Aim: Trace the Causes of World War II

Postwar Europe The Great War left every major European country nearly bankrupt 1914-1918: Europe’s last absolute rulers had been overthrown Many citizens of new democracies had little experience with representative government Some countries had a dozen or more political groups It was almost impossible for one party to win enough support to govern effectively When no single party won a majority, a coalition government or temporary alliance of several parties was needed 2

The Weimar Republic The Weimar Republic had weaknesses 1919: Germany’s new democratic government was set up Known as the Weimar Republic The Weimar Republic had weaknesses Germany lacked a strong democratic tradition Postwar Germany had several major political parties & many minor ones Millions of Germans blamed the Weimar government, not the wartime leaders for the country’s defeat & the Versailles Treaty Germany also faced enormous economic problems To pay the expenses of the war, the Germans had printed money Paper money lost value & inflation set in 3

Hitler Rises to Power in Germany When WWI broke out, Hitler volunteered for the German army 1919: Hitler joined a right-wing political group Shared the belief that Germany had to overturn the Treaty of Versailles & combat communism Grouped named National Socialist Germany Worker’s Party (NAZI) 1923: Hitler & Nazis plotted to seize power Hitler sentenced to 5 years for treason In prison, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf Book asserted that Germans were a master race called “Aryans” Non-Aryan races were inferior (Jews, Slavs) 4

Hitler Becomes Chancellor 1924: Hitler released from prison Germans turned to Hitler after economy collapsed 1933: President Paul von Hindenburg named Hitler chancellor of Germany Hitler used new power to turn Germany into a totalitarian state Banned all other political parties SS (Schutzstaffel) created: Elite black-uniformed unit of Nazi party Nazis took command of the economy New laws banned strikes, dissolved independent labor unions, & gave the government authority over business & labor Hitler turned media into propaganda tool & burned anti-Nazi books 5

Hitler makes War on the Jews Hatred of Jews or anti-Semitism was a key part of Nazi ideology Nazis used Jews as scapegoat for all Germany’s troubles since the Great War 1933: Nazis passed laws depriving Jews of most of their rights November 9, 1938: Nazi mobs attacked Jews in their homes and destroyed thousands of Jewish-owned buildings Rampage called Kristallnacht or night of broken of glass 6