With help from Susan Pojer Causes of World War II AP US Unit 14 Chapter 37 part 1 With help from Susan Pojer

The Road to War: 1919-1939

The Versailles Treaty

A Weak League of Nations

The Ineffectiveness of the League of Nations No control of major conflicts. No progress in disarmament. No effective military force.

The Rise of Nationalism After WWI, an idea known as nationalism took a hold of many European countries. Nationalism is the loyalty to one’s country above all else and the belief that all the people of your country (usually defined by language groups) should be united as one.

International Agreements Locarno Pact – 1925 France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy Guarantee existing frontiers Establish DMZ 30 miles deep on East bank of Rhine River Refrain from aggression against each other Kellogg-Briand Pact – 1928 Makes war illegal as a tool of diplomacy No enforcement provisions

France – False Sense of Security? The Maginot Line

Totalitarian Countries

Italy: Fascism After WWI, Italy was suffering from its own economic troubles. Many of the upper classes were worried by the protests in the streets that leaned towards communism. Because of their demands for a strong leader, Benito Mussolini was able to come to power. Mussolini was an excellent speaker and played on the nationalist ideas of the Italians. Known as Il Duce

Italy: Fascism Winning support across Italy, Mussolini established the Fascist Party. Fascism is a type of government that stresses nationalism and places the interests of the state over the interest of individuals. To strengthen the nation, fascists believe that power should rest in the hands of one strong leader who controls a strong army.

Italy: Fascism Mussolini’s followers became known as the “Black Shirts” because of their uniforms. Together with the Black Shirts, Mussolini marched on Italy’s capitol in October 1922. The Italian king made Mussolini the head of the government. Many were initially amazed at the reforms that Mussolini was able to accomplish in Italy, but they were made by crushing all opposition.

Italy Attacks Ethiopia, 1935 Emperor Haile Selassie

The Soviet Union: Communism Russia had undergone a communist revolution in 1917 and became the communist country known as the Soviet Union. Their leader through this, Lenin, died in 1924 Joseph Stalin took over as the leader of the USSR.

The Soviet Union: Communism Stalin created a series of “5 year plans” to set goals for the Soviet Union to become a true communist state. In these plans all economic activity, including agriculture and industry, were taken over by the government. In some ways these plans worked as the Soviet Union became the world’s 2nd largest industrial power by 1937. On the other hand, Stalin was directly responsible for the deaths of between 8-13 million people who he felt threatened his power. Millions more died during famines brought on by the restructuring.

The Soviet Union: Communism By killing all who opposed him (or he thought opposed him) Stalin was able to create a totalitarian government. A totalitarian government is one where the government rules all, individuals have no rights, and the government suppresses all opposition.

Spain: Fascism In 1936, a group of Spanish army officers led by Generalisimo Francisco Franco rebelled against the Spanish republic. This began the Spanish Civil War, which ended after half a million deaths in 1939; Franco was victorious. The Spanish Civil War aroused sympathies all over the world. For those who wanted to stop the spread of fascism, this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

The Spanish Civil War: 1936 - 1939 Francisco Franco

The Spanish Civil War: 1936 - 1939 National Front [Nationalists] The Popular Front [Republicans] Carlists [ultra-Catholic monarchists]. Catholic Church. Falange [fascist] Party. Monarchists. Anarcho-Syndicalists. Basques. Catalans. Communists. Marxists. Republicans. Socialists.

Spain: Fascism Even though many individuals from other countries went to help those fighting Franco, fascism still won in Spain. Hitler and Mussolini both sent aid to help Franco. This connection helped bond the German and Italian dictators for life.

Rome-Berlin Axis, 1939 The “Pact of Steel”

The American “Lincoln Brigade” The Spanish Civil War: 1936 - 1939 The American “Lincoln Brigade”

The Spanish Civil War: A Dress Rehearsal for WWII? Italian troops in Madrid

“Guernica” by Pablo Picasso

Japan: Militarism Japan was ruled by an imperial government (led by an emperor), but during this time, militarists were trying to take control of the country. Militarism is a type of government that uses the strength of the military to further the goals of the country. Militarists also believe that discipline (like that found in the military) is necessary for the proper functioning of society.

Japan: Militarism The militarists were able to take control of Japan’s government and left the emperor as a “figure-head”. Like Hitler, the Japanese militarists believed that they needed more room to expand for their growing population. Therefore, they launched a surprise attack on China to seize control of the province of Manchuria in 1931. The League of Nations tried to punish Japan for its actions, but Japan simply left the League.

Japan Invades Manchuria

Japan Invades Manchuria, 1931

The Manchurian Crisis, 1931

The Japanese Invasion of China, 1937

The “Stab-In-The-Back” Theory German soldiers are dissatisfied.

Germany: Nazism In 1919, Adolf Hitler joined the National Socialist German Workers’ Party – better known as the Nazi Party. Though the name might imply otherwise, this party was sternly opposed to Communism and Socialism. Hitler’s leadership and public speaking skills soon made him the leader of this party. Hitler called himself Der Führer (The Leader). Nazism was the German brand of fascism that was based on extreme nationalism.

Germany: Nazism Hitler and the Nazi Party convinced the German people that they were the ones to save Germany from its troubles. Much of this was done by playing on feelings of nationalism that had been injured by the Treaty of Versailles at the end of WWI. By 1932, 6 million Germans were unemployed because of the economic Depression that Germany was suffering from after WWI. Many out-of-work men joined Hitler’s private army called “The Storm Troopers” or the “Brown Shirts”.

The Great Depression

Decadence of the Weimar Republic

Germany: Nazism By mid-1932, the Nazis became the strongest political party in Germany. In January 1933, Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany (like the prime minister in England). Even though the Nazis and Hitler were put in power through public elections, once in power, Hitler dismantled the democratic Weimar Republic and established a new German Empire called “The Third Reich.” According to Hitler, this new empire would last a thousand years. Hitler saw this as a reincarnation of the great Roman Empire

Germany: Nazism Hitler and his Nazi Party had three main goals for Germany: All German-speaking people should be united in a great German Empire. For Germany to thrive, Germany needed more lebensraum or living space. Therefore Germany would have to expand into other areas. Germans, especially blue-eyed, blond-haired “Aryans”, would form a “master race” in Germany. All other people were deemed inferior – this included Jews, nonwhites, Gypsies, Catholics, etc. Hitler believed that “racial purification” should happen in Germany and the races he did not agree with should be forced to leave or serve the Aryans.

Germany: Nazism Goals 1 and 2 began WWII in Europe Goal 3 led to the tragedy of the Holocaust. Germany’s extreme nationalism and economic depression allowed Hitler to carry out his goals with little opposition.

Appeasement in Europe As the strength and power of the Nazis grew in Germany, Hitler began plans to carry out his 3 main goals. In November 1937, Hitler met in secret with his top military advisors. He informed them about his plan to expand the lebensraum, or living space, for the German people. One of his advisors protested this idea and said it would lead to war. Hitler replied, “’The German Question’ can be solved only by means of force, and this is never without risk.”

Germany Invades the Rhineland March 7, 1936

Appeasement in Europe Hitler’s first move was to unite with the small country of Austria, which had 6 million German people who favored the unification with Germany. On March 12, 1938, Hitler marched unopposed into Austria and a day later the union was complete. Much of Austria had wanted to merge with Germany, but that would not be so for Hitler’s other targets.

The Austrian Anschluss, 1938

Appeasement in Europe Next was Czechoslovakia, which had approximately 3 million German-speaking people living in the western border region – known as the Sudetenland. Germany spread rumors that the Czechs were mistreating the Sudeten Germans, and Hitler began massing troops on the Czech border. Early in these maneuvers, France and Great Britain promised to protect Czechoslovakia.

Appeasement in Europe When it seemed like they might have to follow through on this, Hitler invited the prime ministers of France and England to meet with him in Munich. Hitler informed them that the annexation of the Sudetenland would be his last territorial demand. In an attempt to avoid war, Great Britain, France, and Germany signed the Munich Agreement on September 30, 1938 – this gave the Sudetenland to Germany without a single shot being fired.

Appeasement: The Munich Agreement, 1938 British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain Now we have “peace in our time!” Herr Hitler is a man we can do business with.

The “Problem” of the Sudetenland

Appeasement in Europe Great Britain and France (along with other European countries) were following a policy known as appeasement, or giving up principles to pacify an aggressor. They felt that if they turned a blind eye to Hitler’s annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland, that they could then insure peace.

Isolationism in America After WWI, America did not want to get involved in another world conflict. Along with 62 other countries, the US signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact, which stated that war would not be used “as an instrument of national policy.” The problem with this Pact is that it did not have any way to deal with any country that broke with the agreement.

Isolationism in America During the early 1930’s, mass sentiment in America turned against war, even America’s previous actions in WWI. Books were published that blamed the WWI on arms brokers and bankers; the books accused these people of forcing America into WWI for profit. Antiwar feelings became so strong during this time that the Girl Scouts of America changed their uniforms from khaki to green to appear less militaristic.

America-First Committee Charles Lindbergh

London Conference of 1933 Wanted to regulate exchange rates so that world trade could pick back up again. Roosevelt refused because he wanted to continue practicing his inflationist policies here at home

The Philippines To further embrace isolationism, America began to distance itself from its imperialist holdings in the Philippines. Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934 Would provide for Philippine independence after a 12 year tutelage - 1946 America got to keep naval base options

Good Morning USSR America also recognized the existence of the Soviet Union (16 years after the fact) Was to help boost trade

Good Neighbor America stopped sucking so much for Latin America Renounced armed intervention Basically revoked Roosevelt Corollary Stopped meddling - Cuba, Panama, Haiti Caused much love for Roosevelt in Latin America

Reciprocal Trade Agreements Congress passed the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act in 1934 Allowed an arrangement to reduce our tariff in exchange for another country reducing theirs Escaped the bog of having the change be approved by Congress

Isolationism in America In an effort to keep America out of future wars, Congress passed a series of Neutrality Acts beginning in 1935. These acts outlawed arms sales or loans to nations at war or in a civil war. America’s move away from involvement in world affairs is known as isolationism.

U. S. Neutrality Acts: 1934, 1935, 1937, 1939

Isolationism in America The Neutrality Acts caused a problem for America when Japan launched a new attack on China in July of 1937. In an effort to help China, Roosevelt found a way around the Neutrality Acts – he pointed out that Japan had never officially declared war and therefore the US was allowed to sell arms to China. Obviously this did not make the Japanese happy with America. Next, Roosevelt asked that peace-loving nations “quarantine” or isolate aggressor nations to stop the spread of war. Isolationist American newspapers immediately spoke out against the President’s interest in world affairs.

Hitler Begins World War II Even though he had promised to stop, Hitler was not done with his plans to expand Germany. On March 15, 1939, Hitler took over the rest of Czechoslovakia.

Czechoslovakia Becomes Part of the Third Reich - 1939

2-3 Clip 1: Hitler’s Rise to Power

2-3 Clip 2 – Early Nazi Propaganda

2-3 Clip 3 Nazi Annexation of the Sudetenland