parts of the pactGermany and the USSR agreed not to attack each other.Each country would remain NEUTRAL if the other was attacked by another state.

The secret parts of the pactGermany and Russia agreed to divide Poland between them.They also set out which states would be part of Germany or to the power of the USSR.USSR supplied Germany with grain, oil and metal ores in return for industrial and military technology.

1st September 1939 Germany invaded Poland

When Germany does not respond to an ultimatum to cease hostiles Chamberlain is forced to act.

3rd September 1939 Britain declared war on Germany. (WWII

begins)

Read Pg. 217 in textbook

Answer questions 1-9, except not 5 and 6 on pg. 218 in full sentences.

October 1939 – April 1940

This was a period of time after war had been declared on Germany but there was little actual fighting. All citizens had been issued with gas masks and air raid shelters had been dug up and all visible lights blacked out earlier in 1939. Although there was a fear of immediate and devastating bombing raids, this period of time was quiet. It was winter too, not a affective time to wage war.

Prime Minister of Australia: Robert Menzies

Australia also declared war on Germany 3rd of September 1939.

Pg. 218-219 of textbookQ1. Why did Menzies say Australia was at war

‘as a result of Britain declaring war?’Q2. How did Australia react to the outbreak of

war?Q3. How did Australia prepare for war?