Canadian War Memorial, Ottawa

Causes of the Second World War

Let’s think about:Consequences

How was

the world changed

by the First World War?

The Roots of WWII

Questions for the above video

1.How did the German soldiers feel when they returned from WWI?

2.To understand Hitler, we must first understand this.

3.What did Hitler do when he first took power in 1933?

Cause and Consequence

Handout:

The Treaty of Versailles

and

the Rise of Hitler

Japan

• In 1931, Japan takes Manchuria, a Chinese region, for its carbon and iron resources.

• Japan felt justified in expanding its colonial empire, just as other European empires have done historically. (Britain, France)

• The League of Nations did not come to China’s aid.

• In 1937, Japan began a strong attack on China, eventually further conquering Korea and French-Indo China (Vietnam)

The Violation of the Treaty of Versailles

• Hitler assumes control on January 30, 1933. His political ideologies appeal to the much of the German public. – High level of unemployment and

frustration– A weak Weimar government– Impressive Nazi propaganda =>

• Hitler immediately begins to violate the Treaty of Versailles by rearming Germany.

Violation of the Treaty of Versailles

Creation of the Luftwaffe

Germany’s army doubles with conscription.

Violation of the Treaty of Versailles

June 1935Anglo-German Naval Accord

• England acknowledges the end of the Treaty and allows Germany to have a naval force 1/3 the size of their own to avoid an arms race similar to prior WWI.

Rearmament

• Great Britain and France begin to increase their own militaries in fear of the German threat.

• Russia too, under Stalin, begins to increase their military strength to protect their Communist regime.

October 1935

Fascist Italy under Benito Mussolini invades Abyssinia (Ethiopia) to extend their empire and establish an African presence.

Italian Imperialism

New BFF…

The Fascist dictators Mussolini (left) and Hitler (right)become friends(photo prise par Eva Braun, 1940)

The Violation of the Treaty of Versailles continues...

March 1936

German forces establish their presence in the Rhineland, between France and Belgium.

March 1938 – Anschluss German-Austrian Union

The Violation of the Treaty of Versailles….

June 1938Germany takes the Sudetenland, A region belonging to Czechoslovakia.

A Sudeten Woman crying tears of joy at the German annexation.

Prior to signing the Munich Agreement. Left to Right: Chamberlain, Daladier, Hitler, Mussolini, Ciano

« Peace in our time » - Chamberlain

September 1938 – At the Munich Conference, Hitler invites the leaders of the world to reassure them he does not want any more territory… (Would you trust Hitler at this point?)

* Britain and France ceded to Germany’s word, hoping to avoid another war. This political move is now known as Appeasement

Soviet Poster of the 1930s by Kukryniksy on the Munich Agreement

In March 1939, Germany invades the rest of Czechoslovakia

Stalin andHitler

August 1939 Hitler and Stalin make an agreement to not attack one another, known as the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact.

Furthermore, Stalin and Hitler agree to divide eastern Poland and Eastern Europe amongst themselves.

September 1st, 1939 Germany invades Poland

without fear of Soviet response.

September 3rd, 1939 Great Britain and France

declare war against Germany.

September 10th, 1939 Canada declares war against Germany.