WORLD WAR II

CAUSES OF WORLD WAR

II

1. German resentment at Treaty of Versailles.

2. Appeasement and Weak League of Nations.
3. Rise of Totalitarian Leaders and Fascism.
IN THE YEARS
FOLLOWING WWI
Treaty of Versailles has hit Germany hard.
Germany’s currency, the mark, dropped in value.
Great Depression hits Europe really hard.
Many countries will give up rights for security or sacrifice standing
up for peace.
NEW POLITICAL IDEALS
Fascism: A military/nationalistic movement that would
require the people to give their undivided loyalty to their
leader and to their country.

Totalitarianism: A type of government that takes total

control of every aspect of a country. This type of
government is usually run by a dictator. Most fascist
leaders were totalitarianisms.
GROUP WORK
Each group will work on one country.
Question:
How Italy, Germany, and the Soviet Union were like before World
War I? How did they become countries with strict leaders and
government control? What made people agree with these leaders and
systems?"
 FASCISM IN ITALY

Led by Benito Mussolini

He is the fascist leader of Italy.
He talks of making Italy strong and powerful.
When he takes power in 1922, he outlaws all other parties and
takes control for himself.
 NAZISM IN GERMANY
The National Socialist German Workers Party.
They are a German nationalistic party.
They blend racism with fascism to create a party that is intent on making a strong
Germany that excludes certain groups (mostly Jews). They are also violently anti-
Bolshevist.
 COMMUNISM IN SOVIET
UNION
Joseph Stalin was the harsh ruler of the Soviet Union from 1928-1953.
 MILITARISM IN JAPAN
People in the government who are either in the military or support
the military.
They support having a strong military presence in the government
and in international affairs.

Hediki Tojo
 THE AXIS POWERS
Treaty signed in October 1936, the Rome-Berlin Axis is an alliance between Italy
and Germany.
It is called “Axis” because they stated that the world will now turn on the axis
between Rome and Berlin.
In 1940, Japan joins the alliance as well.
 FLIGHT OF THE JEWS

Many Jews wanted to leave Germany because of fear of persecution.

WHAT WAS THE REASON OF
THEIR PROSECUTION?
ALLIED POWERS:
QUESTION TIME
1. Why would people allow such evil and cruel leaders to lead them?

2. How did Hitler’s message appeal to people?

3. Why is Japan becoming so militaristic?

 SPANISH CIVIL WAR
The war will be a prelude to WWII.
Germany and Italy step in and give aid by bombing cities, support troops, and
personnel.
The Germans test their weapons and new tactics in Spain.
 Germany
makes
demands.
Threatens
war.

The Germany
senses
Allies meet Appeasement weakness in
with Cycle the Allies.
Germany.

To prevent
war, Allies
agree to the
German
demands.
HITLER’S AGGRESSION
Hitler remilitarized the
Rhineland in violation of the
Treaty of Versailles.
Forced a union with Austria.
Annexed all of CzechoslovakiaYou were given the choice between war
and dishonor. You chose dishonor, and
Demanded Poland surrender you will have war.—Winston Churchill
“Polish Corridor”
 NAZI-SOVIET NON-AGGRESSION
PACT

Treaty signed on August 23, 1939.

The treaty promises that Nazi
Germany and the Soviet Union would
not fight each other.
Stalin signed this because he believed
the West or Germany was gearing up
for a war with him
 MEANWHILE…IN CHINA

Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931, the Japanese and created the puppet state of Manchukuo.
The Japanese promoted Japanese colonization of the region.
The Japanese invade China in 1937 and capture Beijing, Shanghai, Nanking, and other
coastal cities.
The Chinese, weakened by years of civil war, are easy prey to the stronger Japanese armies
with over a million fighting for Shanghai alone.
From 1937-1945, the Chinese will lose 3.2 million killed while the Japanese lost more than
a million.
Another 17.5 milllon Chinese will die in the Japanese atrocities committed by the military.
US ISOLATIONISM
In the years following WWI, the US will stay out of European affairs
as it deals with the Depression.
We did not want to get involved in the war in Europe because of the
death and destruction before.
Combined with Appeasement, it will help Germany branch out.
QUESTION TIME
4. What was the goal behind appeasement?

5. Why did appeasement not work?

6. If Hitler hates Communism, why did he sign a treaty with Stalin?