Transcript Causes - ClassNet

Main Causes of World War Two
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Treaty of Versailles
Economic Conditions
Rise of Fascism/Dictatorships – Hitler, Mussolini
and friends
Failure of the League of Nations
Rise of the Nazi party
Failure of Appeasement
7. Alliances
Treaty of Versailles
• The Treaty of Versailles was a
shock to Germany. At first
they refused to sign it but the
Allies warned that they would
continue to invade Germany
unless they did.
• The biggest humiliation was
the guilt clause where
Germany had to accept the
responsibility for all losses and
damages caused by WWI. This
meant that they were
admitting that the war was
their fault.
• The German people were
outraged but could do
nothing.
Economic Conditions
• The Great depression in North
America and Europe hurt people
and greatly.
• The German government borrowed
money to finance their part in the
great war and were unable to pay
back their loans. To create more
currency they simply printed off
more paper money. Super inflation
hit Germany and the mark became
worthless.
• Workers were paid in wheelbarrows
full of money and were still unable
to buy even the bare necessities.
• Unemployment hit levels as high as
50% and little help was available for
those who needed it.
Rise of Fascism/Dictatorships
• Fascism and dictatorships
took control of several major
European countries after
WWI including Italy, Spain,
Japan, Russia and Germany.
• These ruthless and violent
leaders took power with
military support and
demanded complete
obedience from their people.
• Preying on the weaknesses of
the people these leaders lead
their people with promises of
greatness and expansion of
empires.
Failure of the League of Nations
• League of Nations was
developed to solve
disagreements between
countries peacefully.
• Despite the fact that this
was an American idea, the
League was looked at as an
organization set up to
prevent wars in Europe.
• The USA believed that
Britain and France would
control the League and
decided towards an attitude
of “Isolationism” (minding
one’s own business).
• USA did not join the League.
continued
• Countries like Canada did join the League and
promised to stop any aggressors. They planned to
use a trade boycott as the threat to discourage
aggression.
• Unfortunately, without the United States the league
lacked any real power.
• Japan, Italy and Germany all test the league
through aggressive actions and the league failed to
respond in a decisive or effective manner. Germany,
Italy and Japan all withdraw from the league and
render it virtually powerless.
Rise of the Nazi Party
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Hitler turned the newly democratic
country into a dictatorship through
control of the military.
Once the Nazis were elected to power in
1933 they crushed and eliminated all
other political rivals.
Hitler provided work for the German
people as war factories began to turn out
weapons of destruction and new cars
(Volkswagen).
This new prosperity made Hitler and the
Nazi party very popular.
Hitler acted fast to break the Treaty of
Versailles by expanding the army and by
remilitarizing the Rhineland.
The German people viewed the breaking
of the treaty as a victory and increase
Hitler’s popularity and he became even
more powerful.
Germany, Italy and Japan all agreed to
fight the spread of communism and
signed a pact to help each other to
expand their territories.
Failure of Appeasement
• The great depression had created
enormous problems at home and
there was little energy left for other
people’s problems.
• People in other countries even
supported Hitler’s attacks on Jews as
strong feelings of anti-Semitism
were not uncommon during this
time.
• Many people feared that the
Communists would spread and
hoped that the Fascists would stop
their expansion.
• Leaders also believed that if they
gave Hitler a little of what he
wanted he would be satisfied and
stop at that - they were fooled by
Hitler and never thought he would
take the actions that he did.
Alliances
• Beginning in early 1930s,
Germany, Italy and Japan
all began campaigns to
acquire territory
• Tried to solve the
depression in their
countries by military
buildup
• Other nations, burned
out by WWI, unwilling to
stop them
JAPAN:
1933: storms out of
League of Nations
1937: invades China
1938: at war with China
1940: Axis Pact with
Germany and Italy
The Nazi-Soviet Pact
The Nazi-Soviet Pact
• Hitler and Stalin agreed to split up Poland giving some land to
the Soviets and some to the Germans.
• Non-aggression was the main component, assuring that
neither side would attack the other and any violence was
strictly forbidden.
• The treaty or pact was definitely not an alliance. The two
powers did not agree to war efforts.
• The economic agreement of August 13, 1939 named USSR to
provide Germany with food and raw materials.
• Germany would supply the U.S.S.R. with finished products.