Between the Wars 1918 to 1939 Dictatorships take Control

Germany in despair Treaty assigned total responsibility to Germany. Forced to make territorial concessions, limit the size of its military, and pay for reparations. Germany’s government, the Weimar Republic signed the treaty. Economic unrest throughout Europe lead to political instability.

Adolf Hitler Emerged from WWI as an extreme nationalist. Angered by the Weimar Republic, he becomes very popular among other nationalist. Leads a uprising for the NAZI party in 1923 and is put in jail for one year. After his release he works for rebuild the NAZI party. Due to the desperation in Germany people begin to find “hope” in his ideas.

Hitler assumes POWER NAZI party gains more and more power. Hitler becomes chancellor of Germany When the German President dies in 1934, Hitler combines the two positions and proclaims the birth of the “Third Reich”; successor to the Holy Roman Empire and the German Empire. He created the Gestapo, a secret police, to hunt down and murder anyone who oppose NAZI rule.

MUSSOLINI LEADS ITALY Italy was similar to Germany, it faced political and economic problems for years after WWI. With the Socialist party failing, Benito Mussolini organized war veterans into the Fascist Party. In 1922, Mussolini was named Prime Minister by King Emmanuel III

Support in Spain Both Hitler and Mussolini supported Spanish Nationalist Francisco Franco in his attempt to set up a Fascist state in Spain. This lead to a military alliance in October of 1936 known as the Rome-Berlin Axis. This alliance encouraged the two to interfere in other countries.

JAPAN IS NEXT Japan was another of the dictatorships that arose after WWI. Japan was dependent on world markets for their economy and they resented being seen as a third world country. This enabled a group of military leader to rise to power. They built up their military and looked to expand into Asia.

War in Manchuria In 1931 the army defied the civilian government and attacked Manchuria, a region in northeastern China. With the Military now in total control, they impose censorship, arrest any critics, and create a secret police. The press and schools taught total obedience to the emperor. Three problems for Japan: 1- lack raw materials, 2 – over populated, 3 – lack of respect! The answer to their problems --- Imperialism.

ROME-BERLIN-TOKYO AXIS In attempt to gain support, Japan joins with Hitler and Mussolini and they sign the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis in 1936.

AGGRESSIVE MOVES LEAD TO WORLD WAR II

Hitler makes his moves In 1936, Hitler violates the Treaty of Versailles and moves into the Rhineland with little resistance. In 1938, Hitler moves into Austria and declares it part of Germany. Britain and France both condemned his moves, but took no action.

APPEASEMENT British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain approach towards Hitler was one of appeasement. He felt that resistance might lead to another World War. An attitude of pacifism was widespread as many countries still felt the losses of the first world war.

Czechoslovakia Hitler then turned to Czechoslovakia. Three million German’s lived in the Sudetenland and Hitler encouraged self- government. Czechoslovakia rejected these demands. Chamberlain convinced the Czech’s to agree so war could be prevented. However, Hitler followed up by demanding that the Czech’s surrender the region.

MUNICH CONFERENCE 1938 Chamberlain, in attempt to resolve the crisis called for the Munich Conference. Hitler met with leaders from Britain, France, and Italy. Germany was given the Sudetenland and Hitler guaranteed the independence for the rest of Czechoslovakia. “Peace with Honor…Peace for our time” Goering, Mussolini, Hess, Hitler, Ciano, Himmler and Keitel (?) at the Munich conference, 1938

War Begins in 1939 Six months after the Munich Conference Hitler, convinced that Britain and France were too weak to stop him, ordered his troops to take over Czechoslovakia. Hitler then started making demands in Poland. Britain and France promise to aid Poland if Germany attacks. On September 1, 1939, Germany invades Poland and World War II begins.