The Depression spread around the world. Worldwide economic crisis; puts too much stress on many countries European countries trying to recover from the ravages of WWI faced high war debts. Germany was still paying war reparations. With Americans unable to buy their goods now, European economies suffered even more. The situation became worse when Congress passed the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act. It was supposed to push Americans to buy goods made in the US and help American Industries. Instead imports from Europe declined. They had less money to spend on US goods and American Industry suffered. . Germany was forced to do four things: Dismantle most of its military (military reduction) 1) 1)Pay for most of the damages done during the war (reparations) 2) 2)Take full blame of causing the war (war guilt) 3) 3)Give up territory used to create countries of Poland and Czechoslovakia (Land Losses) Peace treaty that ended World War I Germany given total blame for World War I It was intended to make Germany powerless but it led to aggression instead Benito Mussolini Fascist Italy Totalitarian state: Government which attempts to control every aspect of the lives of its people; people give blind loyalty to their leaders European dictators of the 1930s Joseph Stalin Soviet Russia Adolf Hitler Nazi Germany The Failure of the League of Nations The League had neither the will nor the power to check the rising totalitarian governments. The Failure of the League of Nation League of Nation was unable to stop the Japanese invasion of Manchuria (1931) Unable to stop Italy invasion of Ethiopia (1935) Unable to stop Germany, Italy and Soviet Union intervention in the Spanish Civil War. In all these instances, the League failed to halt aggression. Germany Expands After World War I Treaty of Versailles seriously damaged German economy Adolf Hitler came to power Promised to restore Germanys greatness Lebensraum, or living room Hitler wanted more territory Neighbors aware of threat Memories of World War I still fresh No one willing to fight over words Militarizing the Rhineland Direct action in 1936Direct action in 1936 Armed force sent to the RhinelandArmed force sent to the Rhineland French and British complained; no direct action takenFrench and British complained; no direct action taken German troops remained; Hitler grew bolderGerman troops remained; Hitler grew bolder Rebuilding the German Military Hitler controlled German government by 1933Hitler controlled German government by 1933 Secretly rebuilt militarySecretly rebuilt military Unchallengedopenly stated plan to re-arm GermanyUnchallengedopenly stated plan to re-arm Germany Claimed resisting spread of communismbut empire buildingClaimed resisting spread of communismbut empire building Hitler demanded Austrian officials accept annexation (Anschluss)Hitler demanded Austrian officials accept annexation (Anschluss) Initial Austrian resistanceInitial Austrian resistance Britain and France did nothingBritain and France did nothing March 1938-unopposed German forces take over AustriaMarch 1938-unopposed German forces take over Austria Hitlers demands Europeans eager to avoid warEuropeans eager to avoid war Hitler plotted his movesHitler plotted his moves Target-AustriaTarget-Austria German-speaking countryGerman-speaking country Hitlers birthplaceHitlers birthplace Nazi supporters in AustriaNazi supporters in Austria Aggressive moves Annexing Austria Another German-speaking population Sudetenland eager to be a part of GermanySudetenland eager to be a part of Germany Hitler threatened the Czech governmentHitler threatened the Czech government Czechs prepared for warCzechs prepared for war No support for CzechNo support for Czech Threats to Czechoslovakia Hitler ignores the Hitler ignores the Treaty of Versailles and reoccupies the Rhineland in 1937 Austria Rhineland Poland Czechoslovakia Then Hitler demanded the Sudetenland, a part of Czechoslovakia with a large German population. At first, France and Britain promised to protect Czechoslovakia, despite the fact that Hitler threatened war. In Feb of 1938, Hitler annexed Austria Leaders of France and Great Britain call for a meeting with Hitler in an attempt to avoid war. The Failure of Appeasement Appeasement at Munich World leaders eager to avoid war met with Hitler at Munich. Believed Germans demands were reasonable and could be satisfied Appeasement: giving in to someone in order to avoid conflict The Munich Pact In September 1938 World leaders give Germany sections of Czechoslovakia with the promised not to invade the rest of Czechoslovakia SURPRISE! In March of 1939, Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia anyway, and the French and British feel betrayed Hitler saw the appeasement as a sign of weakness Nazi-Soviet Pact Hitler negotiates a secret treaty with Stalin August 1939: Stalin and Hitler agreed to not attack each other and to divide Poland between them Now Hitler was free to attack Poland and then the Western Allies Now Hitler was free to attack Poland and then the Western Allies The Nazi Invasion of Poland Poland was created by the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler was determined to add Poland to his successes in the Rhineland, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Sudetenland. Why invade Poland? An invasion of Poland would achieve all FOUR of Hitlers key foreign policy aims: 1)Overturn the Treaty of Versailles 2)Create Lebensraum (Living Space) 3) Make an invasion of Communist Russia possible. 4) Unite the people of Germany World War II Begins!!! Germany Invades Poland from the West on September 1, 1939 While the Soviet Union invaded from the East. Britain and France responded by declaring war on Germany, BLITZKRIEG German for lightning war Focused on hitting enemy quickly using airplanes, fast- moving tanks and moving troops by mobile transport and communication by radio During the first months of 1940, the French chose not to attack Germany and Germanys Western Front remained quiet. In April, Germany suddenly attacked Netherland, Belgium, Luxembourg and France. The Fall of France Map of the Maginot Line German troops avoided the strong defensive French barrier known as the Maginot Line by marching through the Ardennes Forest and across Belgium. It was supposed to make it impossible for Germany to get through There was also a gap in the Ardennes forest, which was so thick that it was believed to be impossible to move through. More than half of France's 800,000 troops were confined to manning the defensive Maginot Line The French were forced to surrender Germany conquers France England was the only thing left standing to keep Hitler from conquering all of Europe After conquering Poland and France, Hitler attempted to conquer England The Battle of Britain The Battle of Britain was a series of air raids led by the Germans on England The Germans severely bombed Great Britain but were unable to defeat the island nation. The British used the new invention of RADAR to detect arriving planes and identify where attacks were likely to occur.. The British won the battle and Hitler and the Germans gave up on invading England. Neutrality Act of banned the sales of weapons to nations at war. Neutrality Act of sale of non military goods on a cash and carry basis. Pay cash and ship goods themselves Neutrality Act of 1939 Extended cash and carry. It was okay to sell off weapons & non military goods Lend-Lease Act passed in 1941 Allowed the U.S to sell, lend or lease war materials to any country that was considered vital to the defense of the United States U.S could send weapons to Great Britain if Britain promised to return or pay rent for them after the war Great Britain $31 billion Soviet Union $11 billion France $ 3 billion China $1.5 billion Other European $500 million South America $400 million The amount totaled: $48,601,365,000 U. S. Lend-Lease Act, 1941, US becomes the arsenal of democracy The Four Freedoms and the Atlantic Charter Roosevelt secretly met with British Prime Minster Winston Churchill. They discussed the objectives for a post- war world. FDRs Four Freedoms Freedom of Speech & Expression Freedom of Religion Freedom from Want Freedom from Fear atlantic1 FIRST, we seek no territorial gains SECOND, no territorial changes of land between nations. THIRD, Restoration of sovereign rights and self-government FOURTH, Access to raw materials for all FIFTH, Free trade SIXTH, Freedom from fear and want SEVENTH, freedom of the seas EIGHTH, Disarmament of aggressors NINTH, a United Nations for world peace. The Atlantic Charter y Roosevelt and Churchill sign treaty of friendship in August y Solidifies alliance. y Fashioned after Wilsons 14 Points. y Calls for League of Nations type organization. Atlantic Charter Finally, the Atlantic Charter laid the foundation for the future United Nations, a new international organization that would replace the League of Nations.