Causes of WWIIThe world at war…again

Main Causes of WWII

Treaty of Versailles Great Depression Totalitarianism Policy of Appeasement Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

Treaty of Versailles

Allied powers met in early 1919 (at the end of WWI) to discuss Germany’s fate

Purpose-prevent another world war Harsh on Germany

Germany had to admit they started the war Pay reparations $33 billion Limited army to 100,000 Germany lost territory and colonies

Germany and the Great Depression

Germany’s econ went down the tubes To pay for the war the govt. printed

TONS of money in the 20’s lowering the value of German $$

The world depression in the late 1920’s & 30’s made it worse for Germany

They were unable to make the payments back from the war

Totalitarianism Totalitarian dictatorship: A dictatorship in which the

government uses intimidation, violence, and propaganda to rule all aspects of social and political life of its citizens.

Modern weapons made it possible for dictators to control the populations

Germany and Italy were fascist (militarism and extreme nationalism) totalitarian regimes: The government controlled econ and resources

One leader has all power

Hitler

In the 20s Nazi’s gained support by criticizing the democratic government in Germany and the Treaty of Versailles

1933 Hitler became Chancellor of Germany He banned all political parties other than Nazis Used Gestapo (secret police) to enforce rules Defied terms of the treaty by using money to build up his

military

Stalin’s Communist Soviet Union 1924 Stalin became the leader 5 year plans to industrialize the country & give the

government control of the economy Seized privately owned land & controlled media Strict censorship & travel restrictions Arrested anyone who was a threat The great purge of the 30s: Stalin eliminated anyone who

opposed communism-many executed Many died of starvation COMMUNISM

Mussolini’s Italy After WWI, Italy struggled economically

& politically Mussolini established the fascist party

challenging democracy. Created “black shirt” gang who attacked

communists and socialists in the streets 1922 March of Rome: 26,000 black shirts &

demanded government be turned over to him After taking over Italy he brought all

communications under fascist control

Appeasement Appeasement: policy of satisfying or giving into

demands. When a country becomes aggressive, other countries give the aggressor what it wants to prevent war.

The treaty of Versailles forced Germany to give up Rhineland

March 1936 Hitler violated it and sent troops to Rhineland

1938 troops moved into Austria and made it apart of Germany

GB & France did nothing

Appeasing Hitler cont. 1938 Hitler threatens to invade Sudetenland (W. part

of Czech., bordering Germany) GB & France panic & call a conference in Munich,

Germany They tried to negotiate with Hitler to try to avoid

war Hitler wanted Sudetenland so they gave it to him if

he promised not invade the rest of Czech. …That promise didn’t last long. He invaded in

March 1939

Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

Soviets played no role in appeasement Because Soviet Union was communist GB & Fr. Wanted

nothing to do with them Stalin tried to form a pact with them to instill fear in

Hitler His proposal was rejected Stalin feared Nazi Germany because Hitler declared he

would take them down

Non-Aggression Pact Hitler approached Stalin about pact Agreed that neither would attack the other 1939 Hitler was trying to avoid two-front war Split Poland between the two countries Both sides knew the other was lying and would

not keep pact Signing the pact cleared the way for Hitler to

invade Poland September 1, 1939 Hitler invades Poland and

WWII begins

Alliances

Axis-Germany, Italy and Japan

Allies-Great Britain, France, Russia and US

How does Japan fit into this? Japan was severely affected by the Great

Depression Japan needed more land and resources for its

expanding population Japanese military leaders thought territorial

expansion was the best solution By 1931 Japanese forces invaded Chinese region

of Manchuria By 1937 Japan and China at war 1940 Japan signed an alliance with Germany and

Italy entering WWII

Why the Jews? The Jews were the ‘scapegoat.’ The Nazis said the

Jews were responsible for them losing the war and the economic crisis.

All problems caused by the Jews Hitler believed in the the superiority of the German

or Aryan race. Wanted racial “purity” Hitler had been open about his views of Jews since

1925 when he wrote Mein Kampf When he came to power he spread these beliefs and

acted upon them

Propaganda in the War

Propaganda: information of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a political cause or point of view

Purpose: 1) To demonize the enemy

2) Encourage viewers to buy war bonds

3) Help rally people behind the war

4) Help to relieve the tension from the war

What message is this poster trying to send?

How does it portray the enemy?

Who is the message intended for?

What message is it trying to send?

How does it portray the enemy?

Who is the message intended for?

What message is it trying to send?

Who is the message intended for?

Propaganda Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHL-sPV01q4

What did you see in the video? How did they portray the Nazis and Germany? What was the message of the video? Why would they use propaganda in kid cartoons? Do you think it was effective?

German Aggression Hitler uses blitzkrieg: means “lightening war”

take by surprise and with speed. Hitler invades Poland, Denmark, Norway,

Belgium, The Netherlands and France and took all very quickly

Attacked Britain from the air- was never able to overcome GB air force

Unsuccessfully invaded the Soviets. Had to retreat. This was the downfall of Germany’s war effort. Didn’t learn from Napoleon.

Italy Italy invaded Greece and North Africa. The Greek campaign was a failure Allies win victory in N. Africa

Japan Leader Tojo expanding empire Organized attack on Pearl Harbor which officially

brought the US into the war US eventually used the atomic bomb on Japan and

they surrendered in 1945

Normandy (D-Day)

June 6, 1944 “D-Day” Landing of Allied forces on the coast of France

which lead to a German retreat France was liberated and Allied troops push

eastward into Germany that leads to German surrender in 1945

End of the War 1945 Allies close in on Berlin Hitler commits suicide, Germans surrender Yalta Conference between Churchill, Stalin, and

FDR in Feb. 1945 planned to create the United Nations as a peacekeeping body

Potsdam Conference between Stalin, Churchill and Truman outlined hopes for justice against war criminals from the Nazi regime

Germany got split into four sections-Berlin wall Nuremberg Trials-trail of Nazis for their war

crimes some to prison and some death