Lesson One The Origins of World War II The Treaty of Versailles and the economic depression that followed contributed to the rise of antidemocratic governments

Lesson One The Origins of World War II Benito Mussolini founded the fascist movement in Italy, an aggressive nationalistic movement that considered the nation more important than the individual Fascism was anticommunist After the Russian Revolution many Europeans feared communism

Lesson One The Origins of World War II Mussolini exploited communist fears by portraying fascism as a way to protect private property and the middle class The King of Italy appointed Mussolini as the premier after he threatened to march on Rome

Lesson One The Origins of World War II After the Russian Revolution the Communist Party led by Vladimir Lenin took created the United Soviet States Republic (USSR) There was only one party, opposition was punished, and individual liberties were suppressed

Lesson One The Origins of World War II When Lenin died in 1924 Joseph Stalin became the dictator of the USSR Stalin began a massive effort to industrialize the nation under his Five- Year Plan Family farms were combined and turned into collectives, or government-owned farms

Lesson One The Origins of World War II 10 million peasants died from famine during 1932 and 1933 Stalin used concentration camps to isolate opponents

Lesson One The Origins of World War II 1935 2 million people were held in concentration camps in the USSR Prisoners were used as slave labor 15-20 million people died under Stalin’s rule Stalin died in 1953

Lesson One The Origins of World War II Hitler was a nationalist who hated the Allies and the German government that had accepted their peace terms ending WWI He became the leader of the Nationalist Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi Party) The Nazis wanted Germany to expand its territory and to reject the terms of the Treaty of Versailles

Lesson One The Origins of World War II The Nazis were also anti-Semitic They Nazi Party was banned for awhile and Hitler was arrested

Lesson One The Origins of World War II While in prison Hitler wrote Mein Kempf (My Struggle), in which he claimed that Germans belonged to the master Aryan race Hitler also blamed the Jews for Germany’s loss in WWI

Lesson One The Origins of World War II After Hitler was released he focused on getting Nazi party members elected As Germany sunk deeper into an economic depression more people began to vote for radicals and communists

Lesson One The Origins of World War II 1932 the Nazis were the largest party in Germany’s lower parliament 1933 Hitler became chancellor Storm troopers, the Nazi paramilitary, began intimidating voters

Lesson One The Origins of World War II The Nazi party took control of parliament 1934 Hitler became president he called himself De Fuhrer (the leader)

Lesson One The Origins of World War II Japanese industries had to import nearly all resources they needed to produce goods, especially iron and oil Military leaders argued to taking over territory was the only way to get much needed resources

Lesson One The Origins of World War II 1931 Japan invaded Manchuria, a resource-rich region in China The Japanese Emperor wanted to bring troops home to avoid conflict with the US, but the military refused to retreat The Japanese military was in control of the country not the emperor

Lesson One The Origins of World War II 1935 Hitler began to defy the Treaty of Versailles He announced that Germany would build a new air force and begin a military draft European leaders tried to negotiate instead of going to war for violating the treaty

Lesson One The Origins of World War II Hitler believed that German-speaking nations should be unified 1938 Hitler sent troops into Austria and took it over

Lesson One The Origins of World War II Hitler announced his intent to take over the Sudetenland, part of Czechoslovakia The Czech resisted Hitler’s demands

Lesson One The Origins of World War II The Munich Conference Britain, France, Italy, and Germany met in Munich in 1938 to decide Czechoslovakia's fate They agreed to Germany’s terms in what is known as an appeasement

Lesson One The Origins of World War II Hitler had intentions to take over part of Poland that had once belonged to Germany Britain announced that if Hitler invaded Poland, Britain and France would defend it

Lesson One The Origins of World War II Hitler and Stalin signed a Non-Aggression Pact in 1939 The treaty secretly promised to divide Poland

Lesson One The Origins of World War II 1939 Germany invaded Poland Britain and France declared war, WWII had begun

Lesson One The Origins of World War II Germany used a new type of warfare called Blitzkrieg They overwhelmed and destroyed infrastructure by sending in massive amounts of tanks, aircraft, and paratroopers at lighting speed

Lesson One The Origins of World War II It took one month to defeat Poland Hitler than took over the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium

Lesson One The Origins of World War II German troops overwhelmed France They surrendered June 1940 General Charles de Gaulle ran a resistance government in exile

Lesson One The Origins of World War II Hitler than turned his sights on Britain The German Luftwaffe (air force) began raids over the English Channel and bombed Britain

Lesson One The Origins of World War II The British Royal Air Force fought the Luftwaffe it what was known as the Battle of Britain Hitler eventually gave up the fight to invade Britain, this proved that Germany could be stopped