1. What has changed?
1914 (before WW1)
1937 (before WW2)

2. Introducing……. THE DICTATORS
What is a dictator?
a ruler with unrestricted power
What is a totalitarian state?
A dictatorship in which the governement uses indimadation, violence and propoganda to rule ALL aspects of the social and political lives of its citizens.
What is fascism?
political idealogy where givernments oppose democracy, rely on military, are very nationalistic, control all media, use propaganda

3. On the far right we have The farther of Fascism… El Duce himself… BENITO MUSSOLINI
Father of Fascism
Ruler of Italy from
Gained power in Italy by:
being extremely anti-communist. Appealed to peoples fear of commie uprising
appealing to the many unemployed – ex. gave unemployed war veterans a sense of purpose
appealing to nationalistic feelings (ex: retain the glory of the Great Roman Empire)
Fear and intimidation – brown shirts would beat ppl up.

4. Swing WAY over to the far left and find… The Man of Steel…
Swing WAY over to the far left and find… The Man of Steel…. He may be Rush’in but he always starts…. STALIN
communist dictator in Russia from
ruthlessly industrialized Russia with his brutal 5 year plans.
caused MILLIONS of deaths (estimates mil) - more deaths than any other dictator
Came to power by:
1917 – Russia communist revolution
before Lenin died he made Stalin General secretary of the Communist party, so he had appointed many of his political supporters
Had support of the army

5. Back over to the far right…
Back over to the far right…. The man compared to Satan himself… ADOLF HITLER
Brought Fascism to Germany
German dictator from
Aggressively anti-Semitic
was actually DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED into power by German people.
WHY do you think they would vote for him?
Came to power by:
exploiting the terrible conditions brought about by the TOV
Promising to raise Germany out of extreme finical depression
promising to protect Germany from Communist uprising.

6. Fundamental Causes of WW2

7. The Treaty of Versailles
remember at the end of WW1 when I said SPOILER ALERT? The TOV caused some problems…..
Year: created in 1919
article 231 – War Guilt Clause – blamed Germany for the war and forced them to pay reparations – this BANKRUPTED Germany
economy was RUINED and Germans hated the democratic Weimar Republic for signing the document

8. TOV

9. Why would this contribute to the start of the war?
Germans were unhappy with democratic gov.
Many Germans unemployed and desperate, left looking for solutions – Extreme Nazi party offered and promised answers.
Germans felt they were treated unfairly. Strong leader promised to right the wrongs.

10. The Great Depression
year: started 1929, lasted dif. amounts of time in dif. countries.
Many people were unemployed, hungry, desperate and felt like their gov. was failing them.

11. Why would this contribute to the start of the war?
desperate times call for desperate measures.
ex: extremist political parties emerged – some see war as a solution to problems (fascists = aggressively nationalistic)

12. The Rise of the Nazis in Germany
Year – 1933
Entered politics legally: Nazi Party Leader
(National Socialist German Workers Party)
Elected in 1933 on Platform of Nationalism
Rule with Fear: night of the long knives, Gestapo
Defied Versailles (payments, military)
Money / jobs: subsidize farms, public works projects
6. Scapegoat: Master Race vs. the inferior (Jews, disabled, gypsies, communists, homosexuals)

13. Remember… Hitler was democratically elected

14. Why did the Nazis contribute to the start of the war?
aggressively nationalistic
blatantly ignored the conditions set forth in the TOV – started to militarize Germany and take over parts of Europe.
Lebensraum – “living space” wanted more room for the “master race”

15. What about the League of Nations? Why didn’t they stop him???

16. League of Nations started in 1920
meant to keep peace amongst nations and prevent war
Main Problem:
did not have a military; therefore, only way to stop countries was to impose economic sanctions – ineffective.

17. League Failures: Manchuria
1931 nationalistic Japan invaded Chinese province of Manchuria
China appealed to league for help
Japan simply withdrew from League, would not negotiate and took over Manchuria.

18. League Failures: Italian Invasion of Abyssinia (Ethiopia)
Mussolini was unhappy that Italy was not given much land in the TOV
aggressively nationalistic, wanted to expand Italy’s territory and restore African colonies.
1935 – invaded Abyssinia
LON imposed sanctions on Italy, BUT oil a CRUCIAL IMPORT was not included in sanctions.
completely ineffective and Italy took over.

19. Why would the League Failing contribute to the start of war?
demonstrated no action would be taken against aggressive nations
Shows countries unprepared to stop aggressively nationalistic nations.

20. Appeasement Crisis
Appeasement: diplomatic policy of making political or material concessions to an enemy power in order to avoid conflict
Britain, France and LON did not act when Hitler blatantly ignored the TOV, with the hopes of avoiding military conflict

21. Appeasement Crisis Rhineland 1936
Hitler put German troops in Rhineland. (Area between G and Fr.) The TOV stated this area MUST not have a military
Br. and Fr. chose to do nothing

22. Appeasement Crisis Austria 1938 Germany annexed (took over) Austria.
This was also forbidden in TOV
again, to try and maintain peace, Br. and Fr. did nothing

23. Appeasement Crisis
Sudetenland – land given to Czechoslovakia during the TOV where there are many ethnic Germans
1938 – Hitler invades this area.
Chamberlain (Br.) and Fr. leader meet Hitler in Munich and say “okay, you can take Sudetenland, but then you MUST stop expanding.” Hitler agrees and Chamberlain says this would “secure peace for out time”
six months later – Hitler breaks promise and takes over Czechoslovakia

24. Why would Appeasement contribute to the start of war?
some say Hitler was emboldened, every time he was appeased he realized he could go further, made him more inclined to keep pushing.
back in 1936 when G. first occupied Rhineland they were still very weak. Some historians say appeasement could have given him the time he needed to build up strong enough army for WW2.
What would you have done?

25. Nazi – Soviet Non aggression Pact
Hitler’s next plan was to invade Poland and take land they lost during TOV
Hitler worried if he invaded Poland, Stalin would attack.
Stalin and Hitler shocked world by signing Nazi- Soviet Non aggression pact (NAZIS HATE COMMIES!)
promised not to fight each other if one of them went to war
divided up Poland between the 2 of them
Hitler was now free to make his move!

27. Immediate Cause Invasion of Poland
Sept 1, 1939 – Hitler invaded Poland
It was clear Policy of Appeasement had failed and Sept. 3, 1939 Fr. Br. and Br. dominions declared war.
WW2 Began.

28. Britain Declares War

29. Could WW2 Have been Prevented?
Your Opinion:
Could WW2 Have been Prevented?