1. MAY 16, 2017 Review – Rise of Totalitarianism
Notes – Causes of World War II
Lesson - Analysing Political Cartoons
Group Activity- Causes of WWII, Political Cartoons

2. M A N I
Which of these conditions were occurring in Europe during this time?

4. Causes of World War II

5. Causes of World War II Treaty of Versailles Fascism
Economic Depression
Failure of the League of Nations
Policy of Appeasement

6. 1. Treaty of Versaille Germans forced to agree to War Guilt Clause.
Had to accept sole responsibility for starting the war.
Germany loses land to France and Poland, among others (split in two).
Reparations – had to pay $30 billion.
Economy in ruins - unable to meet payments
German army limited to 100,000 soldiers
Not allowed U-boats or an air force
Austria and Germany forbidden to unite.

7. 1. Treaty of Versailles Antagonized German population
Caused lasting resentment
Caused economic hardship
Gave Hitler political ammunition in gaining support.

8. 2. Fascism (Nazism) Originated in Italy (Mussolini)
Typified by the actions of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party of Germany
Dependent on militarism
Unquestioning acceptance of a dictator
The use of aggression as foreign policy
Ultra Nationalism
Notion of Master Race
Appeals to ideas of glory, world domination

9. Adolf Hitler Con’t
After winning a democratic election Hitler established a dictatorship in 1933.
Very popular to most in Germany
Worked to end Humiliation of the Versailles Treaty
Stopped paying reparations (1933)
Rearmament – Rebuilds Germany’s Army/Navy/Airforce
Direct violation of the ToV
Reduced unemployment
Rearmament helped with this
Public works: Autobahn

10. Adolf Hitler Cont’d Worked to Restore German Pride Military parades
Blamed WWI failures on Jews (racist scapegoating)
Called Germans “Aryan Master Race”
Focused on territorial expansionism with the goal of obtaining more Lebensraum ("living space") for the Germanic people.
“Anschluss” (Re-patriating Germans through unification with Austria) paved the way for this expansionism
Finish Documentary?

12. 3. World Wide Depression
Allies were busy trying to solve problems within their own borders
isolationist economic and foreign policies
inability to properly re-arm
Economic stress leads people to drastic or extreme solutions

13. 4. Failure of the League of Nations
Totalitarian leaders had imperialistic ambitions to expand their territory and resources
League of Nations was ineffective in prevention of nationalistic aggression in other parts of the world.
No military to enforce its decisions.
Economic Sanctions ineffective.

14. Invasion of Manchuria

15. Invasion of Manchuria Japan invades Manchuria in 1931
Chinese appeal to League of Nations to take action against Japan
Japan just withdraws from League and continues policy of aggression.
In 1937, expands invasion of China and two countries at war.

16. Rape of Nanking

17. Italy’s Imperialistic Ambitions
Mussolini eager to expand Italy’s territory
Wanted to expand Italy’s resources by adding African colonies
Spring 1935 – Italy attacks Abyssinia (Ethiopia)
League of Nations tries to impose trade sanctions against Italy but not effective.

18. Collective Security
League’s ineffectiveness encouraged Hitler and paved the road to war.
Collective Security
Nations within the League of Nations tried to ensure each other’s security by promising to defend each other.
In response to this, Germany and other states sign their own pacts and treaties.

19. November 1937 – Anti- Comintern Pact
Germany, Italy and Japan
Each pledges to support the others in conflicts against Communism.

20. 5. Appeasement
Before WWII, appeasement was routinely used as a foreign policy in order to prevent war
involves giving in to the “reasonable demands” of a foreign power in order to prevent the outbreak of war.
Eg - Dog on the couch, or screaming child in supermarket

21. Territorial Disputes
Part of Hitler’s plan to create a master race of German people was to take back territory that he believed belonged to Germany.
Treaty of Versailles had divided German territories amongst European powers.
Rhineland
Demilitarized and put under French protection.
Sudetenland
Area populated by ethnic Germans, given to Czechslovakia at Paris Peace Conference.
East Prussia
Given to Poland
Danzig – Independent status under protection of the League of Nations

23. Hitler’s Aggression 1936 – Hitler orders his troops into the Rhineland
Violation of Treaty of Versailles but Britain and France do nothing.
1938 – Hitler annexes Austria
“Anschluss”
Another violation, still Britain and France do nothing.

24. Munich Conference Hitler threatens to invade Sudentenland
French and British Leaders meet with Hitler at Munich Conference to negotiate.
Result: Munich Agreement
In exchange for Sudetenland, Hitler promises not to invade Czechoslovakia.

25. Hitler’s Aggression

26. Peace in Our Time
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announces that the Munich Agreement and appeasement would secure “peace in our time”

27. Why Appeasement?
Memories of WWI were still fresh in the minds of many Europeans.
Wanted to avoid another war at all costs.
Some guilty over treatment of Germany after war.
League of Nations had proven ineffective.
The Western World was still caught in the Great Depression.
Simply lacked the money needed to fight another war.
People divided on whether Fascism was a bad thing.
Some saw it as a tool to fight Communism

28. Failure of Appeasement
Huge Backfire.
No penalties for breaking terms of ToV
Appeasement allows for reasonable demands.
Problem? Hitler was not reasonable – saw policy as a weakness and exploited it.
“Give him an inch, he’ll take a mile”

29. Appeasement

30. Hitler’s Aggression: Broken Promise
March 1939: Hitler breaks his promise and invades Czechoslovakia
Appeasement has failed and still allies do nothing.
Czechoslovakia felt betrayed by Britain and France

31. Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
Hitler wanted to unite East Prussia with Germany
Fear that if Germany invaded Poland, Soviets would see it as a threat.
August 1939: Hitler signs non-aggression pact with enemy, Joseph Stalin
Countries pledge not to fight each other if one goes to war.
Also agree to divide Poland between them.

32. Invasion of Poland
September 1, 1939 – German and Soviet troops invade Poland.
British and French order Germany to leave by September 3rd.
Germany ignores deadline – Britain and France declare war.