1. World War II

2. World War II
WWII lasted from September 1, 1939 to August of 1945…

3. Legacy of World War I Redistribution of land in Europe
Treaty of Versailles: German guilt clause
War Debt
German Economic Problems

4. During the 1920s and 1930s…

5. Great Britain Struggled economically after WWI
Neville Chamberlain was Prime Minister, and then Winston Churchill would be elected

6. France
Went through three governments after WWI seeking economic relief and recovery
The Popular Front was the French attempt at near Socialism, but this government only lasted one year
Charles de Gaulle became the leader of France and would lead the Free French during Germany occupation

7. The United States
Experienced a period of prosperity and isolationism (staying to ones self) after WWI
The Stock Market Crash of 1929 plummeted the US into the Great Depression, which spread throughout the world

8. By 1924, Joseph Stalin had become the Communist Dictator of the U.S.S.R. or Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
The U.S.S.R. was transformed into a modern, military state…costing millions of Russian lives

9. FASCISM WAS DEVELOPED AND GREW IN THREE NATIONS IN EUROPE
Fascism- “a totalitarian governmental system led by a dictator and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism”
Totalitarian- “Absolute control by the state or a governing branch of a highly centralized institution”

10. The First Fascist state to develop was Italy under the leadership of Benito Mussolini

11. Benito Mussolini
Wanted Italy to be restored to the greatness it had under the Roman Empire
Encouraged women to have children
Education became extremely important
Built up the Italian military

12. Adolf Hitler Was elected Chancellor of Germany in 1933
The German people were looking for change after the destruction and blame for WWI
Hitler promised to make Germany a powerful nation again, respected among the nations of Europe
He soon became the Fascist dictator of the nation
His government was called the Third Reich

13. Hitler, or Fuhrer meaning leader, was loved by the German people in the beginning

14. Hitler’s Bio
Born on April 20, 1889 in Austria to Alois and Klara Hitler
Wanted to be an artist (and was good) but was twice denied to the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts
His mother died when he was 19 and he moved to Vienna anyway where he lived in homeless shelters
With no hope in sight, he moved to Munich, Germany in 1913 and joined the Germany army

15. Hitler’s Bio Was injured by mustard gas in WWI and hospitalized
Was very upset Germany lost and wanted to help Germany grow to be a superior nation
Joined and rose up through the Nazi Party (National Socialist German Workers Party)
Chose the swastika as the symbol for the Party
Wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggles) while in prison for treason
Freed and became leader of the Nazi Party in (at this time, all Nazi newspapers were banned and he was not allowed to make public speeches)

16. Mein Kampf Expresses spirit of the Nazi Party
Outlines Hitler’s plan for racial purity through elimination of Jews and others
Mein Kampf

17. Hitler’s Bio
Was able to gain more support for the Nazi party as more German’s searched for change in economic and political relief
Created the infamous SS (Schutzstaffel) which was initially intended to be his bodyguards, but eventually turned into the Nazi police force
He was elected Chancellor in and quickly planned the burning of the Reichstag (German Parliament; we think)

18. Francisco Franco led a Fascist Revolution in Spain…took control by 1939
It was a harsh regime!

19. Real power was Tojo, Prime Minister in 1941
In Japan, the weak and young Emperor Hirohito was being manipulated by the “military industrial complex”…the nation was becoming more aggressive and imperialistic
Real power was Tojo, Prime Minister in 1941

20. AGGRESSION IN EUROPE AND THE PACIFIC ONLY GOT WORSE!
The United States Congress passed Neutrality Acts to keep us out of the tensions in Europe
President F. D. Roosevelt wanted to “Quarantine” the aggressive nations (Germany, Italy and Japan)
AGGRESSION IN EUROPE AND THE PACIFIC ONLY GOT WORSE!