1. Causes
of WWII

2. (Please indicate these moves on your map of Europe)
Direct Cause
Hitler’s Steps to War: German rearmament, militarism and aggression
Germany had been secretly training troops, which was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles, in the mid-1920s. In 1935, under the Nazi dictator Hitler, it began to rearm openly, building tanks, fighter planes, warships, and other weapons. Hitler’s aggression just increased as the League of Nations just looked on …
(Please indicate these moves on your map of Europe)
#1 Annex the Rhineland (breaking specific terms in the Treaty of Versailles)
#2 Invades Austria (Hitler’s dream of a union with Austria, “Anschluss”)
#3 Invades Sudetenland (around Czechoslovakia – under the Munich Agreement 1938)
#4 Invades all of Czechoslovakia
#5 Invades Poland
Once Germany carried out an unprovoked attack on Poland (and would not abort after ‘being asked nicely’), Britain and France declared war on Germany. Canada declared war on Germany soon after.

3. Indirect Causes

4. 1. Economy: the Great Depression and the Treaty of Versailles
Germany suffered particularly hard during the Great Depression. Not only was there extremely high unemployment, but Germany was trying to pay back the reparation owed to allied countries under the Treaty of Versailles. Subsequently, when government did not have the money to make payments, they either borrowed money (mainly from the US) and printed more German Marks (currency). As more Marks went into circulation, each one became worth less. As the value of the German mark plummeted (called HYPERINFLATION), Germans could no longer afford to buy imports, companies went bankrupt, and overall people had no confidence in German money, economy and the weak governments.
Hitler (and Mussolini in Italy) reduced unemployment by building up their armies and air forces. Other unemployed people were sent to factories to make weapons and military equipment, or “public works projects” like building roads, and installing water and sewer pipes which would be useful in war. He also authorized the production of the Volkswagen or “people’s car” for ordinary working families.

5. Major Terms of the Treaty of Versailles:
Rhineland to be OCCUPIED by Allied troops for 10 years
German ARMY and NAVY reduced; no AIR FORCE allowed
Germany forced to sign WAR GUILT CLAUSE – saying they caused WWI
Germany pay REPARATIONS (or damages) = $30B to Allies
Germany loses territory and Austria-Hungry broken up
LEAGUE OF NATIONS officially formed to keep world peace

6. 2. Rise of Dictators, Nationalism and Imperialism
Fascism: total government control under one authoritarian leader, whereby there are no individual rights and all is done in the name of the nation.
2. Rise of Dictators, Nationalism and Imperialism
Amidst these hard times, extreme parties began to gain attention offering a better options and strong leadership. The politicians in the democratic governments of Europe could do little about the problems. So dictators took control of one country after another and ruled on their own. Communists wanted to make Germany more like Russia. Nazi fascists supported dictatorship and an economy controlled by large corporations. Their leader, Adolf Hitler also supported racist views. He exploited people’s bitterness over the existing climate: severe unemployment, poverty, and the Treaty of Versailles. His platform included: stop paying reparations to allied countries (Treaty of Versailles), invest in Germany’s industries to create growth, build up Germany’s military (also against the Treaty) and end unemployment. He had a powerful message. He also played dirty: enlisted his supporters in the Storm Troopers to threaten voters if they didn’t vote for the Nazi Party. Not surprisingly, Hitler became Chancellor and after gaining special powers in Parliament to deal with “enemies of Germany” (his opposers), he abolished Parliament and declared himself, Fuhrer (or leader/dictator) and his word was law. Anyone who opposed him would be imprisoned, tortured, or murdered.
Dictatorship: a system of government ruled by one leader with complete control and no opposition.

7. The Soviet Union had already become a communist dictatorship (1919), but in the s and early 1930s fifteen (15) European countries fell under control of extreme right-wing dictators such as Hitler, Mussolini and Franco. Control of Japan was taken over by right-wing military leaders.
A number of dictators took people’s minds off economic problems by starting wars to conquer more territory. Mussolini invaded Ethiopia and the Japanese invaded China. Hitler proclaimed that the Germans were the master race of the world and should have all the territory they needed. Hence, Germany seized Austria (1938), Czechoslovakia ( ) and Poland (1939).

8. 3. Alliances: some things change; some things stay the same
The allied forces were made up of the same MAJOR PLAYERS as in WWI; Britain, France and USSR (formerly, Russia)
The axis powers were made up of at least 2 of the MAJOR PLAYERS from WWI; Germany, Italy …with the addition of Japan!
The similar division of alliances certainly causes one to think, ‘was this just the continuation of WWI’?

9. 4. Appeasement and the failure of the League of Nations
Western leaders chose to ignore or didn’t realize the danger of Nazi rule and wanted to avoid a war at all cost. So even the Canadian Prime Minister, Mackenzie King favored a policy of appeasement – giving in to Hitler and other dictators, saying “All right – you can have that country, but you must not take any more”. The dictators believed that the world would keep on saying this and would not fight.
The League of Nations tried to stop Italy’s vicious attack on Ethiopia (1935-6) by cutting off its supply trains, but this had little effect and Ethiopia became an Italian colony. The League was suppose to protect smaller nations, and when it didn’t, many of them left. There was nothing left to stop war.