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World War II
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Three Dictators
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Adolf Hitler - Fuhrer
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Adolf Hitler Born April 20, 1889 in Austria Father dies – 1903, Mother dies – 1907 Dreams of a career in art, goes to Vienna, fails WWI – Hitler serves in Germany’s army, injured, decorated Corporal Hitler joins German Worker’s Party - 1919
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Hitler is named leader of Nazi Party – 1921 Beer Hall Putsch – arrested for attempting to overthrow the German govt. – 1923, put on trial for treason, goes to prison Writes “Mein Kampf” Germany elects Nazis to power – 1930 Hitler runs for president – 1932 German republic collapses Hitler named chancellor – Jan. 1933 Becomes dictator – March 1933
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Nazism Extreme nationalism (Germany was ripe for this), Hitler dreamed of unifying all German-speaking peoples in one country Racial purification – blond hair/blue eyes Expansion of territory
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Stalin
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Josef Stalin Took control of Russia after Lenin died in 1924 Created a model communist state Industrialized Russia (2 nd largest in world by 1937, 2 nd only to U.S.) Did not tolerate any threat to his power, est. 8-13 million of his own people
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Totalitarianism Complete control over citizens Citizens have no rights Govt. suppresses all opposition
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Benito Mussolini
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Est. totalitarian regime in Italy 1921, est. Fascist Party Marched on Rome (black shirts) and was named head of Italy’s government Invade Ethiopia –Ethiopia appealed to L.O.N., but they failed to act Controlled every aspect of Italian life Fascism – interests of state placed above interests of individuals
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Japanese Militarists Military leaders gained control of govt. 1931 – attacked Manchuria (map), gained control Withdrew from the League of Nations Desire for more “living space”
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Francisco Franco
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Spanish Civil War Francisco Franco led group of army officers in civil war Backed by Mussolini and Hitler Spread fascism throughout Spain Rome-Berlin Axis – agreement between Hitler, Mussolini and Franco, set up totalitarian govt. in Spain
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Failure of League of Nations Remember the League of Nations? Why does it fail? –Didn’t hold Japan resp. for invading China –Japan withdrew from League –Hitler withdrew from League Began violating the Treaty of Versailles League did nothing
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Cont. - Failure Mussolini began “empire building” –Ethiopia: Mussolini invaded –League did nothing besides economically sanction Italy –Ethiopia fell to Mussolini and the fascists
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Map
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America Responds?? Isolationism – wanted to avoid war, felt like we had been dragged into WWI. Neutrality Acts: –Outlawed arms sales to nations at war –Outlawed arms sales to nations in civil wars (I.E. Spain) –Roosevelt gets around this – cont’d sending arms to China since Japan had not formally declared “war” on China
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Franklin D. Roosevelt
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Roosevelt’s Reaction Roosevelt wanted to sanction “aggressor” nations Spoke out about U.S. isolationism and sought to encourage other nations to isolate aggressor nations to contain the spread of war Only stopped speaking out against isolationism when American public began accusing him of dragging us into another war
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War In Europe Hitler reclaimed the Rhineland Fall of Austria and Czechoslovakia –Most Austrians were Germans who favored unification, gained control March 1938 –THE WORLD DID NOTHING!!!!!!
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Maps of Europe
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Cont’d Hitler wanted to annex Sudetenland Hitler claimed that Czech was abusing Germans –Stationed troops on border –France and Great Britain had promised to protect Czech. –Hitler called for a meeting with Chamberlain (G.B.) and Daladier (France)
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Munich Agreement Hitler stated his reasons for wanting to annex Sudetenland Claimed this would be his “last territorial demand” Daladier and Chamberlain agreed (they didn’t want another war) Sudetenland was turned over to Hitler
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Daladier and Chamberlain
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Appeasement Def: giving up principles to pacify an aggressor, giving in to a bully. Winston Churchill (G.B.)- spoke out against appeasement policy. Churchill was Chamberlain’s political rival
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Winston Churchill
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Germany and Russia Germany had it’s sights on Poland Stalin signed a nonaggression pact with Germany, they feared Germany expanding into Russia Committed to never attack one another Insured that Germany never had to fight on two fronts Agreed secretly to divide Poland between themselves. This gave Russia a buffer between themselves and Germany
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Germany Invades Poland September 1, 1939 – Germany attacks Luftwaffe – German air force bombed Poland Blitzkrieg – “Lightning War”, use of tanks and airplanes to totally annihilate their enemy Two days later, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany World War II has begun!!!!!!!
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Phony War Maginot Line – system of fortifications built along the French eastern border Sitzkrieg – “sitting war” or phony war Chamberlain steps down and Churchill becomes prime minister of England
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Hitler attacks Norway and Denmark April 1940 Invaded under the guise that he was “protecting” them. Hitler wanted bases along the coasts to strike at Great Britain. Hitler continued attacking – Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium
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Hitler has an eye on France Hitler’s invasion of Belgium threatened to render the Maginot Line useless Hitler entered France through the Ardennes (wooded region) 400,000 British and French troops were stranded at Dunkirk (map) –Rescued by fishing boats, barges, etc.
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Italy joins Germany: France falls Mussolini allies with Hitler Italy invaded France – June, 1940 France falls –Vichy govt. set up (puppet govt.)headed by Marshal Philippe Petain –Germany controlled northern part of France –Charles de Gaulle: Fr. Gen. Escaped to England, set up a govt. in exile
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Charles de Gaulle
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Battle of Britain Summer, 1940 Luftwaffe bombing of Britain (57 nights) –Goal: to destroy RAF –Hermann Goering – head of Luftwaffe –Used over 2000 planes –Initially targeted air fields, but moved on to target civilian areas –Thousands killed, heavy damage to city –Heavy losses on both sides
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Luftwaffe and RAF
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British Response Used radar to detect incoming German planes Shot down over 185 planes Cut off and predicted places the Germans were going to attack
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