DICTATORS DESTROY PEACE The Coming of WWII “How many people look up to him with a touching faith! As their helper, their savior, their deliverer from unbearable distress-to him who rescues…the scholar, the clergyman, the farmer, the worker, the unemployed, who leads them…” Who is this about?

How did dictators rise to power? Hard feelings left from WWI Germans hated the Treaty of Versailles  Blamed for war, had to pay for it and had to demilitarize Other countries felt bitter as well  Italy, Russia, Japan All these bitter feelings about the Treaty of Versailles led to the creation of totalitarian governments in which a single party or leader (dictator) controls government, economy and social aspects Bitter nations started to realize that the League of Nations was long on words but short on action  Couldn’t back up its policies  Big Weakness: US is not a member

Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union (Russia) Stalin took Lenin’s place as the communists dictator in Russia Stalin was ruthless Started the Great Terror in which he purged the Communist Party of traitors…millions killed Fear kept Stalin in power Death solves all problems - no man, no problem.

Benito Mussolini in Italy Started the Fascist Party that promoted extreme Italian nationalism and promised to make Italy great again Highly militaristic Anti-Communists All within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state.

Adolf Hitler in Germany Set up the Third Reich (3 rd Empire) in Germany characterized by Nazi rule under Hitler Controlled the Nazi Party that promoted German ethnic unity  Hated communists and Jews (Anti-Semitic)  Spread hatred toward Jews “What luck for rulers, that men do not think.”

Emperor Hirohito of Japan Did not set up a totalitarian government in Japan, kept their monarchy Set up a militaristic type government instead Highly nationalistic Attacked Manchuria even though Japan had agreed to disarm at the Washington Naval Conference Left the League of Nations

Hitler Causes Problems Violated Treaty of Versailles by…  Building up Germany’s army and navy (militarism)  Moving troops into the Rhineland (militarism)  Tested some of his new military technologies during the Spanish Civil War (militarism) In response, US, France and Britain used appeasement ( Granting concessions to a potential enemy in the hope they will maintain peace) Why give into Hitler?  Memories of WWI  Too worried about economic troubles (Great Depression is still going strong)

The Munich Pact Britain and France appeased Hitler by giving him the Sudetenland to preserve peace and he promised he would not conquer any other European territories  Hitler will violate this later  Lesson learned: cannot trust Hitler

Appeasement Fails…War Hitler violated the Munich Pact by taking all of Czechoslovakia…appeasement is not working Britain and France will take action and agree to protect Poland which is Hitler’s next move Non-Aggression Pact was signed between Russia and Germany in which both agreed not to attack one another and agree to attack Poland from two directions September 1, 1939: Germany attacks Poland  War declarations start

Axis Powers vs. Allies Axis Powers: Germany, Italy and Japan Allies:  Originally France and Britain  Later Russia, US and China “Phony War”: for 8 months nothing happens

Hitler’s Success Easily took Poland, then Denmark and Norway Then turned to Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg Took France in just 35 days  These successes scared US and led to US helping Allies by sending supplies Germany used a mixture of total war (attacking civilians and economic resources) and blitzkrieg  Means “lightning warfare”  Emphasized speed and power to penetrate deep into an enemies territory  Tanks and planes come in first, then motorized vehicles and infantry  Highly effective German technique