1939-1945 SOCIAL STUDIES 11 Ms. Underwood WORLD WAR II 1939-1945 SOCIAL STUDIES 11 Ms. Underwood

WWII – What do you know? At your table, take 5 minutes to discuss as much as you already know about World War II

Fundamental Causes of WWII Treaty of Versailles The Great Depression The rise of Adolf Hitler and The Nazi Party The failure of the League of Nations Extreme Nationalism The unwillingness of democratic governments to intervene in places like Germany. Appeasement (Chamberlain – GBR)

The Treaty of Versailles France wanted revenge against Germany Germany was not present at the conference Britain wanted to be able to trade with Germany Self-determination and the creation of homelands for ethnic groups (some groups never got a homeland. The War Guilt Cause (Germany is to blame)  upset the German people  had to pay penalties

The Great Depression Unemployment was high Food was scarce Lawlessness became a major problem People were divided over how the government should handle these issues Two trains of thought : 1) Communism 2) Strong military to restore order Opportunity for leaders to take control

The Rise of Dictators Totalitarianism – A dictatorship of extreme control Technology and weapons allow for greater control One leader with absolute power Only one ideology was allowed Secret police were used to instill terror Citizens are denied human rights

Totalitarianism Dictators - Mussolini Mussolini- Italy Overthrew the Italian government by gathering 26,000 men (Blackshirts, a quasi-military group) on the outskirts of Rome King Emmanuel wanted to avoid a civil war and handed over control of government. Lead the country into a war of imperial conquest Joined forces with Hitler

Mussolini & Hitler

Failure of the League of Nations Main Objective: Preserve World Peace How? International cooperation Arbitration Collective Security Why? Not all nations are members No means to enforce it’s will The League of Nations did have an impact on international relations. It led people to believe that all wars could be prevented. The U.N. does not hold the same beliefs

Why Hitler? Why War? Germany had become a democracy after WWI (Weimar Republic) but gave up after 14 years. Germans hated every clause of the Treaty of Versailles, and because it was a democratic government that signed the treaty, Germans felt that democracy didn’t work. Great Depression – democracy blamed. Hitler was elected, he did not overthrow anyone. Hitler was able to convince the German’s to serve their country with extreme nationalism.

Pre-World War Events Italian invasion of Ethiopia (1935) Spanish Civil War (1936-39) Japanese invasion of China (1937) Japanese invasion of the Soviet Union and Mongolia (1938)

The start of the war The Rhineland (border btwn Germany and France) was re-militarized in 1936. Germany annexed Austria and German troops occupied the country in 1938. Appeasement in Czechoslovakia. Germany threatened to attack if it didn’t get Sudetenland (German part of CZE). Chamberlain (GBR) responsible for appeasement; GER granted the territory if they don’t attack CZE. Germany attacked CZE in 1939. Germany invaded Poland Sept 1, 1939 Until this point in time, democracies had taken no action.