Steps to War Chapter 26 Section 1

Rise of Dictators By 1930’s dictators had seized control in several countries Italy Germany Japan Soviet Union Their rise to power was due to the economic and political conditions created by World War I

Italy Mussolini Hitler

Stalin Tojo

Bitter Legacy of WW1 The treaties that ended World War I did not resolve any issues Japan and Italy: dissatisfied Germany: 100% blame Europe was in ruins Great Depression worldwide

Italy’s Dictator Benito Mussolini: Italian Fascist dictator Came to power in Italy in 1922 and began fascism Fascism: political philosophy that advocates a strong nationalistic dictatorship Extreme form of patriotism or nationalism

Germany’s Dictator Adolf Hitler: German dictator; Nazi Party head National Socialist German Workers Party Believed in German racial superiority Became chancellor of Germany in 1932, and then took over the government

Soviet Union’s Dictator Joseph Stalin: Communist dictator of the Soviet Union Took power in 1924 after the death of Vladimir Lenin Stalin controlled every aspect of life in the nation He crushed any opposition

Japan’s Dictator Hideki Tojo: Prime Minister of Japan 1941- 1944 The military increased its power in Japan Tojo became Prime Minister in 1941 As the war progressed, he assumed dictatorial power

Describe what brought dictators to power Essential Question Describe what brought dictators to power Answer: Dictators came to power because countries were looking for a way out of financial ruin caused by World War I, the Great Depression, and mass unemployment

Axis Aggression In 1936, Hitler and Mussolini formed an alliance called the Rome- Berlin Axis Axis: The Rome-Berlin Axis, the alliance between Mussolini and Hitler, later joined by Japan

Germany takes over 1938: Hitler invades Austria, home to mostly German-speaking peoples Hitler then looks to the Sudetenland, a region of Czechoslovakia France, and Great Britain pledged their support to Czechoslovakia if Germany was to attack…

World War II Begins… March 1939, Hitler conquers the rest of Czechoslovakia Hitler then threatened to seize Polish territory France and Britain warned Hitler that an attack on Poland would mean war….

Germany Starts the War August 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union agreed not to attack each other Germany then invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Two days later, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany

Allies Under Attack June 1940, Germany invades France Hitler plans to invade Great Britain next…. Germany’s Luftwaffe fought Britain’s RAF Great Britain did not surrender!

America to the Rescue Lend-Lease Act: allowed the United States to lend weapons to allies The United States sent Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and other Allies about $50 billion worth of goods Remaining neutral, we did not send men….

Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor: U.S. Naval base attacked by Japanese forces on December 7. 1941 2,400 Americans, both service men and civilians died. U.S. warplanes and ships destroyed, leaving the U.S. fleet devastated. Pearl Harbor Video

Pearl Harbor

U.S. Enters the War December 7, 1941, “a date that will live in infamy” Roosevelt asked congress to declare war on Japan! On December 11, Japan’s allies Germany and Italy declared war on the United States…

Essential Question Describe the events that led to World War II Answer: 1. Germany invaded Poland 2. Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later