Chapter 30 Section 4Europe in Two World Wars

IntroductionAs European nations dominated more and

more of the globe, rivalries among the colonial powers flared.

Nationalism, militarism, and industrial competition also contributed to an atmosphere that led to war.

Growth of NationalismWars of Napoleon sparked growth of

nationalism.Spirit of nationalism led to the creation of

two new nations- Italy and Germany.

ItalyItaly- divided into many small states.Fought to free Italy from foreign control.1870-unification of the Italian Peninsula was

complete.Active in world affairsSought to add lands in northern Italy-under

foreign rule

GermanyGermany- separate statesCount Otto con Bismarck of Prussia led the

drive to unite Germany.“blood and iron” warfare and militaryGermany won a “place in the sun” as a world

power alongside Britain, France, Russia, and Austria-Hungary.

The Road to WarNationalism and colonial rivalries led

European nations to increase military spending by enlarging their armies and building navies.

Late 1800’s all European nations, but Germany in particular, glorified war and encouraged a spirit of militarism.

Alliance SystemGermany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy formed

the Triple Alliance.In response, France joined Russia and Britain

in the Triple Entente.

The Powder Keg ExplodesJune 1914- Arhduke Francis Ferdidnand

visited Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia.A Bosnian nationalist shot and killed him and

his wife.Triggered a crisis

On August 1, 1914 Germany declared war on Russia.

France and Britain were drawn into the conflict.

WWIAugust 1914- 4 years

“Great War”Involved all of the major European powers and

many regions beyond EuropeCentral Powers- Germany, Austria-Hungary,

and the Ottoman Empire.Vs

Allied Powers- Britain, France, and Russia.

StalemateFought on many combat zones (fronts).Western front- trench warfareNovember 1914, war had settled in a

stalemate or situation in which no one can win.

After the Russian Revolution, Russia withdrew from the war.

New WeaponsMachine guns, poison gas, causing heavy

casualties.British- introduced armored tanksAt sea German submarine attacks on

merchant ships helped to draw the U.S. into conflict in 1917.

The War EndsBy 1917 American troops were reaching

Europe.On November 11, 1918, Allies and Germany

signed an armistice agreement, ending the Great War.

EffectsCaused major property damageMillions of people were killed/wounded

Rise of Dictators1920s-1930s, nations of Europe struggled to

recover from the war.

ItalyAfter WWI Italy was plagued by economic

and political problems.Benito Mussolini

Founded Fascist party.Glorified the state and supported nationalist

expansionDespised communismCondemned democracyGlorified violence and war as ways to achieve

national goals.

Nazi GermanyAfter WWI experienced turmoil1920’s Adolf Hitler gained control of the

National Socialist, or Nazi, party.Promoted racism by claiming that Germans

belonged to a superior “Aryan” raceUsed violenceSetup a facist state in which he was the leader.Nazi controlled German life.

World War IIGerman invasion of Poland in September

1939 triggered World War II.Britain and France declared war on Germany.Pitted the axis versus the alliedGermany, Italy, and Japan were the major axis

powersAllies- Britain, France, Soviet Union, the U.S.,

China and 45 other nations.

WWIIAxis Advance

Advanced across EuropeHitler used Blitzkrieg, or lightening war1941-Germany overrun Denmark, Norway, the

Netherlands, Belgium, and France. The Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941

brought the U.S. into war.

On D-Day, June 6, 1944 the Allies landed on the coast of France.

Liberated and pushed into Germany.Soviets moved inHitler committed suicideMay 7, 1945- Germany surrendered

Holocaust RevealedDuring the war Hitler called for

extermination of all Jews in Europe.Gas chambers to carry out the genocide of

the Jewish

Effects of the WarWWII ended with the defeat of Japan in

August 1945, when the U.S dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Japan surrenderedMost destructive war in historyReduced Western Europe’s impact on world

affairs.Two new superpowers- U.S.A. and Soviet

Union