Unit 3 Chapter 6 World War Two What made War in Europe possible? What were the long term factors that led to WWII? Is WWII a continuity of WWI?

1) Hitler’s foreign policy 3) Policy of Appeasement Linked Long term factors leading to WWII Linked Linked 2) Economic situation 4) Weakness of the League Of Nations Must locate these factors within the context of the two decades between 1919-1939

Setting the context: What was the (S. E Setting the context: What was the (S.E.P) climate like in the years between WWI and WWII? 1919-1939 Political Social -Balance of Power in Europe operates in a vacuum. -E.g. Br and Fr mainly involved -USSR and USA (Isolationist) -Note: Br and Fr are declining economies, despite having vast empires. -New emerging powers: Germany, Italy and Japan: Willing to embark on expansionary Policies to secure national interest. Rise of militarism in these countries -Strong impetus for peace. (Pacifism) E.g. Kellog-Briand Pact (top-down) E.g. “No More War Movement” + “War Resisters’ International” E.g. 1936, Paris: More than 1 million marched in support of International peace. (Overy, 2008: 7) Economic -Economic rollercoaster -Slow recovery from war, Then Wall Street Crash. -International trade building up After WWI, only to come to a standstill after 1929: Economic rivalry and economic Dependence (Protectionism: e.g. of securing national interest.) p. 156 textbook

Factor 1: Hitler’s foreign policy Aims (Mein Kampf, 1924) Abolish Treaty of Versailles Defeat Communism Create Lebensraum “Living Space” In East and “Grossdeutsch” Actions: -Rearmament (Walsh, 2001: 258-259) -Reclaimed Saar through Plebiscite. (Walsh, 2001: 259) -Remilitarisation of Rhineland (Walsh, 2001: 260) Actions: -Participated in Spanish Civil War 1936 Right-wing (Franco’s Supporters) vs. Communists (Walsh, 2001: 262) -Anti-Comintern Pact 1936-7 (With Italy and Japan) Called Axis Alliance Actions: -Anschluss with Austria 1938 (Walsh, 2001: 263) -Sudetenland (Oct 1938) and Czechoslovakia, (Mar 1939) (Walsh, 2001: 266-270)

How is Hitler’s foreign policy linked to the economic situation? (Walsh, 2001: 258) + Textbook p. 157 Rearmaments providing jobs for people. Turning car factories into war factories.

How is Hitler’s foreign policy linked to the policy of *Appeasement? *Appeasement is the act of giving way to an aggressor to avoid war. Often associated with then British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. Why did Chamberlain advocate Appeasement?

How is the policy of Appeasement linked to the weakness of the LON? Hint: Who drives the LON?

Did the World really change between World War I and II? Some measures of continuity: -National Interest still placed before global security/interest. -Secret diplomacy still conducted despite LON. -Might is still Right -The impetus for War (there are perceived ‘benefits’ associated with War) is always stronger than that for Peace. -Why nations provoke war? To unite the population within the country (stoke nationalism) and to secure the survival of the country. -Remember that Austria-Hungary provoked war in order to survive the break-up of her empire. -Japan, Italy and Germany all entered war to secure more raw materials to feed their process of rapid industrialisation.

Prelude to War http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnXKrecRIsM&feature=related

Immediate causes of WWII -What triggered WWII? -Why did Britain and France finally decided to act?

3.End of the policy of 1. Nazi-Soviet Pact Appeasement Causes of WWI Immediate Causes of WWI 2. Invasion of Poland

Nazi-Soviet Pact (Walsh, 2001: 271-72) Why was it signed? http://www.johndclare.net/RoadtoWWII8.htm Previous attempts to ally with Britain had failed. Britain not interested in alliance with Russia. Fear of Communism. Snubbed Russia. After Munich Agreement, Stalin felt that Br could not be trusted to honour her agreement to Poland. Feared that Rus would have to fight Poland alone. Germany courted Russia: Ribbentrop (senior Nazi official) sent to Russia in Aug 1939. Promised that Germany would not go to war with Russia, and they would divide Poland between them

Despite ideological differences, Stalin and Hitler were able to put this aside (temporarily), and decided to secure their national interests first. Political marriage: Marriage of convenience

2 Treaties were signed German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact signed in Moscow on 23rd August 1939. German-Soviet Treaty of Friendship divides Poland between them. 28th Sept 1939.

Source A This British cartoon of 1939 shows Hitler and Stalin. What elements indicate that they are allied?   What indicates that the alliance is not likely to last?   What do the storm clouds in the background symbolise?   What does the dead figure between them represent?  

Source B This British cartoon of 1939 shows Hitler and Stalin. What elements indicate that they are allied?   What indicates that the alliance is not likely to last?

2. Invasion of Poland http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5IQr-G0IOw (Invasion of Poland 1st Sept 1939) Blitzkreig “Lightning War” http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A737705 Why was Poland so important To Germany To Britain and France. (Czechslovakia was just as far away from Br and Fr as Poland was?)

End of Appeasement Declaration of War: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtrOJnpmz6s&feature=related Why did Appeasement end?