1. 1939-1945 SOCIAL STUDIES 11 Ms. Underwood
WORLD WAR II
SOCIAL STUDIES 11
Ms. Underwood

2. WWII – What do you know?
At your table, take 5 minutes to discuss as much as you already know about World War II

3. Fundamental Causes of WWII
Treaty of Versailles
The Great Depression
The rise of Adolf Hitler and The Nazi Party
The failure of the League of Nations
Extreme Nationalism
The unwillingness of democratic governments to intervene in places like Germany.
Appeasement (Chamberlain – GBR)

4. The Treaty of Versailles
France wanted revenge against Germany
Germany was not present at the conference
Britain wanted to be able to trade with Germany
Self-determination and the creation of homelands for ethnic groups (some groups never got a homeland.
The War Guilt Cause (Germany is to blame)  upset the German people  had to pay penalties

5. The Great Depression Unemployment was high Food was scarce
Lawlessness became a major problem
People were divided over how the government should handle these issues
Two trains of thought :
1) Communism
2) Strong military to restore order
Opportunity for leaders to take control

6. The Rise of Dictators
Totalitarianism – A dictatorship of extreme control
Technology and weapons allow for greater control
One leader with absolute power
Only one ideology was allowed
Secret police were used to instill terror
Citizens are denied human rights

7. Totalitarianism Dictators - Mussolini
Mussolini- Italy
Overthrew the Italian government by gathering 26,000 men (Blackshirts, a quasi-military group) on the outskirts of Rome
King Emmanuel wanted to avoid a civil war and handed over control of government.
Lead the country into a war of imperial conquest
Joined forces with Hitler

8. Mussolini & Hitler

9. Failure of the League of Nations
Main Objective: Preserve World Peace
How?
International cooperation
Arbitration
Collective Security
Why?
Not all nations are members
No means to enforce it’s will
The League of Nations did have an impact on international relations. It led people to believe that all wars could be prevented.
The U.N. does not hold the same beliefs

10. Why Hitler? Why War?
Germany had become a democracy after WWI (Weimar Republic) but gave up after 14 years.
Germans hated every clause of the Treaty of Versailles, and because it was a democratic government that signed the treaty, Germans felt that democracy didn’t work.
Great Depression – democracy blamed.
Hitler was elected, he did not overthrow anyone.
Hitler was able to convince the German’s to serve their country with extreme nationalism.

11. Pre-World War Events Italian invasion of Ethiopia (1935)
Spanish Civil War ( )
Japanese invasion of China (1937)
Japanese invasion of the Soviet Union and Mongolia (1938)

12. The start of the war
The Rhineland (border btwn Germany and France) was re-militarized in 1936.
Germany annexed Austria and German troops occupied the country in 1938.
Appeasement in Czechoslovakia. Germany threatened to attack if it didn’t get Sudetenland (German part of CZE). Chamberlain (GBR) responsible for appeasement; GER granted the territory if they don’t attack CZE.
Germany attacked CZE in 1939.
Germany invaded Poland Sept 1, 1939
Until this point in time, democracies had taken no action.