1. The Rise of Dictators and World War II
Steps to War
Chapter 26
Section 1

2. The Rise of Dictators What brought dictators to power?
Rise to power was due to economic and political conditions created by World War I.
Italy, Germany, Japan, and Soviet Union.
Treaties from WWI did not resolve issues.
Germany most severe.
Economies of Europe in ruins; heavy debt.
Widespread unemployment caused unrest and Europeans turned to new leaders.

3. Dictators Seize Power Benito Mussolini – Italy- fascism.
Facism – extreme nationalism linked to racism.
Adolf Hitler – Germany – Nazi (National Socialist German Workers’ Party); Chancellor; der Fuhrer – “The Leader”.
Joseph Stalin – Soviet Union – Communism control every aspect of life in the nation.
Hideki Tojo – Japan – Prime Minister – military control.

4. Dictators Expand Their Territory
How did dictators demonstrate their power in the 1930s?
Seized power and threatened democratic governments.
1936 – Hitler & Mussolini formed the Rome-Berlin Axis; Japan joined in 1940.
1938- Hitler invaded Austria; wanted the Sudetenland(Czechoslovakia).
Appeasement – meeting Germany’s demand to avoid war; gave Hitler Sudetenland and Germany would stop seeking more territory.
Churchill and other disagreed.

5. World War II Begins What events led to World War II?
Hitler conquered the rest of Czechoslovakia.
Promised to seize Poland; Britain and France warned of war.
Germans and Soviet Union agreed not to attack each other.
Germany invades Poland; Sept.1, 1939.
Britain & France declare war on Germany
Blitzkrieg “lightning war”. Which stressed speed and surprise.
1940; Hitler conquered Denmark, Norway, Belgium and Netherlands.

6. Allies Under Attack
June 1940 – Germany invaded France; Hitler thought GB would seek peace.
Hitler invades Great Britain.
Battle of Britain – Germany’s airforce – Luftwaffe bombed London.
Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) fought the Germans, but many civilian targets in Britain were bombed
British did not surrender.

7. Con’t
Despite agreement with Soviet Union, Hitler wanted Soviet Unions wheat and oil.
1941 – invaded Soviet Union; harsh winter stopped the Nazi advance.
US Congress – Lend-Lease Act; Roosevelt supported. Allowed lending or leasing resources and equipment to allies; 50 billion worth of goods to Britain & SU

8. Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor
1940 – Japan joined Axis alliance.
Only the US stood in the way of them conquering Dutch East Indies, and other Asian territories.
December 7, 1941; Japanese warplanes make a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.
2,400 Americans died; warplanes and ships destroyed
President Roosevelt declares war on Japan.
“a date that will live in infamy”.
Dec. 11, 1941; Germany & Italy declared war on US.