Prelude to War The Causes of World War II
The Treaty of Versailles Harsh, bitter treaty that ended WWI Germany must: Accept responsibility for WWI Pay war reparations to Allies Demilitarize the Rhineland & reduce military Give up territory to Poland & France Italy - nothing in victory
Benito Mussolini
Italy & Mussolini 1922: Mussolini becomes El Duce Establishes Fascist dictatorship Promotes industry & orderliness Encourages military aggressiveness Promote the greatness of the state Return to the grandeur of the Roman Empire 1935: Invades Ethiopia
Italy Invades Ethiopia 1935: Italy invades Ethiopia to gain revenge to defeat suffered in the 1880 s Haili Selassie, the Ethiopian leader, asks for help from the League of Nations League of Nations does nothing. Italy conquers Ethiopia
Joseph Stalin
The Soviet Union under Stalin wanted to create a model communist state began agricultural and industrial restructuring completely wiped out private enterprise purged anyone who disagreed with him (between 8 and 35 million deaths)
Emperor Hirohito & Hidecki Tojo
Japanese Aggression 1930 s: Depression Japan needs raw materials for industry Government dominated by War Lords 1931: Invades & conquers Manchuria 1937: Invades China 1940: Joins Axis Powers & invades SE Asia, cutting off natural rubber supply to U.S.
Adolph Hitler
Nazi Culture Totalitarian State Gestapo (Secret Police) established Concentration Camps for political prisoners Revived economy w/ public works projects Social Changes Youth Organizations Women rewarded for having babies - as long as they were Aryan Education changes & Book burnings Control of Religion
Campaign Against Jews Background of Anti-Semitism 1935: Nuremberg Laws prohibited: Mixed Marriages Attending or teaching at schools & universities Holding government positions Practicing law & medicine Publishing books Jews must wear armbands & have special passports 1938: Kristallnacht (Night of the Broken Glass)
Key Definitions Axis Powers: The alliance of Germany and Italy. In 1940, Japan joins them. Appeasement: The policy of giving in to someone s demands in order to keep the peace. Why would Britain and France adopt a policy of appeasement in the 1930 s?
The Rhineland & Austria Hitler built up German military in violation of the Treaty of Versailles 1936: Marched troops into the Rhineland Gambled that France & Britain wouldn t react Success here led to bolder moves 1938: Annexed Austria: Claimed he was just consolidating Germans France & Britain did nothing
The Spanish Civil War 1936: Civil War breaks out in Spain between Royalists & Fascists Francisco Franco = Fascist leader Becomes a testing ground for WWII Germany & Italy use it to test new military weapons & techniques
The Munich Conference Hitler wanted to annex German speaking Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia Conference in Munich attended by Hitler, Mussolini, French diplomat, & Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister British & French gave in to Hitler s demands - gave up Sudetenland Chamberlain returned to London and proclaimed Peace in our times! Hitler soon took the rest of Czechoslovakia
Nazi Soviet Pact August 1939: Hitler and Stalin sign a nonaggression pact They agree not to attack each other. Hitler gets freedom to attack Poland Stalin gets Hitler s promise to split Poland Stalin also is free to take over Finland and Baltic States This shocks the western allies
Timeline of Hitler s Moves 33: Became Chancellor of Germany 36: Moved into the Rhineland Mar. 38: Annexed Austria Sept. 38: Sudetenland & Munich Conference Mar. 39: Seized Czechoslovakia Aug. 39: Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact Sept. 1, 1939: Germany invaded Poland
The Start of WWII Great Britain & France now promised to protect Poland Hitler created a fake invasion of Germany by Polish soldiers. ***September 1, 1939***: Germany invaded Poland England & France declare war!