Transcript File - Miss Hetu`s Canadian History

CAUSES
of WWII
Direct Cause
Hitler’s Steps to War: German rearmament, militarism and aggression
Germany had been secretly training troops, which was forbidden by the Treaty of
Versailles, in the mid-1920s. In 1935, under the Nazi dictator Hitler, it began to rearm
openly, building tanks, fighter planes, warships, and other weapons. Hitler’s aggression
just increased as the League of Nations just looked on …
(Please indicate these moves on your map of Europe)
#1 Annex the Rhineland (breaking specific terms in the Treaty of Versailles)
#2 Invades Austria (Hitler’s dream of a union with Austria, “Anschluss”)
#3 Invades Sudetenland (around Czechoslovakia – under the Munich Agreement 1938)
#4 Invades all of Czechoslovakia
#5 Invades Poland
Once Germany carried out an unprovoked attack on Poland (and
would not abort after ‘being asked nicely’), Britain and France
declared war on Germany. Canada declared war on Germany
soon after.
Indirect Causes
1. Economy: the Great Depression and the Treaty of Versailles
■ Germany suffered particularly hard during the Great Depression. Not only was there
extremely high unemployment, but Germany was trying to pay back the reparation
owed to allied countries under the Treaty of Versailles. Subsequently, when
government did not have the money to make payments, they either borrowed money
(mainly from the US) and printed more German Marks (currency). As more Marks
went into circulation, each one became worth less. As the value of the German
mark plummeted (called HYPERINFLATION), Germans could no longer afford to buy
imports, companies went bankrupt, and overall people had no confidence in
German money, economy and the weak governments.
■ Hitler (and Mussolini in Italy) reduced unemployment by building up their armies and
air forces. Other unemployed people were sent to factories to make weapons and
military equipment, or “public works projects” like building roads, and installing
water and sewer pipes which would be useful in war. He also authorized the
production of the Volkswagen or “people’s car” for ordinary working families.
Major Terms of the Treaty of Versailles:
■ Rhineland to be OCCUPIED by Allied troops for 10 years
■ German ARMY and NAVY reduced; no AIR FORCE allowed
■ Germany forced to sign WAR GUILT CLAUSE – saying they caused WWI
■ Germany pay REPARATIONS (or damages) = $30B to Allies
■ Germany loses territory and Austria-Hungry broken up
■ LEAGUE OF NATIONS officially formed to keep world peace
Fascism: total government control under one
authoritarian leader, whereby there are no individual rights
and all is done in the name of the nation.
2. Rise of Dictators, Nationalism and Imperialism
■ Amidst these hard times, extreme parties began to gain attention offering a better
options and strong leadership. The politicians in the democratic governments of
Europe could do little about the problems. So dictators took control of one country
after another and ruled on their own. Communists wanted to make Germany more
like Russia. Nazi fascists supported dictatorship and an economy controlled by
large corporations. Their leader, Adolf Hitler also supported racist views. He
exploited people’s bitterness over the existing climate: severe unemployment,
poverty, and the Treaty of Versailles. His platform included: stop paying reparations
to allied countries (Treaty of Versailles), invest in Germany’s industries to create
growth, build up Germany’s military (also against the Treaty) and end
unemployment. He had a powerful message. He also played dirty: enlisted his
supporters in the Storm Troopers to threaten voters if they didn’t vote for the Nazi
Party. Not surprisingly, Hitler became Chancellor and after gaining special powers in
Parliament to deal with “enemies of Germany” (his opposers), he abolished
Parliament and declared himself, Fuhrer (or leader/dictator) and his word was law.
Anyone who opposed him would be imprisoned, tortured, or murdered.
Dictatorship: a system of government ruled by one
leader with complete control and no opposition.
■ The Soviet Union had already become a communist dictatorship (1919), but in the
1920s and early 1930s fifteen (15) European countries fell under control of extreme
right-wing dictators such as Hitler, Mussolini and Franco. Control of Japan was
taken over by right-wing military leaders.
■ A number of dictators took people’s minds off economic problems by starting wars
to conquer more territory. Mussolini invaded Ethiopia and the Japanese invaded
China. Hitler proclaimed that the Germans were the master race of the world and
should have all the territory they needed. Hence, Germany seized Austria (1938),
Czechoslovakia (1938-39) and Poland (1939).
3. Alliances: some things change; some things stay the same
The allied forces were made up of the same MAJOR PLAYERS as in WWI; Britain, France
and USSR (formerly, Russia)
The axis powers were made up of at least 2 of the MAJOR PLAYERS from WWI; Germany,
Italy …with the addition of Japan!
The similar division of alliances certainly causes one to think, ‘was this just the
continuation of WWI’?
4. Appeasement and the failure of the League of Nations
Western leaders chose to ignore or didn’t realize the danger of Nazi rule and wanted to
avoid a war at all cost. So even the Canadian Prime Minister, Mackenzie King favored a
policy of appeasement – giving in to Hitler and other dictators, saying “All right – you
can have that country, but you must not take any more”. The dictators believed that the
world would keep on saying this and would not fight.
The League of Nations tried to stop Italy’s vicious attack on Ethiopia (1935-6) by cutting
off its supply trains, but this had little effect and Ethiopia became an Italian colony. The
League was suppose to protect smaller nations, and when it didn’t, many of them left.
There was nothing left to stop war.