Europe 1914 Europe 1919

Instability Between Wars

Instability Between Wars 1919 - 1939 Only twenty years after World War I and the Treaty of Versailles, the world was at war again… The peace was not a lasting one Social, political and economic instability Rise of Totalitarian leaders

SOCIAL Search for peace Disillusionment – loss of life, “war to end all wars” US – isolationism Hope for reforms – because of Industrial Revolution Optimistic about new era of peace League of Nations – ineffective Germany – blamed, guilt of war damaged the sentiment/morale of the people

ECONOMIC Destruction of the European continent Rebuild, repair – expensive projects National war debts Germany suffering – reparations Inflation – value of the mark fell Severe depression – starvation Great Depression 1929 Collapse of US stock market International financial crisis American loans ended

POLITICAL Nationalism high No self-determination – ethnic minorities still ruled by others Political democracies formed in Great Britain, France, Scandinavia Russian Revolution 1917 – established communist rule – Soviet Union Fear of communism spread around the western world First “Red Scare” Rise of Authoritarian/Totalitarian Regimes in Italy, Germany and Soviet Union

TOTALITARIANISM Situation was perfect for the rise of leaders who could “solve all the problems” of the country Leaders with total control of the people Soviet Union (Lenin – Stalin) Italy (Mussolini) Germany (Hitler) Spain (Franco) Leaders were welcomed and given total control…