The Coming of WWII
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Transcript The Coming of WWII
The Coming of WWII
DICTATORS DESTROY PEACE
“How many people look up to him
with a touching faith! As their
helper, their savior, their
deliverer from unbearable
distress-to him who rescues…the
scholar, the clergyman, the
farmer, the worker, the
unemployed, who leads them…”
Who is
this
about?
How did dictators rise to power?
Hard feelings left from WWI
Germans hated the Treaty of Versailles
Blamed for war, had to pay for it and had to demilitarize
Other countries felt bitter as well
Italy, Russia, Japan
All these bitter feelings about the Treaty of Versailles led to
the creation of totalitarian governments in which a single
party or leader (dictator) controls government, economy
and social aspects
Bitter nations started to realize that the League of Nations was long on
words but short on action
Couldn’t back up its policies
Big Weakness: US is not a member
Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union (Russia)
Stalin took Lenin’s place
as the communists
dictator in Russia
Stalin was ruthless
Started the Great Terror
in which he purged the
Communist Party of
traitors…millions killed
Fear kept Stalin in
power
Death solves
all problems no man, no
problem.
Benito Mussolini in Italy
All within the
state, nothing
outside the
state, nothing
against the
state.
Started the Fascist Party
that promoted extreme
Italian nationalism and
promised to make Italy
great again
Highly militaristic
Anti-Communists
Adolf Hitler in Germany
“What luck
for rulers,
that men
do not
think.”
Set up the Third Reich (3rd
Empire) in Germany
characterized by Nazi rule
under Hitler
Controlled the Nazi Party
that promoted German
ethnic unity
Hated communists and Jews
(Anti-Semitic)
Spread hatred toward Jews
Emperor Hirohito of Japan
Did not set up a totalitarian
government in Japan , kept
their monarchy
Set up a militaristic type
government instead
Highly nationalistic
Attacked Manchuria even
though Japan had agreed to
disarm at the Washington
Naval Conference
Left the League of Nations
Hitler Causes Problems
Violated Treaty of Versailles by…
Building up Germany’s army and navy (militarism)
Moving troops into the Rhineland (militarism)
Tested some of his new military technologies during the Spanish
Civil War (militarism)
In response, US, France and Britain used
appeasement (Granting concessions to a
potential enemy in the hope they will maintain
peace)
Why give into Hitler?
Memories of WWI
Too worried about economic troubles (Great Depression is still
going strong)
The Munich Pact
Britain and France
appeased Hitler by giving
him the Sudetenland to
preserve peace and he
promised he would not
conquer any other
European territories
Hitler will violate this
later
Lesson learned: cannot
trust Hitler
Appeasement Fails…War
Hitler violated the Munich Pact by taking all of
Czechoslovakia…appeasement is not working
Britain and France will take action and agree to
protect Poland which is Hitler’s next move
Non-Aggression Pact was signed between
Russia and Germany in which both agreed
not to attack one another and agree to attack
Poland from two directions
September 1, 1939: Germany attacks Poland
War declarations start
Axis Powers vs. Allies
Axis Powers: Germany, Italy
and Japan
Allies:
Originally France and Britain
Later Russia, US and China
“Phony War”: for 8 months
nothing happens
Hitler’s Success
Easily took Poland, then Denmark and Norway
Then turned to Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg
Took France in just 35 days
These successes scared US and led to US helping Allies
by sending supplies
Germany used a mixture of total war (attacking
civilians and economic resources) and blitzkrieg
Means “lightning warfare”
Emphasized speed and power to penetrate deep into an
enemies territory
Tanks and planes come in first, then motorized vehicles
and infantry
Highly effective German technique