 Massive Reparations The Allies blamed Germany for World War I and wanted to punish the country. They demanded that Germany pay $33 billion in reparations to the Allies.  Military Limitations The treaty reduced the size of Germany’s armed forces and prohibited them from crossing west of the Rhine River.  Territory Reductions German territory was divided to reestablish Poland, giving it access to the Baltic Sea. In addition, territories were seized in the west by France and in the south to help create Czechoslovakia.

 How did the terms of the Treaty of Versailles lead to hardship and discontent in Germany?

 Italy  1919: Benito Mussolini started the Fascist movement in Italy.  Mussolini promised to protect Italy from communism and restore prosperity.  1922: Mussolini threatened to march on Rome with the Fascist militia known as the Blackshirts.  The king appointed Mussolini premier. Mussolini assumed the title of Il Duce, meaning “The Leader” and set about pressing a Fascist agenda.

 USSR  1922: The Communist Party declared the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics following the Russian Revolution.  1924: Joseph Stalin took power following the death of Communist leader Vladimir Lenin.  Stalin imposed a series of Five-Year Plans designed to industrialize the country and encourage economic growth.  Stalin held absolute power and sought to eliminate all political and social opposition.  Nearly 2 million people were imprisoned in concentration camps by 1935.

 Germany  The Nazi Party, led by Adolf Hitler, demanded an end to conditions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles and sought to expand German territory.  1923: Nazis marched on city hall in Munich in an attempt to seize power. Hitler was arrested, and the party was banned.  In prison, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf (“My Struggle”), in which he claimed that Germans belonged to a master race called Aryans and that Slavic and Jewish peoples were inferior.  Once out of prison, Hitler pursued political power. Economic depression often results in support for more radical parties.  1932: The Nazi Party held the most seats in the Reichstag, or German Parliament.  1933: Hitler was appointed chancellor and called for new elections.  1934: Hitler gave himself the title of Der Führer, or “The Leader.”.

 Japan  The Japanese military blamed the country’s economic woes on government corruption.  Japan imported most of its resources and faced high tariffs as a result of global depression.  The military pushed for territorial expansion to acquire more resources.  1931: Japan invaded Manchuria in northern China. In response to U.S. pressure, Emperor Hirohito ordered troop withdrawals, but Minister of War Hideki Tōjō refused.  1937: Japan invaded Nanjing, killing as many as 300,000.  1941: Tōjō became prime minister.

 German Violations of the Treaty and Expansion  1935: Hitler initiated draft to expand Germany's army and build a new air force.  1936: Hitler ordered the German military to occupy the Rhineland, a stretch of German territory that had been demilitarized under the treaty.  1937: Hitler called for the reunification of German-speaking peoples.  March 1938: Hitler invaded Austria and announced Anschluss, or unification, of Austria and Germany.  September 1938: Representatives of Britain, France, Italy, and Germany met at the Munich Conference to resolve German claims to the Sudetenland, a region in Czechoslovakia. In exchange for peace, the Sudetenland was ceded to Germany. This policy became known as appeasement.  March 1939: Despite promises, Hitler invaded and divided Czechoslovakia.

 Movement Toward War  March 1939: Hitler demanded the return of Danzig, Poland, to German control. With British and French support, Poland refused.  Summer 1939: Hitler prepared to invade Poland and entered negotiations with the USSR to prevent doing battle on two fronts.  August 23, 1939: Stalin agreed to a nonaggression treaty with Hitler. Germany and the USSR signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact. Stalin believed conflict among Europe’s capitalist nations would benefit the USSR. Hitler also promised to divide Poland between Germany and the USSR.

 Blitzkrieg  September 1939: Germany invaded Poland in a powerful, swift attack known as blitzkrieg, meaning “lightning war.” While the army attacked across land, the Luftwaffe, or German air force, bombed cities, railroads, bridges, and other key targets from above. Meanwhile, the USSR invaded from the east. Within weeks, the country was divided between Germany and the USSR.  May 1940: Hitler began a new blitzkrieg, invading the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium. British and French troops rallied to defend Belgium, but German forces swept through French lines into northern France.  June 1940: The Allied forces of Britain and France became trapped in Belgium. The Nazis pressed the Allies toward the English Channel but stopped before they reached Dunkirk. Allied forces successfully evacuated from Dunkirk. Meanwhile, German forces overwhelmed France.  June 22, 1940: France surrendered. Hitler installed Marshal Philippe Pétain as leader of the new Vichy government.

 French and British Defiance  Charles de Gaulle refused to acknowledge French surrender. He led the French resistance forces to Algiers, where they continued to fight.  Winston Churchill declared that Britain would not surrender to German aggression.  The Luftwaffe began a bombing campaign against Britain and fought the British Royal Air Force. Following the Battle of Britain, Hitler abandoned the planned i