Leading up to WW2:

Bridging the Gap Between WWI and WWII

8-4 Social Studies

WWI: “The War to End All Wars”1914-1918

• Much turmoil after WWI

• Treaty of Versailles ended WWI– Germany vs. the Allied Powers (Britain, France, Russia,

Italy, United States)

• 135 countries participated in this war

• Death total: 15 million+

Several Major Causes of WW2…

1. The Treaty of Versailles

• Germany lost WW1, faced harsh treaty • Germany forced to “accept the responsibility”

of the war damages suffered by the Allies• Germany required to pay hugely

• Country left in economic ruins – Starvation– Government in chaos

2. Japanese Expansion

• Before WWII: Japan growing rapidly• Didn’t have land or natural resources to

sustain growth• Looking to expand their empire to gain new

resources• Invaded Manchuria (Northeast Asia) in 1931

and China in 1937• Sparked upheaval

3. Fascism

• Dictatorial form of government (opposite of democracy)–Ruling party & single person in power

are superior to all other citizens. –Reject basic human rights…• Freedom of speech• Right to protest the government

Fascism, cont’d…

• Post WWI: countries taken over by powerful dictators

• Mussolini=Italy• Looking for lands to conquer to expand their

empires• Italy invades Ethiopia in 1935• Adolf Hitler emulates Mussolini as he takes

over Germany

4. Hitler and the Nazi Party

• Hitler and the Nazi Party rise to power in Germany

• Germans desperate to turn their country around after WWI destruction

• Hitler offered hope• 1934: Hitler proclaimed the “Fuhrer” (leader) – Becomes dictator of Germany

Hitler and the Nazis, cont’d…• Hitler furious about restrictions of Germans in Treaty of

Versailles

• Rearms Germany

• Teams up with Mussolini and Italy

• Takes over Austria in 1938

• Grows bolder; takes over Czechoslovakia in 1939

5. Appeasement

• European countries didn’t want another war

• Britain and France tried to keep the peace through “appeasement” – Tried to make Germany and Hitler happy rather

than trying to stop them – Backfires: Hitler grows bolder; gives him time to

build up his army

6. The Great Depression

• Pre WWII, during the 1930s

• Great economic suffering throughout the world

• Result: unstable governments (i.e., where Fascist leaders stepped in) and worldwide turmoil

• Contributed to causes of WWII

The Beginning of the Second World War

Phase 1: September 1939-June 1940

The Official Beginning…

• Germany invades Poland from the West– Marks the official beginning of WWII– September 1, 1939

• 16 days later, Soviet Union invades Poland from the East

• Germany and the Soviet Union sign a non-aggression pact– They wouldn’t be enemies– Agree to divide Poland between them

Allied Forces During Phase 1

• France

• Britain

• The Commonwealth (several countries; for example: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa)

• **Canada officially entered the war on September 10th, 1939, but didn’t make a total commitment to the war effort until May, 1940.

Axis Forces During Phase 1

• Germany

• Italy

• Japan

Blitzkreig, 1940

• German term for “lightning war”

• A military tactic to easily break through Allied defences in several places– Combines tanks, aircraft, and mobile infantry – Fast-moving, powerful units

Blitzkreig, cont’d…

• Germany unleashes against Belgium and the Netherlands

• Bypass Maginot Line (French concrete line of fortifications)

Blitzkreig, cont’d…

• British and French armies tried to stop the Germans but were defeated.

• Humiliated, the French government surrendered to Germany, leaving Britain to carry on the fight alone

Canada’s Contribution

• Sent small volunteer army using ships known as the Merchant Marine– Merchant Marine: ocean-going ships used for

trade that were converted to transport military personnel and supplies

• First ships (September, 1939) sunk by German submarines almost immediately

Canada’s Contribution, cont’d…

• The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) or simply “The Plan”– Created December, 1939– Massive, joint military aircrew training program

created by UK, CAN, AUS, and NZ– Canada’s air force would train Allied pilots in

Canada– 131,000 air crew trained in Canada

Canadian Government During Phase 1

• William Lyon MacKenzie King and Liberal Party win federal election

• Policy of sending small volunteer army overseas while having large scale war production at home. – Why would this policy be popular with Canadians?

• May, 1940: Canada changes policy– German victories– National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA)– Canada moves into a total commitment to the war effort

The Second World War

Phase 2June 1940 - July 1943

The War Takes a Turn• Two major events:

1. German armies invade Soviet Union (breaking the terms of the non-aggression pact). Soviet Union becomes Britain’s ally

2. December 7, 1941: Surprise military strike by the Japanese Navy against the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor , in the U.S. territory of Hawaii.

United states declares war on Germany and Japan

Significant Losses

• June 1942: U.S. forces destroyed much of Japan’s air and naval forces.

• German army suffers major defeat at the hands of the Soviet army in February 1943 near the city of Stalingrad.