1. STEPS TO WORLD WAR II

2. Rise of Fascism in Italy Japanese expansionism
Treaty of Versailles
Rise of Fascism in Italy
Rise of Hitler
Japanese expansionism
Nationalism
MAJOR CAUSES OF
WORLD WAR II
Economic Depression
Militarism
Appeasement
Anti-Communism

3. TREATY OF VERSAILLES
Germany lost WWI, was punished deeply in Treaty of Versailles
Winning nations addressed territorial adjustments, reparations, armament restrictions, war guilt and the League of Nations
Treaty punished Germany left bitter feelings
Germany forced to accept blame and pay millions in reparations to Britain and France
Italy disappointed – denied territory promised by Britain and France

4. RISE OF FASCISM IN ITALY
Fascism – totalitarian form of government:
Glorifies the state
Has one leader/one party
All aspects of society controlled by government
No opposition or protests are tolerated
Propaganda and censorship are widely practiced
Mussolini came to power and helped found political ideology of Fascism. He sided with Axis powers in 1940

5. WORLDWIDE ECONOMIC DEPRESSION
After WWI many European economies were unstable
The boom in the U.S. helped sustain worldwide trade
1929 – stock market crash in U.S. –Great Depression spreads throughout world
Falling economies & unemployment had people turning to powerful leaders & governments who promised success with military buildup & conquest of territory

6. JAPANESE EXPANSIONISM
Japan invades north China & Manchuria for raw materials
Invade Eastern China along coast
Sino-Japanese war 1937, Japan attacks China
Russo-Japanese War –Japan goes to war against Soviet Union for dominance in Korea and Manchuria
Japan first Asian nation to defeat European nation

7. ANTI-COMMUNISM
Communism-all means of production are controlled by the government
Property, media and all aspects of society are controlled by government
1930’s –rise of totalitarian regimes – most choose fascism over communism
Hitler exploits people’s fear of communist takeover of Germany – he rises to power in 1933

9. APPEASEMENT
Appeasement – act of giving into an enemy’s demands in hope of avoiding another war
Hitler violates Treaty or Versailles, builds an army, unites Germany and Austria, refuses to pay reparations
Hitler takes Rhineland in – Allies do nothing
Hitler takes over the Sudetenland
2. British & French agree to Hitler’s demands

10. MILITARISM
Militarism – Glorification of war, a nation strengthens its military and stockpiles weapons in preparation for war
Militarism is incorporated into all levels of society, including education of the youth
Germany, Italy bring on the build up of militaries

11. Nationalism – belief in superiority of one’s nation over all others
In extreme it leads to major conflicts between nations
Hitler, Mussolini, and Japan’s Tojo stressed their nations' ability to dominate all others in the years leading up to WWII
Nazi flag, Italian fascist logo, Japanese Imperial Army flag