1. Warm-up:
What were the causes of World War II?

2. Dictators & War

3. The Legacy of WWI Treaty of Versailles
Germany had to pay reparations
Germany had to disarm
Many Germans felt humiliated
Italy & Japan (Allies) expect to receive more land for their sacrifices
Worldwide depression brought despair to many already suffering from the war

4. Totalitarianism
Many countries turned to a new form of government -- totalitarianism
Totalitarian governments in 1930s:
Soviet Union – Joseph Stalin
Italy – Benito Mussolini
Germany – Adolf Hitler
Each of these countries faced economic and political problems

5. Totalitarian Leaders Promised to bring jobs, food, and prosperity
Promised to make their country great again
However, brutal tactics used by these leaders resulted in the deaths of millions of people

6. Soviet Union Italy Joseph Stalin Benito Mussolini
Attempted to turn SU into a industrial power
Forced people to work in factories and on state-run farms
Killed or imprisoned suspected traitors during the Great Terror
Ruled through fear and massive propaganda
Benito Mussolini
Government unable to deal with country’s problems
Asked Mussolini to help and he formed the Fascist Party with his followers the Black Shirts who fought to gain power
Called Il Duce, took control of the government using secret police to maintain control

7. Germany Japan Adolf Hitler: Military leaders:
Weimar Republic struggled with overwhelming economic and social problems
Hitler, leader of the Nazi Party appointed chancellor
He then seized power and created a totalitarian state
He rebuilt the nations army and put people back to work in munition factories
He ruled with unlimited power
Violently anti-Semitic
Military leaders:
Attempted to solve country’s problems through aggressive military conquests
Invaded Manchuria, then China with attack on Nanjing being especially brutal

8. Acts of Aggression in Europe and Asia

9. Appeasement A weak League of Nations did little to stop the aggression
Many feared another war
Some believed the Soviet Union posed a greater threat than Nazi Germany
Others questioned the resolve of their own country and embraced a policy of isolationism
Kept appeasing Hitler and continued appeasing with the Munich Pact
Sacrificed the Sudetenland to Germany in return for peace
Peace did not come…War came instead

10. Activity