Transcript World War I
Mr. Williamson
Somerville HS
Postwar Europe faces grave problems
Jobs for returning vets
Rebuilding war-ravaged lands
Economic problems – inflation, unemployment
Social unrest leading to radical new ideas (Russian Revolution)
Kellogg-Briand Pact – agreement to renounce war as an
instrument of national policy
Pursued disarmament – reduction of armed forces/weapons
However, limits were not set resulting in weakness in the pact
League of Nations – outlawed war but no way to enforce the
ban
1931 – Japan’s invasion of Manchuria, no military action by the
League
Ambitious dictators (Hitler, etc.) see this and begin their
aggressive policies
Great Depression – Began in US, spread to the rest of the
world
Falling demand, overproduction, speculation in the market
American banks stop making loans abroad, credit dries up,
depression worsens
The State of Germany
Review – on the brink of chaos
Threat of socialist revolution, the Kaiser flees, Moderate
leaders adopt the Versailles Treaty (war-guilt, reparations)
New Democratic government – Weimar Republic
Parliamentary system (Congress) led by a chancellor
Gave the women the right to vote, bill of rights
New Government faces significant problems at the start
Current leaders are under fire, enemies wanted radical changes
like the ones Lenin brought to Russia
Longed for a strong ruler, blamed the Weimar Republic for the
accepting the Treaty of Versailles
Looking for scapegoats, blame German Jews for
economic/political problems
Inflation – rapid rise in prices linked to an increase in the
money supply
1923 – Germany falls behind in reparations payments
To support the workers during their strike, gov’t printed huge
quantities of paper money to pay them
Inflation spiraled out of control, misery and despair increases
German currency almost worthless
Families could not keep up with skyrocketing prices
With help from Western Powers, inflation comes under
control
Agreements to lower reparations, loans to help Germany
recover
The Great Depression hits Germany
Turn to Hitler who promised to solve economic crisis, restore
Germany’s greatness
Adolf Hitler – Born in Austria, moved to Germany, fought in
WWI
After war, join a small group of extremists that HATED the
Weimar Republic
Anti-Semitism – prejudice against Jewish people
Organized his supporters to fight against his political enemies
Would later be the unquestioned leader
1923 – Hitler fails to seize power in Munich, arrested and
found guilty of treason
In prison, authors Mein Kampf (My Struggle) – would later
become the the basic book of Nazi goals/ideology
Extreme nationalism, racism
Superior “master race”, Aryans (light skinned Europeans)
Viewed Jewish people as a separate race, not a religion
Blamed Jewish people for Germany’s defeat in WWI
Urged Germans to unite, expand living area
Imagine you are a prospective leader in Germany
Compose a speech to be given to the German people about the
conditions in Germany
Requirements
Discuss the failures of previous administrations, i.e. Weimar
Republic, etc.
Discuss the immediate problems facing Germany (economics, social
unrest, etc.)
Discuss your plan to fix the problems mentioned earlier in your
speech
Feel free to utilize ideas and concepts from the video of Hitler seen
before.
Due at the end of class! Good Luck!
After World War I, European democracies are desperate to
preserve peace during the 1930s
Germany/Italy/Japan are preparing to build new empires
Germany – violates the Treaty of Versailles
Rearms the German military, unites Austria-Germany
(“Anschluss” or union), expands living space
Increased Hitler’s popularity because of his acts of defiance
Western European governments adopt a policy of
APPEASEMENT
Giving into the demands of an aggressor in order to keep peace
Italy – Mussolini’s
Actions
1935 – Italy invades
Ethiopia, located in
northeastern Africa
Ethiopians had outdated
weapons, could not keep
up with tanks, machine
guns, etc.
Ethiopian King Haile
Selassie appealed to the
League of Nations for
help
League had no military
or enforcement power,
Italy conquers in 1936
Japan – led by
military leaders,
believed they needed
new lands to create
an empire
1931 – Japan invades
Manchuria, section
of China (see map)
League of Nations
criticizes their
actions, Japan
withdraws from the
organization
Their aggression
goes unchecked
European Dictators Venn Diagram
Using the handout provided, complete the Venn
Diagram using the text/readings completed from
the prior 2 days.
Each section must have 5-6 items and have clear
details from the resources utilized in class.
Use the remaining class time. If you do not
finish, please complete for HW, due on Friday.
Any questions, please let me know and I can
assist.
Why did they appease Hitler and other aggressors? A few
reasons…
Great Depression – US/European countries had significant
economic problems to deal with
People are tired of war…think World War I
Faith in compromise, misread Hitler’s intentions
Germany, Italy, Japan – team up to form the Axis Powers
All agreed to not interfere with territorial expansion
Video clip please!
Germany’s Final Demand – The Sudetenland
Area of Czechoslovakia with 3 million native Germans
Munich Conference, September 1938.
Main Players:
Germany – Adolf Hitler
France – Edouard Daladier
Great Britain – Neville Chamberlain
British/French cave into Hitler’s demands, persuade the Czechs
to surrender the Sudetenland without a fight.
In exchange, Hitler promises Britain/France that he is done
expanding…known as the MUNICH PACT - Video
Guess what happens next…?
Germany – Hitler restores Germany
Rebuilds economy/military in defiance of Versailles Treaty
Needed “Lebensraum” or living space for his people
Troops occupy the Rhineland/Saar regions from the French
Italy – Mussolini invades Ethiopia
Japan – attacks Manchuria (part of China) for its natural
resources, railroad links/coastal areas
Germany’s Aggression - Rhineland/Saar Region
League of Nations Response – NONE!
Had no real power/no military
Only as strong as its member nations (US is not a part)
Britain/France use a policy of
appeasement
Granting concessions to a potential enemy in the hope it will
maintain peace
Backfires/allows aggressive nations to continue their expansion
Why appeasement?
Memories of WWI
Threat of Soviet Union/communism (Stalin)
Domestic issues – Great Depression!
Hitler continues
Spring 1938 – brings Austria into his Reich or State
Creates a union called an “Anschluss”
Sets sights on Sudetenland, area of Czechoslovakia largely
populated by Germans
Munich Conference
Meeting between Britain, France where they appeased
Germany
British PM – Neville Chamberlain
French Premier – Edouard Daladier
Sacrificed Sudetenland to preserve the peace
Neville Chamberlain/Adolf Hitler – Munich
Pact/Sudetenland Map
You are the foreign relations adviser to Neville
Chamberlain, British prime minister, at the Munich
Conference. You have your suspicions regarding Hitler’s
actions in Europe and disagree with Chamberlain’s policy of
APPEASEMENT.
Utilizing the information provided, send a formal
letter/memo to Chamberlain about your concerns. In two
paragraphs, state the following:
1. How appeasement can lead to war down the road
2. Your alternative to appeasement, what policy/actions do you
think will work best? BE SPECIFIC.
Due by the end of class…Good luck!
Summer 1939 – Stalin negotiating with Hitler
Sign the Nazi/Soviet Non-Aggression Pact – agreement both
sides would not attack each other
9/1/39 – Nazi forces storm into Poland in the form of a
“blitzkrieg” or “lightning war” (think blitz in football)
Utilized tank/airpower to devastate
The Luftwaffe (Air Force) bombed airfields, factories, and
cities
As a result, Britain/France declare war on Germany
Axis Powers – Germany, Italy, Japan
Allied Powers – Britain, France
Germany continues “blitz” Europe, set eyes on France
Nazis conquer British/French troops, force them to flee back to
Britain from port city of Dunkirk
Nazis now in control of France, conquer Paris
Germans take aim at Britain – Battle of Britain
Luftwaffe shower bombs over London for 57 nights in a row
London destroyed but did not break as the Royal Air Force (RAF)
battled
Britain ultimately prevails and the setbacks for Hitler begin
After loss in Battle of Britain, Hitler breaks Non-Aggression
Pact with Stalin, invades Soviet Union
However, German advance stalls. WINTER IN THE SOVIET UNION
destroys Nazi Army
Stalin joins the side of the Allies
Japan’s Aggression Continues in the Pacific
US leaders ban sale of oil, war material, limits Japan’s ability to expand
Japan begins its preparation for war
General Hideki Tojo plans Pearl Harbor
Sunday, December 7th, 1941
US declares war on Japan, joins the Allies
With your partner, create 3 headlines on
the attack of Pearl Harbor.
Remember as editors of a newspaper, your
goal is to sell content. Brainstorm and
settle on 3 and a vote will be conducted in
class on the best 1.
1.
2.
3.
Lastly, select your best headline, have 1
person from your group write it neatly on
the board.
Make sure you put both your names
underneath and we will put to a class
vote.
Day 1 – What to do!
1. COMMUNICATE: Determine who is doing what:
Minimum of 2 researchers
Minimum of 2 Layout designers
Research and select your 10 Battles (choose wisely) Reference
your notes/textbook (pages listed in the project sheet), Create a
UNIQUE TITLE
Include date, brief description (who’s involved/outcome) for
each battle
Review YOUR TIMELINE DRAFT as a group, finalize and
commence work on final draft
Everyone should be working toward the final product
Day 2 – What to do!
1. COMMUNICATE: Discuss as a group what needs to get done.
Confirm your research, ensure its accuracy and that it is well-
written
Work on your visual, add title, use color, etc.
2. Each entry should have date, brief description (who’s
involved/outcome) for each battle
3. Review YOUR TIMELINE RUBRIC as a group, finalize and
prepare for submission (you will submit both timeline/rubric)
4. Everyone should be working toward the final product. If you
find yourself idle, please ask your teammates how you can help.
To achieve “total war” once again, governments increased
their political power
Directed economic resources to the war, RATIONING
SUPPLIES, sale of war bonds, prices/wages were fixed
Allies won on four fronts – Pacific, North Africa/Italy, Soviet
Union, France
D-Day Assault – Normandy, France
156k Allied troops, advance to Paris, free France in two months
View “Saving Private Ryan”
March 1945 – Allies cross into western Germany, Soviets
move into eastern Germany
Mussolini executed before fleeing to Switzerland
Hitler commits suicide as Soviets enter Berlin
Germany surrenders, May 7, 1945
Fight in the Pacific
Mid 1942 – Japan controls SE Asia and many Pacific Islands
Battle of Midway/Coral Sea, US now takes offensive
US uses island-hopping campaign to recapture Japanese
held islands
Would use islands for airfields, ship supplies, rest soldiers, etc.
Japanese demonstrate they would fight to the death
Kamikaze pilots – crash airplanes into American warships
Military leaders had to figure out, invasion or atomic weapon?
Manhattan Project – American scientists conduct research
on atomic weapon
US President Truman’s Decision
Determined it would save American/Allied lives
Japanese ignore warnings, US drops two bombs, first on Hiroshima,
second on Nagasaki
Your Turn
One of the most controversial turning points in history was
the decision made by U.S. President Harry S. Truman to use
atomic weapons on Japan, the lone remaining Axis Power at
the conclusion of World War II.
In your opinion, was the decision to drop atomic bombs
on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki a military
NECESSITY? Provide at minimum of two reasons for
your position. 3-4 sentence minimum.
Since 1933, Nazis denied Jews rights of citizenship
(Nuremberg Laws) & committed acts of brutality
(Kristallnacht)
Step toward Hitler’s “Final Solution”
Systematic extermination of all Jews living in the regions controlled
by the Nazis
Hitler’s use of the “Concentration Camp”
Designed to turn them into useful members of the Nazi Party
Imprisoned political components, labor leaders and other
undesirables (Gypsies, homosexuals, beggars, physicallymentally disabled)
Viewing of Band of Brothers – Holocaust Episode.
On index card provided, answer the following.
1. Describe the landscape and the people in the
concentration camp. Were the images that you saw
what you expected? Explain your answer in 2
sentences.
2. How did the prisoners treat American soldiers?
What specifically did they do to illustrate their
feelings?
Your Turn
Using the provided handout and notes from class, determine
whether you would have used an atomic weapon to end the
war with Japan.
In your essay, complete a 3 paragraph essay answering the
following questions:
1. Would you have used the bomb and why? Provide specific
reasons on your decision.
2. Would you have provided more time to the Japanese
government to respond after the first bomb? Why or why not?
Indicate your reasoning.
3. What is an alternative to dropping an atomic weapon? What
would have your decision been of the atomic weapon was not
available?