The Set Up

WWII was in large part a product of the way WWI ended

Treaty of VersaillesGermany lost

territory and overseas colonies

Germany had to pay war reparations

Germany’s military was shrunk

Germany had to assume war guilt

Economic DepressionHigh

Unemployment

Hyper Inflation (meaning prices rise as money loses its value)

Weimar RepublicAfter WWI, Germany

had a democratically elected government

But that government was blamed for the economic depression

That government was also blamed for the Treaty of Versailles

Concern Over Future War

The League of Nations was created to stop future wars

The most powerful nation, the United States, however was not a part

Desperate Times Call For Desperate Solutions

Economic hardship forces people to turn to extremes

Germany-Hitler

Italy-Benito Mussolini

Japan-Hideki Tojo

What is Fascism?A totalitarian

government usually headed by a dictator

Glorification of the Nation (extreme patriotism)

Promotion of a strong military

Why Did Hitler Target the Jews?

Part of it was personal history based on his prejudice

The other part is when nations are struggling, it is helpful to blame a scapegoat

Rise to PowerIn the 1933

Elections, the Nazi Party becomes the largest party in the German Parliament

Germany was a parliamentary democracy and Hitler became the Chancellor (like a Prime Minister)

Hitler’s GoalsStop paying war

reparations

Regain lost territory

Rebuild military

Persecute Jews

German Economic Recovery

Hitler reduced unemployment and ended inflation

As a result, he won over the German people and became a dictator