The Great Depression to World War II: 1929-1945

The World after World War I

What’s going on in europe & Asia during the depression years? Growing anger over how things were left after World War I. Rise of Dictators in Italy and Germany Aggressively taking over their neighbors in Europe & Asia.

The bad guys Benito Mussolini Italy Facism Totalitarianism Dictator

More bad guys Adolf Hitler Germany Nazi Party HUGE WAR DEBT MASSIVE UNEMPLOYED INFLATION Nazi Party

Even more bad guys Prime Minister of Japan, Tojo Hideki Militarism Wants Pearl Harbor Dominate all of the Pacific & Eastern Asia

Reasons for Dictators The depression in Europe gave rise to the dictators in Spain, Italy and Germany. People lost hope in democracies and wanted a strong leader to correct the problems. Strong leaders promised solutions to the problems in their countries.

Fascism A political movement that promotes Extreme Nationalism Imperialism Dictatorial government Denial of individual rights One party system

Fascism Strong Military Fascism State controlled economy Extreme Blind Loyalty To the leader State controlled economy Strong Military Fascism Use of Violence and Terror Extreme Nationalism Use of Censorship & Propaganda

The Rise of Mussolini Italy after World War I The Treaty of Versailles gave away land that had been promised to Italy by Britain and France. Italy’s economy was slow Men could not find work Trade was slow Taxes were high (pay for the war) Workers went on strike

The Rise of Mussolini Benito Mussolini Mussolini took advantage of the unrest in Italy by Gathering a following of war veterans and those unhappy with the conditions in Italy. Mussolini called his party the Fascist and promised to fix the problems of Italy.

The Rise of Mussolini Mussolini promised To end unemployment Gain more land for Italy Outlaw communism Stop workers from striking Strengthen Italy’s military

The Rise of Mussolini By 1922 the Fascist and Mussolini were in power. They used violence and terror to win elections. Once in power Mussolini ended Free elections Free speech Free Press

The Rise of Mussolini Many enemies of the state were killed. The goals of the state were put above the rights of the individual.

The Rise of Hitler Germany after World War I The Kaiser stepped down A democratic government called the Weimar Republic took over. The Weimar Rep. was weak Inflation caused a major economic problem. People were poor.

The Rise of Hitler Germany needed a leader who could fix the economic problems and restore pride in Germany. Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party promised to fix Germany.

The Rise of Hitler In 1920 Hitler becomes head of the German Workers Party (GWP) The GWP later becomes the National Socialist German Workers (Nazi) In 1933 Hitler was named Chancellor of Germany. By 1934 Hitler was dictator of Germany

The Rise of Hitler World War I Nazi’s Promise Weak Government Germany has to pay large war debt. Germany loses her colonies. Germany is bitter over blame for World War I. Reduced military. Weak Government Kaiser steps down Weimar Rep. fails to end inflation signs the Treaty of Versailles which angers many Germans Economic Problems Inflation Depression Unemployment Nazi’s Promise Jobs A new German super race Rebuild the military Get back lost land Make Germany proud

The Rise of Hitler Hitler Creates a new Germany called the Third Reich.

The Rise of Hitler Hitler Turns Germany into a totalitarian state. Creates a one party system (Nazi Party) Ends civil rights Murders many of his political enemies. Uses force and terror to enforce his rule. Uses propaganda, art and education to promote him and the Nazi party.

The Rise of Hitler Hitler Puts businesses under government control. Starts public works programs which employs many people. Rebuilds the military. Raises the standard of living.

The Rise of Hitler Hitler instituted programs against Jews to restrict their lives in an attempt to drive them from Germany. Many did not care about Hitler’s policies many were just happy being employed and having a renewed sense of military and nationalistic pride.

In 1933 Hitler becomes the Chancellor Germany Before WWII In 1933 Hitler becomes the Chancellor The Enabling Law is passed which allows Hitler to make laws without having to have them approved by anyone, including the Parliament. Hitler now comes to power legitimately. He has a lot of control over what laws are passed, and how the country was run. Once the Nazi’s gained control over Parliament, there was not stopping Hitler. All he needed was for the current President to die, which he did in 1934. Now there is no one to stand in Hitler’s way.

Concentration Camps In 1933 -first Concentration camp is opened at Dachau. It used to jail members of the Communist party. Trade unions became banned Jews were banned from working in government. Nuremburg Laws Jews were banned from marrying Aryans, and sexual relations between Jews and non-Jews was forbidden. Jews also lost their right to German citizenship. The first concentration camps were not used as death camps. They were used to house people who did agree with the Nazi party rhetoric. It is not until later that Hitler thinks of a much more ghastly use for these prisons. 24

1936 Olympics Germany hosted the Olympics. Hitler’s plan was to use the event to spread Nazi propaganda. His plans were spoiled when a black man, Jesse Owens, won four gold medals. To Hitler blacks were an inferior race. Hitler was extremely upset that a man of an “inferior” race was able to beat his finely honed athletes. The Olympics did not go the way he needed them to in order to use the event for propaganda. Hitler needed his athletes to win in order to show the world how much better the “perfect” race was. 25

Germany Before WWII Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass) 1938 Jewish shops, homes, and Synagogues were attacked. Thousands of Jews were arrested and sent to concentration camps This was the beginning of the Holocaust, the extermination of millions of Jews.

Hitler and Mussolini Positives: Negatives: Both Hitler and Mussolini improved the economic conditions of their nations. Both restored order to their countries. Both brought back nationalistic pride. Negatives: Many lost individual rights. Many were driven out of the countries or murdered.

War Escalates in Europe 1936 – German troops occupy the Rhineland, bordering France and Belgium. 1938 – Germany annexed Austria. Both of these actions violated the Versailles Treaty.

War Escalates in Europe 1938 – Germany claimed the Sudetenland, a part of Czechoslovakia where some German speaking people lived.

A Sudetenland woman weeps tears of joy when German troops enter the territory. They hoped the Nazis would end the depression in their country However, this worried Great Britain and France who feared another war

War escalates in europe 1938 –Munich Conference Hitler promises to take all of Czechoslovakia Promises not to take any more land Great Britain & France threaten war with Hitler if he invades another country.

Britain and France gave into Germany hoping that it would avoid warfare. This was known as appeasement. Soviet poster of the 1930's by Kukryniksy on the Munich agreement.

World war II 1939 –Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact Hitler and Stalin agreed not to attack one another. Agreed to divide Poland and Eastern Europe amongst themselves. September 1, 1939 – Germany invaded Poland without fear of a Soviet attack. Britain and France declared war on Germany.

The Rise of Japanese Militarism The Japanese began a program of militarism in the 1930’s Japan wanted to restore its greatness Get rid of western influence Gain foreign lands

The Rise of Japanese Militarism In 1931 Japan attacks Manchuria. Japan withdraws from the League of Nations. An increase in loyalty to the emperor. Japan attempts to imperialize China.

Japan’s Drive For An Empire Japan felt that they had the right to start an overseas empire, like Britain and France. In 1931, Japan seized Manchuria, China, for its valuable coal and iron.

Japan The League of Nations failed to help China. 1937, Japan began an all out attack on China, Eventually conquered Korea and French Indo-China.

Invasion of Manchuria Military leaders win control of Japan during the depression – think war/expansion will fix economy 1931: Japan invades Manchuria, a Chinese Province which was rich in coal & iron When China complains to the League of Nations, Japan claims they are trying to help Manchuria Japan creates a puppet government & Manchurians declare the independent country of Manchukuo 1937: Japan claims one of its soldiers is missing, wants to enter China to search

Nanking Massacre aka The Rape of Nanking China refuses, Japan opens fire on China (Marco Polo Bridge Incident), Japan invades China  After conquering Shanghai, Japan ready to invade the capital, Nanking Nanking Massacre aka The Rape of Nanking As the Japanese Army drew closer to Nanking, civilians try to flee city Japanese say they will only target Chinese soldiers but start killing civilians when they enter the city