World War IIChapter 25

The Peace that Failed WWI was to be the “war to end all wars.”

Woodrow Wilson Nations were not satisfied with the Versaille

Treaty. The effort of peace and disarmament was

not shared by all nations: Dictatorships of Germany, Italy, Japan, and

Russia built powerful armies and strengthenee their defenses.

Rising Tensions Germany was humiliated by the Treaty of

Versailles and grew bitter. They were facing heavy reparations and resented the Allies’ treatment of their country and were ready for revenge.

Japan and Italy Although both were victorious in WWI, they

faced greater debt and hardships after the war.

They felt left out of the foreign markets. They sought to broaden their markets and

by claiming some of the world’s land and natural resources.

Spiritual Problems Fascism in Italy: Leader of the Italy after the WWI was socialist Benito

Mussolini. He organized the Fascist party in Italy called the

“Blackshirts.” Fascism: form of socialism that is similar to communism; it

exercises totalitarian control of political, economic, cultural, religious, and social activities.

Differs from communism in that it allows some free enterprise but the private businesses are still heavily regulated by the government.

Mussolini’s Promises Take control of the struggling government. End inflation and unemployment. Build a revived “Roman Empire.” Marched the “Blackshirts” into Rome and met the

king. He was asked to form a new government. Italy is now transforming into a totalitarian, Fascist

state with a huge military and political power.

Nazism in Germany Adolf Hitler: Socialist

Joined the German Workers party: nationalistic, antidemocratic, and anticapitalistic.

Veteran of WWI Became leader of GW party and named it the National

Socialist German Worker’s Party, or “Nazis.” Nazism is a form of socialism, but it relies more heavily on

terrorist aggression, fanatical racism, and antidemocratic nationalism.

1923 Revolt Hitler leads a revolt against the government, but it

fails and his jailed. In prison, he wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle), an

autobiography and exposition of Nazi ideology. Considered a blue print for his future plans.

He claimed through Darwinism & Socialism that the Germans had evolved into a superior race and were destined to rule the world.

To secure their survival he said inferior races would need to be destroyed or enslaved.

Hitler and His Ideas are Accepted A yr. later he is out of prison and many

Germans embrace his book and ideas. He is elected to the Reichstag, which is

Germany’s chief legislative body. He was appointed Chancellor in 1933. Nazis became a majority in the Reichstag

and voted Hitler the power to make laws by his own decree.

Der Fuhrer Hitler names himself “Der Fuhrer,” the

leader. He overthrows the Weimar Republic. The new government is the Third Reich.

Outlawed political parties Killed members who he considered a threat to

his power. His motto, “Today Germany; tomorrow the world”

Wiping out the Inferior Races The annihilation of the Jewish people and

other groups he considered “inferior.” He convinced the Germans to hate the

Jews by blaming them for: Being selfish capitalists Being involved in an international conspiracy to

destroy Germany.

The Process Jewish businesses were boycotted Jew were removed from positions of

political and cultural leadership. 1935, the Jews were stripped of their civil

rights. 1939 the Jews were forbidden to emigrate

from Germany.

Process cont. Jews, Slavs, Gypsies, ect. Were shipped to

concentration camps. They were worked to death or murdered outright.

Undesirables: Hospitals practiced euthanasia (killing off the weak, the sick, the mentally retarded, and other physical disabilities) and abortion.

If anyone tried to help these people they were often sent to concentration camps as well.

Hitler Hates Christians “One is either a German or a Christian…

You cannot be both.” Hitler

Militarism in Japan After WWI, Japan relied heavily upon its’

military. General Hideki Tojo was the primary leader

of the military. Emperor Hirohito: was the head of the

Japanese government, but with the powerful military he had no real power.

Ancient Religious Customs Samurai, or warrior class: told the people they

were under divine protection and could not be defeated.

Hakko Ichin: “Bringing the Eight Corners of the World under One Roof.”

Goal to control mainland of Asia and the Pacific Islands.

Allow the Japanese the raw materials and markets she desired.

Anyone who disagreed would be assassinated by the military.

Communism in Russia Joseph Stalin: wanted to make Russia a modern

industrial nation and military state in hopes of dominating the world.

1933, the United States officially recognized the Communist government in Russia.

This allowed Russia to take out loans and to improve their technology and to strengthen their military.

Aggressors on the March Japan is first to declare war.

Invades Manchuria (held by China) and takes control of the nation renaming it Manchukuo.

Japanese government is set up in Manchukuo.

League of Nations formally condemns Japan, but Japan withdraws from the group and continues their aggression in the Far East.

In China 1937 Japan invades Peiping (Beijing today) Japan continues to invade China’s cities, raping,

looting and slaughtering the people along the way.

China’s leader of the National government Chiang Kai-shek, who has been dealing with civil war against the Chinese Communist under Mao Tse-tung moves his capital to Chungking.

Nations Support Japan Although many nations sympathized with

China, they continued to supply Japan with war materials.

Claire Chennault and the “Flying Tigers,” a group of three volunteers squadrons of American airmen who flew missions against the Japanese and fought them successfully in the air against incredible odds.

In Ethiopia 1935 Italy invades Ethiopia, which is a poor

Christian country. Italians slaughter the people, who fought with

spears and arrows against tanks and planes. Haile Selassie, the emperor of Ethiopia pleads to

the League of Nations for help. The League of Nations only aid was to invoke

economic sanctions on Italy.

In cont. May 1936, Italy conquers Ethiopia. League of Nations withdraws their

sanctions. 1937, Italy withdraws from the League of

Nations under Mussolini.

In the Rhineland Hitler withdraws Germany from the League

of Nations in 1933. He stops making reparations from WWI. Enforces all men to sign up for the military. He develops an airforce. Begins building submarines & war ships.

Cont. League of Nations limited Germany’s

military to 100,000 soldiers, but Hitler had built it up to 600,000.

Violated the Treaty of Versailles by sending troops into the Rhineland.

The Spanish Civil War General Francisco Franco: was forced to

turn to Germany and Italy for weapons. He was able to establish a military

government in 1939.

Formation of the Axis Germany recognizes Italy’s claim of Ethiopia. Mussolini and Hitler formally joined forces by

organizing the Rome-Berlin Axis. Germany becomes allies with Japan with the

signing of the Anti-Comintern Pact. 1940, Japan signed the Tripartite Treaty with

Germany and Italy forming the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis.

The three aggressors became known as the Axis Powers.

In Austria Hitler secretly established a Nazi party in

Austria. He marched his troops into Vienna after

forcing Kurt von Schuschnigg to resign seizing Austria without firing one shot.

In Czechoslavakia Made up of Bohemia, Moravia, and Slovakia

became Czechoslavakia after WWI. Sudetenland, a mountainous region along the

Czech-German border, made up of a minority of German who were pro Nazi.

Germany wanted to gain control of this area demanding the “self-determination of peoples” that the area be returned to German control.

Cont. Neville Chamberlain & Edouard Daladier

went to Germany to discuss the issue with Hitler and Mussolini.

Hitler claimed that the Sudetenland was the last territorial claim in Europe.

Munich Pact was signed which dismembered Czechoslavakia by giving Sudetenland to Germany.

The Failure of Appeasement Appeasement: either giving in to the

demands of aggressor nations or taking no action when the aggressors attacked weaker countries.

Winston Churchill: British statesmen saw appeasement as a failure, identifying Germany’s goal for war.

In Albania Mussolini seized Albania in the Balkans. Allowing them to invade Greece and

Yugoslavia. League of Nations recognized they could

not halt Germany and Italian aggression against weaker nations.

In Poland Hitler demands that Poland relinquish their

territory to German control. They sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact with Russia

to avoid opposition from Russia in invading Poland.