Europe in the 20 th Century

Map of Europe in 1900

World War I World War I Alliances ( ) The Central Powers The Allies *Austria-Hungary *Russia *Germany *France *Turkey (Ottoman Empire) *U.K. *Bulgaria *Italy *U.S. World War I ended in November, The Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919.

Europe After World War I The Treaty of Versailles demanded that Germany had to pay for the damage done to the Allied Countries. Germany also had to give up valuable territory. Austria-Hungary was divided as a result of the war, becoming two separate countries. This allowed several Eastern European ethnic groups that had been part of Austria-Hungary to gain their independence.

Map of Europe After WWI

Germany After WWI Germany’s economy was suffering, largely due to the reparations for WWI that they had to pay. Unemployment in Germany was very high. Germany wanted to rebuild their own country. Nazi Party believed in Fascism-a philosophy that supports a strong central government controlled by the military and led by a powerful dictator. Adolf Hitler, leader of the Nazi Party, was voted into office as Chancellor of Germany in 1933.

Causes of World War II 1934-Hitler took command of the Armed Forces Nazis invaded Poland. By 1940, the Nazis had invaded much of Western Europe, conquering Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Denmark, and Norway Nazis invaded the Soviet Union. December 7, 1941-Japan (allies with Germany) bombed U.S. military bases at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. U.S. entered the war by sending troops to fight in the Pacific against the Japanese and troops to Europe to fight the Nazis.

World War II Alliances The Allies U.S. U.K. France Soviet Union The Axis Powers Germany Italy Japan

War on Two Fronts Although the U.S. did not officially enter the war until 1941, we had been helping the other Allies by ‘lending’ weapons and support. After the U.S. entered the war, the military fought against Hitler in Europe and Japan in the Pacific Ocean.

Soviet Union’s Role The Soviet Union had begun the war on Germany’s side. They agreed with the German invasion of Poland and invaded from the other side. In 1941, however, Hitler decided to invade Russia. This was not successful, however, because the German army was not prepared for Russia’s harsh winter. Russia successfully held their ground and joined the Allies—Britain, France, and the United States.

The Holocaust Adolph Hitler felt that the Jews were responsible for all of Germany’s economic troubles. Jews had to wear a yellow star for identification in public. In the 1930s, the Nazis opened concentration camps. These were labor camps for Jews. Many Jews worked for the Nazi war effort, but most were killed. Over 6 million Jews died in what is now called the Holocaust. The camps were liberated in 1945.

How Did World War II End? May 1945: The Western Allies were victorious in Europe. Germany surrendered to the western allies in August 1945: After Japan refused to surrender, the United States dropped the atomic bomb on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. August 14, 1945: Japan surrendered to the United States.

Europe After World War II Much of Europe had been devastated during the war. The allies (United States, France, and the United Kingdom) helped rebuild and strengthen democracies in Western Europe, including the West Germany. The Soviet Union occupied Eastern Europe, including East Germany. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization): members of this alliance (western Europe, Canada, and U.S.) agreed to defend one another if they were attacked by the Soviet Union or any other country.

Europe after WWII

Europe After WWII  Western European countries had democratic governments.  Eastern European countries, including the Soviet Union had communist governments.  Iron Curtain-symbolized the political differences between Western Europe and Eastern Europe.

Berlin Wall  East German government built a wall that divided East Berlin from West Berlin in  The Berlin Wall was both the physical division between West Berlin and East Germany from 1961 to 1989 and the symbolic boundary between democracy and Communism during the Cold War.

Fall of the Berlin Wall In 1989, a weakened East German government announced to its citizens that they could begin relocating to the West. November 9, 1989Thousands of people came with hammers and began taking down pieces of it. The following day, the Brandenburg Gate was opened. Initially there were checkpoints established. Primarily it was to assist those crossing over to the West, but it was soon discarded as well.

Collapse of the Soviet Union Daily life for the citizens of the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries was difficult. Most people were poor and had little say in their government. By 1980s, economic conditions in the Soviet Union and those Eastern European countries under its control had worsened Soviet republics declared their independence from the Soviet Union, setting up democratic governments. By 1991, the Soviet Union no longer existed. The huge country had become 15 different nations.

Europe Today