Causes of WWII

Depression, Fascism, & Aggression

Post WWI: European nations building economies w/ U.S. financial aid

Unstable New Democracies

End of absolute rulers

Little experience w/ democracy

Too many political partiesCoalition government:

temporary alliance of political parties

ResultsLack of strong leadership &

visionDesire for strong

authoritarian leadership

Germany’s Weimar Republic (1919)

No democratic experience

Too many political parties

Received blame for Versailles Treaty

Germany’s Money Problems

Economists typically define severe inflation as an annual inflation rate of 10% or higher

German prices rose 1 trillion %

In 1923 $1 U.S. = 4 trillion German marks!

Financial Collapse

1929 Stock Market Crash in U.S. leading to Great Depression

Starts global depression w/ American investors demanding money from other nations

Nations stop importing to protect their own economies making world trade drop

The Versailles TreatyThe Versailles Treaty

A Weak League of Nations

A Weak League of Nations

The Ineffectiveness of the League of Nations

The Ineffectiveness of the League of Nations

No control of major conflicts.No control of major conflicts. No progress in disarmament.No progress in disarmament. No effective military force.No effective military force.

Attempts for Peace

1925 Locarno TreatyFrance & Germany never again

make warRespects borders of Belgium &

FranceJoins League of Nations

1928 Kellogg-Briand Peace PactPlease to not use war as an

instrument of national policyNo means to enforce (esp. L of N)

MAGINOT LINE

The “Stab-In-The-Back” TheoryThe “Stab-In-The-Back” Theory

German soldiers are German soldiers are dissatisfied.dissatisfied.

Traits of Fascism

Loyalty to the state

Extreme nationalism

Peaceful states doomed to be conquered

Authoritarian leader/one party rule

Uniforms, salutes, mass rallies

Rise of the Nazis (National Socialist German Worker’s Party)

Adopt swastika as symbol

Brown Shirt militia

Hitler becomes der Fuhrer (leader)

Hitler tries to seize power in Munich in 1923 but fails and is jailed

Hitler’s Ideology

Mein Kampf (My Struggle)Beliefs and goals for GermanyAryans the master raceNeed for lebensraum (living space)

Hitler’s Rise to Power

1932 – Nazi party is largest political party

1933 – Hitler becomes chancellorBanned other political partiesSS (Schutzstaffel or protection squad) created1934 opponents arrested and murderedGestapo (secret police)Industrializes and rearms Germany

Hitler’s Actions

Propaganda/Censorship

Hitler Youth/League of German Girls

Anti-Semitism1933 Jews deprived of most rightsNovember 9th, 1938 Kristallnacht (Night of

Broken Glass)

Nazi Aggression

1935 – Hitler announces Germany would not agree with Versailles Treaty on size of military. L of N issues mild condemnation

1936 – Hitler invades RhinelandAppeasement continuedStrengthens Hitler’s power in GermanyBalance of power in Europe sides with Germany

1936 – Germany, Italy, Japan form Axis Powers

Germany Invades the Rhineland

March 7, 1936

Germany Invades the Rhineland

March 7, 1936

Hitler’s Continued Aggression

1930s – Appeasement still continues. U.S. remains neutral

1937 – Hitler announces plans to take over Austria & Czechoslovakia to form Third Reich

1938 – Germany annexes Austria

1938 – Hitler annexes Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia

Munich Conference

1938 – Britain and France appease Hitler by recognizing his claims in exchange for the promise of no more advancements

Six months later Hitler takes all of Czechoslovakia and Poland

1939 – Hitler & Stalin sign Non-aggression Pact

The “Problem” of theSudetenland

The “Problem” of theSudetenland

“Peace in our Time”

Appeasement: The Munich Agreement, 1938

Appeasement: The Munich Agreement, 1938

Now we have “peace in our time!” Herr Hitler is a man we can do

business with.

Now we have “peace in our time!” Herr Hitler is a man we can do

business with.

British Prime Minister Neville British Prime Minister Neville ChamberlainChamberlain

Czechoslovakia Becomes Part of the Third Reich: 1939

Czechoslovakia Becomes Part of the Third Reich: 1939

Invasion of Poland

Failure of Munich Conference

Nonaggression Pact: Germany & S.U.

Hitler invades Poland No threat of 2 front war GB & FR declare war

Blitzkrieg (“Lightening War”)

Holocaust begins

The Nazi-SovietNon-Aggression Pact, 1939

The Nazi-SovietNon-Aggression Pact, 1939

Foreign Ministers Foreign Ministers von Ribbentrop & von Ribbentrop &

MolotovMolotov

Hitler Trivia

Adolph Hitler had a half brother named Alois Hitler, he owned a bar in Germany that was frequented by prominent Nazi officials. Alois would never share his opinion on Adolph because he was afraid Adolph would revoke his liquor license!

Adolf Hitler had some Jewish heritage in him. His great great grandmother was Jewish who was a maid.

Hitler ordered tanks to be made in Michigan and told the company to not worry about sending them to Germany, he'd 'pick them up on his way through Detroit.

"Quisling," which is used to describe a traitor, was the name of Vidkun Quisling, a Norwegian fascist and supporter of Adolf Hitler, who was appointed Führer of Norway in World War II. Arrested in 1945, Quisling was so despised, Norway broke with their centuries-old policy against capital punishment and executed him.

Hitler Trivia Cont…

Hitler's 3rd grade report from his teacher remarked that Hitler was...'bad tempered and fancied himself as a leader.‘

Adolf Hitler was fascinated by hands. In his library there was a well-thumbed book containing pictures and drawings of hands belonging to famous people throughout history. He liked particularly to show his guests how closely his own hands resembled those of Frederick the Great, one of his heroes.

The NY phone book had 22 Hitlers before WWII. The NY phone book had 0 Hitlers after WWII.

Hitler was voted Time Magazines man of the year in 1938

Adolph Hitler kept a framed photograph of Henry Ford on his desk and Ford kept one of Hitler on his desk in Dearborn, Michigan. Hitler had used in 'Mein Kampf' some of Fords anti-semitic views, and he always welcomed Ford's contributions to the Nazi movement.

Rise Fascism in Italy – Benito Mussolini (Il Duce)Problems

Lack of territorial gain - resentment of Versailles Treaty

Economic frustration with democratic leadership

1919 Mussolini starts Fascist Party Blackshirts: Attack communists

& socialists to win support

1922 Fascists march on Rome and demand King Victor Emmanuel III to put Mussolini in charge

Italian Aggression

1935 – Mussolini invades Ethiopia

Emperor Haile Selassie appeals to L of N but no response

Britain and France begin policy of appeasement

Emperor Emperor Haile Haile

SelassieSelassie

Rome-Berlin Axis, 1939Rome-Berlin Axis, 1939

The “Pact of Steel”

The “Pact of Steel”

Spanish Civil War

1931 – Spanish Republic forms led by liberals and socialists (Republicans)

1936 – Army leaders (Nationalists) led by Francisco Franco stage a revolt Aided by Germany & Italy Republicans receive little help

(Soviet Union, GB, Fr, U.S.)

1939 – Franco becomes Spain’s Fascist dictator

Japan’s Growing Military Power

Modernized and Militaristic leadership

Manchurian Incident: Occupation of Manchuria from ChinaNeed for raw materialsPuppet state

Japanese Militarism

1929 - Military leaders win control

1931 – Japanese army seizes Manchuria

1933 – League of Nations objects and Japan withdraws membership

The Manchurian Crisis, 1931

The Manchurian Crisis, 1931

War versus China

July 1939 full scale war vs. China’s Nationalists & Communist

Rape of Nanjing

Japan Condemned & British support – Burma Road

Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere: Asia’s freedom from Europe

Allies: Germany, Italy, and Japan