The Road to War

The World Sets the Stage for

World War II

Causes of World War II

• Unresolved issues from World War I

• World-Wide depression

• Militarism and Nationalism

• Powerful Dictators

The Effects of WWI

• The Treaty of Versailles left Germany in deep debt to other nations

• This led to economic failure and deep depression in Germany

THE TERMS OF THE TREATY OF

VERSAILLES1919

WAR GUILT CLAUSE

GERMAN NATIONAL TERRITORY

GERMANY’S MILITARY FORCES REDUCED

GERMAN OVERSEAS TERRITORRIES

NO UNION WITH AUSTRIA

REPARATIONS

Germany had to accept blame for starting WW1

- Army restricted to 100,000 men.

- No modern weapons such as tanks, military air force.

- Navy could not have battle ships over 10,000 tons and no U-Boats.

- Germany lost national territory which was given to Belgium and Denmark, most went to Poland.

Germany lost Chinese ports [Amoy and Tsingtao], Pacific Islands, and African colonies [Tanganika and German SW Africa].

RHINELAND TO BE DE-MILITARISED

Germany forced to pay massive fine for war damages - 1,000,000,000 Marks (6.6bn pounds).

The Treaty was designed to cripple Germany militarily, territorially and economically

World Wide Depression

• All countries throughout the world experienced economic depression in the 1930s

• Poor conditions in European Countries allowed for political change and unrest

Militarism and Nationalism

• Germany and Japan work hard to develop military strength in the 1930s

• National Pride• Increasing Tensions

Dictators

• Adolf Hitler – Germany

• Benito Mussolini – Italy

• Hideki Tojo – Japan

• Francisco Franco – Spain

• Joseph Stalin – Soviet Union

Rise To PowerAdolf Hitler in WWIHitler Video

Adolf Hitler in WWII

Hitler’s Book “Mein Kampf” or “My Struggle”

Fascism

• Extreme Conservatism• Government-controlled strict social order

– Censorship– React harshly to critics

• Relies heavily on military strength• Very Nationalistic• Very Anti-Communist

Hitler and Mussolini Join Forces

Benito Mussolini Adolf Hitler

Fascism in Europe

• German

• Formed a totalitarian government

• Invaded Ethiopia in 1935.

• Italian

• Anger over the Versailles treaty

• Blamed the Jews for Germany’s problems.

• Believed Germans were a superior “Aryan” race.

• Used economic unrest and fears of communism to gain support.

• Used nationalism to gain support.