Road to World War II

Causes of World War II WWI was not the “war to end all wars.”A series of problems stemming directly from WWI led to World War II. resentment in Germany over Treaty of Versailles failure of the League of Nations to maintain world peace global depression & intense nationalism led to the rise of dangerous, aggressive dictators So several consequences of WWI, the way it ended, and the years after led to conditions in Europe that set the stage for dangerous, aggressive governments to gain power in several important nations.

Underlying Causes of World War II Nationalism: extreme pride in one’s nationality or country Imperialism: a nation expands own power by forcing other nations to submit to its rule Militarism: building up & using a strong military to promote national interests The dictatorships that arose in Germany, Spain, Russia, Italy, and Japan gained power from the ideas and policies above. They took advantage of the fears, anger, bitterness, desires of their peoples to gain power. SO these terms should all be familiar to us already. When did we talk about these before? All of these “isms” directly contributed to the rise of totalitarian governments and to the outbreak of WWII (JUST like they contributed to the outbreak of WWI.)

Road to World War II Totalitarian Dictatorships: Leaders control all aspects of society Prior to WWII, each dictator took advantage of economic problems in their countries by: Promising simple solutions to their nation’s problems Rebuilding national pride (often using propaganda) Providing scapegoats (targets for anger & blame) Absorbing power, taking away individual rights, and crushing opposition So what IS a totalitarian government?

More characteristics of totalitarian regimes state controls access to information, monopolizes all communication systems state systematically indoctrinates its citizens Use of propaganda enables leaders to strengthen their hold promotes mass solidarity prepares citizens to accept war used particularly to “teach” the youth **regime = a system of government, usually authoritarian

Types of Totalitarian Governments: FAsCISt Characteristics of fascist regimes - highest value is the nation - own nation is superior to any other - see war as a glorious experience - massive military build-up; use war to expand nation’s territory & power - use violence to crush opponents - strongly opposed to communism - believe strong have natural right to dominate weak; Social Darwinism - believe a single, all-powerful leader best leads nation to greatness But there are different TYPES of totalitarian regimes. Three Nationalism Unity of All Social Classes All-Powerful Leaders Extreme Militarism Fascists were extreme nationalists who believed that the highest value was the nation. They took this belief to extremes, claiming that their nation was superior to others. Fascists were also strongly opposed to communism. Fascists felt a single national party should unite all classes. They also believed that the strong had a natural right to dominate the weak. They opposed worker unions and strikes. Fascists believed that a single all-powerful leader could best represent the national will and lead the nation to social and economic success. Fascists used violence to defeat their political opponents and prepared to use war for national expansion. Fascists saw war as a glorious experience.

Soviet Communism under Josef Stalin -all means of production (land, labor, capital) = state-owned & controlled -communism based on military rule. -forced labor created wealth for a few, -lives of most people change very little or get worse -cult of the leader: all-knowing, all-seeing Father of the People -Young people encouraged to report members of own families for ‘anti-Soviet’ views -everyone works, everyone receives from government (gov owns everything); total economic equality: no one gets ahead, no one starves either (IN THEORY)

Dictators The Fascists The Communists Benito Mussolini- Italy Adolph Hitler- Germany Francisco Franco- Spain The Communists Joseph Stalin - USSR Mao Zedong- China

Joseph Stalin 1924 Country: Soviet Union Type of Government: Communism (dictatorship) Goals and Ideas: Crushed opponents Held absolute authority; suppressed resistance Brought his country to world power status but imposed upon it one of most ruthless regimes in history New Economic Policies (NEP) Collectivization: exported seized goods and gained enough capital to finance a massive industrialization drive Rapid industrialization: three 5-year plans The Great Purges: KGB = secret police killed thousands of army officers and prominent Bolsheviks who opposed Stalin Stalin = VERY paranoid Feared the growing power of Nazi Germany Increasingly paranoid & dangerous.

Benito Mussolini 1922 Il Duce Country: Italy Type of Government: Fascism (dictatorship) Goals and Ideas: Centralized all power in himself as leader (total control of social, economic, and political life) Ambition = restore the glory of Rome Invasion of Ethiopia Alliance with Hitler’s Germany Il Duce

Adolf Hitler 1933 Country: Germany Type of Government: Nazism (dictatorship) Goals and Ideas: Inflation and depression weakened the democratic government in Germany and allowed Hitler to rise to power Believed the western powers had no intention of using force to maintain Treaty of Versailles Anti-Semitism: persecution of Jews Extreme nationalism: National Socialism (aka Nazism) Aggression: German occupation of nearby countries Lebensraum: unite all German speaking nations Anschluss: German union with Austria

Hideki Tojo Country: Japan Type of Government: Militarism Goals and Ideas: Japan had an emperor but the military had taken control of government Emperor Hirohito could not stand up to the powerful generals but he was worshipped as a god by the people Industrialization of Japan, leading to a drive for raw materials – how do you get raw materials? IMPERIALISM Invasion of Korea, Manchuria, and China ( League of Nations did nothing) Hideki Tojo, Military Leader of Japan Hirohito, Emperor of Japan

Asia China Japan Ineffective Manchu dynasty Sun Yat-sen Nationalists united the country Japan Shoguns Trade and colonies (raw materials)