1. Causes of WWII
The world at war…again

2. Main Causes of WWII Treaty of Versailles Great Depression
Totalitarianism
Policy of Appeasement
Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

3. Treaty of Versailles
Allied powers met in early 1919 (at the end of WWI) to discuss Germany’s fate
Purpose-prevent another world war
Harsh on Germany
Germany had to admit they started the war
Pay reparations $33 billion
Limited army to 100,000
Germany lost territory and colonies

4. Germany and the Great Depression
Germany’s econ went down the tubes
To pay for the war the govt. printed TONS of money in the 20’s lowering the value of German $$
The world depression in the late 1920’s & 30’s made it worse for Germany
They were unable to make the payments back from the war

5. Totalitarianism
Totalitarian dictatorship: A dictatorship in which the government uses intimidation, violence, and propaganda to rule all aspects of social and political life of its citizens.
Modern weapons made it possible for dictators to control the populations
Germany and Italy were fascist (militarism and extreme nationalism) totalitarian regimes: The government controlled econ and resources
One leader has all power

6. Hitler
In the 20s Nazi’s gained support by criticizing the democratic government in Germany and the Treaty of Versailles
1933 Hitler became Chancellor of Germany
He banned all political parties other than Nazis
Used Gestapo (secret police) to enforce rules
Defied terms of the treaty by using money to build up his military

7. Stalin’s Communist Soviet Union
1924 Stalin became the leader
5 year plans to industrialize the country & give the government control of the economy
Seized privately owned land & controlled media
Strict censorship & travel restrictions
Arrested anyone who was a threat
The great purge of the 30s: Stalin eliminated anyone who opposed communism-many executed
Many died of starvation
COMMUNISM

9. Mussolini’s Italy After WWI, Italy struggled economically
& politically
Mussolini established the fascist party challenging democracy.
Created “black shirt” gang who attacked communists and socialists in the streets
1922 March of Rome: 26,000 black shirts & demanded government be turned over to him
After taking over Italy he brought all communications under fascist control

10. Appeasement
Appeasement: policy of satisfying or giving into demands. When a country becomes aggressive, other countries give the aggressor what it wants to prevent war.
The treaty of Versailles forced Germany to give up Rhineland
March 1936 Hitler violated it and sent troops to Rhineland
1938 troops moved into Austria and made it apart of Germany
GB & France did nothing

11. Appeasing Hitler cont.
1938 Hitler threatens to invade Sudetenland (W. part of Czech., bordering Germany)
GB & France panic & call a conference in Munich, Germany
They tried to negotiate with Hitler to try to avoid war
Hitler wanted Sudetenland so they gave it to him if he promised not invade the rest of Czech.
…That promise didn’t last long. He invaded in March 1939

12. Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
Soviets played no role in appeasement
Because Soviet Union was communist GB & Fr. Wanted nothing to do with them
Stalin tried to form a pact with them to instill fear in Hitler
His proposal was rejected
Stalin feared Nazi Germany because Hitler declared he would take them down

13. Non-Aggression Pact Hitler approached Stalin about pact
Agreed that neither would attack the other 1939
Hitler was trying to avoid two-front war
Split Poland between the two countries
Both sides knew the other was lying and would not keep pact
Signing the pact cleared the way for Hitler to invade Poland
September 1, 1939 Hitler invades Poland and WWII begins

15. Alliances Axis-Germany, Italy and Japan
Allies-Great Britain, France, Russia and US

16. How does Japan fit into this?
Japan was severely affected by the Great Depression
Japan needed more land and resources for its expanding population
Japanese military leaders thought territorial expansion was the best solution
By 1931 Japanese forces invaded Chinese region of Manchuria
By 1937 Japan and China at war
1940 Japan signed an alliance with Germany and Italy entering WWII

17. Why the Jews?
The Jews were the ‘scapegoat.’ The Nazis said the Jews were responsible for them losing the war and the economic crisis.
All problems caused by the Jews
Hitler believed in the the superiority of the German or Aryan race.
Wanted racial “purity”
Hitler had been open about his views of Jews since 1925 when he wrote Mein Kampf
When he came to power he spread these beliefs and acted upon them

18. Propaganda in the War
Propaganda: information of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a political cause or point of view
Purpose: 1) To demonize the enemy
2) Encourage viewers to buy war bonds
3) Help rally people behind the war
4) Help to relieve the tension from the war

19. What message is this poster trying to send
What message is this poster trying to send? How does it portray the enemy? Who is the message intended for?

20. What message is it trying to send. How does it portray the enemy
What message is it trying to send? How does it portray the enemy? Who is the message intended for?

21. What message is it trying to send? Who is the message intended for?

22. Propaganda Video What did you see in the video?
What did you see in the video?
How did they portray the Nazis and Germany?
What was the message of the video?
Why would they use propaganda in kid cartoons?
Do you think it was effective?

23. German Aggression
Hitler uses blitzkrieg: means “lightening war” take by surprise and with speed.
Hitler invades Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, The Netherlands and France and took all very quickly
Attacked Britain from the air- was never able to overcome GB air force
Unsuccessfully invaded the Soviets. Had to retreat. This was the downfall of Germany’s war effort. Didn’t learn from Napoleon.

24. Italy Japan Italy invaded Greece and North Africa.
The Greek campaign was a failure
Allies win victory in N. Africa
Japan
Leader Tojo expanding empire
Organized attack on Pearl Harbor which officially brought the US into the war
US eventually used the atomic bomb on Japan and they surrendered in 1945

25. Normandy (D-Day) June 6, 1944 “D-Day”
Landing of Allied forces on the coast of France which lead to a German retreat
France was liberated and Allied troops push eastward into Germany that leads to German surrender in 1945

28. End of the War 1945 Allies close in on Berlin
Hitler commits suicide, Germans surrender
Yalta Conference between Churchill, Stalin, and FDR in Feb planned to create the United Nations as a peacekeeping body
Potsdam Conference between Stalin, Churchill and Truman outlined hopes for justice against war criminals from the Nazi regime
Germany got split into four sections-Berlin wall
Nuremberg Trials-trail of Nazis for their war crimes some to prison and some death