ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What factors led to the outbreak of WWII? Causes of WWII ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What factors led to the outbreak of WWII?

TEKS and Objectives We will… I will… (2D) explain the significance of 1939-1945 as a turning point in U.S. history Identify the characteristics of totalitarian leaders in Europe Summarize the causes of WWII

The Origins of WWII Europe Post-WWI Effects of Great Depression reached Europe New leaders emerged, taking TOTAL control of their country

Joseph Stalin Soviet Union Communism Stalin comes to power Russian Revolution established first communist state Communism Government owns all property (no private ownership) Stalin comes to power Seized power by eliminating adversaries Established brutal totalitarian dictatorship

Benito Mussolini Italy Fascism Became anti- democratic, fascist state under Mussolini Fascism Extreme natinalism the nation is more important than individuals

Adolf Hitler Germany Nazism Hitler’s Rule Affected by Great Depression and Treaty of Versailles People lost faith in democratic Weimar Republic after WWI Nazism Form of fascism Racist nationalism, national expansion, and state control of economy Hitler’s Rule Established a dictatorship Wanted German domination of Europe

Causes of World War II

Treaty of Versailles War Guilt Clause Dictated Peace Blamed Germany for WWI Reparations crippled the German economy Dictated Peace Germans felt they were treated unfairly Hitler promised hope and change

The Failure of the League of Nations Established after WWI Prevent another war Collective Security Idea that peaceful nations would ban together to stop aggressors Failed because U.S. and Soviet Union did not join Ineffective Germany rebuilt military and bombed cities in Spain Italy attacked Ethiopia Japan invaded Manchuria and China

Munich Conference German Aggression Appeasement Hitler annexed Austria Demanded Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia) Appeasement France and Britain agreed to give Hitler part of Czechoslovakia to avoid war Hitler convinced France and Britain were weak

Germany invades Poland Non-Aggression Pact Secret agreement between Hitler and Stalin Agreed to invade and divide Poland Blitzkrieg New type of German warfare Consisted of rapid, coordinated movements by airplanes, tanks, and infantry Quickly defeated Poland WWII begins France and Britain declared war on Germany