“Prelude to Global War”

Significant Facts1. Total War: war fought not only by armed

forces at the battlefront but by civilians in factories and homes

2. Global War: was fought on all major seas and in Africa, Asia, and Europe- involved over 60 nations

3. Three Major Battle Areas1. Africa = North African Theater2. Asia = Pacific Theater3. Europe = European Theater

Sides..Who fought who?Axis Powers Allied Powers

ItalyGermanyJapan

France Great BritainSoviet Union (USSR)

Leaders1. Italy = Fascist Leader Benito Mussolini (1922)2. Germany = Dictator Adolf Hitler (1933)3. Japan = Emperor Hirohito (1926)

1. General/Prime Minister Hideki Tojo (1936)

4. France = Charles de Gaulle5. Great Britain = Winston Churchill6. Soviet Union = Joseph Stalin (1924)7. U.S. = FDR (1932-1945) Harry Truman (1945)

Axis Nations PhilosophyImperial Japan controlled by military looking

to expand empireFascist Italy led by Dictator Mussolini “return

to glory days”Nazi Germany led by Dictator Hitler

“superior mentality”

Early Axis Aggression (1930-1939)Withdrew from the League of NationsJoined together to form a military alliance =

AXIS POWERSEngaged in one act of aggression after

another without any oppositionViolated major international peace

agreements = Treaty of Versailles and League of Nations

Basic Causes of WWII/ Axis Goals:MINT!1. Militarism:

1. Built up military: arms and techniques; psychologically prepared their people for war or would use military on their own people to maintain power

2. Imperialism1. Axis Nations claimed they were have-not nations

3. Nationalism:1. Considered themselves superior and destined to rule

over lesser people4. Totalitarianism:

1. Totalitarian dictatorships scorned ideas of democracy 2. Types of leaders were about to come to power because

of World Depression (economic upheaval leads to political upheaval)

3. Axis countries openly declared their intent to destroy Democracy.

Italy – Fascist LeaderBenito Mussolini1. WW I Soldier2. Political Activist3. Teacher and Journalist4. Felt Italy was shortchanged after WWI – all

the spoils of war went to England and France

5. Founded a revolutionary Fascist Political Party.

FASCISM – a political philosophy that puts a nation or race above the individual party……The Nation must look to the past……Try to restore the grandeur the nation once was…..ROMAN EMPIRE

1.1922 – Mussolini – nicknamed “IL duce” the leader2.He became Prime Minister of Italy3.Set up his secret police “black shirts”

Germany – Adolph Hitler (1933)1. Poorly educated painter from Austria

2. Wounded twice in WW I

3. Enraged by German defeat in WW I and the terms of the Treaty of Versailles

4. 1919 became the leader of the German Workers Party which became the NAZI Party

5. 1923 tried to overthrow the republic government of Germany……failed…..and was sent to jail…..while in jail he wrote “Mein Kampf”

Mein Kampf – “My Struggles”…. Booked explained the problems of Germany and what he would do to solve them…..over I million copies sold in Germany

1. Promised – new economy – revival of the German Empire prior to WW I

2. Became Chancellor of Germany – Nazi party took control of the parliament

3. He created the Third Reich

Domestic Policy1.Suspended all civil liberties2.Blamed the Jews for all the economic problems3.“Anti – Semitism”4.Boycott all Jewish owned shops – all books burned5.Jews paced in concentration camps – “Yellow Star”