1. Europe between the Wars

2. Recovery from World War I
Economic Problems
Europe near bankruptcy
Japan and US in good shape
US expected debt to be repaid
End of Absolutism
Austria-Hungary, Germany, Russia
New democracies unstable

3. Germany and the Weimar Republic
Weak government
Had to sign the Treaty of Versailles
Took responsibility for war, had to pay reparations, lost territory
Unpopular with people
Article 48 – allowed for a dictator in times of crisis

4. Economic crisis Did not raise taxes to pay for war
Printed more money to pay reparations
Caused massive inflation
1914 – 1 dollar = 4.2 marks
1921 – 1 dollar = 64 marks
1924 – 1 dollar = 800,000,000 marks
Dawes Plan – US plan to loan money to Germany

6. The Rest of Europe France – wanted reparations and to limit Germany
Great Britain – was dealing with colonial issues (Ireland, India, the Commonwealth)
United States
Wanted to be isolated

7. Post-War Treaties Locarno Pact (1924)
Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Great Britain
Promised that France and Germany would never fight another war
Germany promised to respect existing borders of Belgium and France
“Spirit of Locarno” - optimism

8. Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)
32 countries signed
Each country pledged to ‘denounce war as an instrument of national policy’
No enforcement possible

9. Italy under Mussolini

10. Post World War I
Italy joined to gain territory, but only gained a little
Peasants and workers upset because expected more
Created a strong Communist party

11. Fascism
Features
Anti-democratic, anti-Marxist / anti-Communist, anti-liberal
Supported by the ‘little guy’ - middle class, small businessmen, small farmers
Strongly nationalistic and militaristic

12. Benito Mussolini Early Life Socialist Fought and wounded in WWI
After war, organized Fascists (Italian for ‘Bands of Combat’)

13. Rise to Power
Created a group of men called the “Black Shirts” – anti-Socialist thugs – made him popular with people

14. Black Shirt March (1922) Led March on Rome Government resigned
King appointed Mussolini Prime Minister and given dictatorial power for one year

15. Mussolini in Power
1924 – abolished freedom of the press, arrested political opponents, fixed elections, created a Fascist youth group

16. Lateran Agreement (1929) – Vatican recognized as independent state
Made popular with church and Catholics
Women expected to be mothers – Bachelors taxed
No ill treatment of Jews until Hitler in power

17. Hitler and the Nazis

18. Hitler - Early Life Austrian
Dropped out of high school – moved to Vienna to pursue art school – rejected and moved to Munich
World War I
Joined war
Wounded
Said the war gave his life meaning

19. Hitler – Post-War
Stayed in Munich and joined German Workers Party (later National Socialist German Workers Party – Nazi)
Blamed Jews, Marxists, and democrats for losing war

20. Beer Hall Putsch (1923) Inspired by Mussolini’s March on Rome
Hitler and Nazis tried to take over the government of Bavaria
Put on trial where he denounced the Weimar Republic and gained a lot of sympathy from the judges and the press
Received a light sentence – 5 years – but only served nine months

21. Road to Power In prison 1924 – 1929
He decided to take power legitimately instead of through a coup
Wrote “Mein Kampf” (My Struggle)
Race
Lebensraum – Living Space
Fuhrer – leader/dictator with unlimited power
1924 – 1929
Built up party membership but never widely popular

22. The Nazis Mass political movement Flags, badges, uniforms Youth Group
SA – Stormtroopers (Brown Shirts)

23. Build Up to World War II

24. Timeline 1933 1935 1936 Hitler named Chancellor
Germany withdrew from League of Nations
1935
Hitler announced rearmament and creation of an air force (Luftwaffe)
Italy invaded Ethiopia and League of Nations did nothing
1936
Hitler remilitarized the Rhineland
Best chance to stop Hitler

25. 1936 Spanish Civil War Spain a republic since 1931
General Francisco Franco led Nationalists in revolt against government
Italy and Germany helped Nationalists
USSR supported Loyalists (left), but no help from Great Britain or France
Guernica
Nationalists won by 1939

26. 1936 1938 Rome-Berlin Axis Pact Anschluss (annexation) of Austria
Mussolini drew closer to Hitler because of Spanish Civil War
1938
Anschluss (annexation) of Austria
Austrians voted to join Germany
Violated Treaty of Versailles – nothing done

27. Czechoslovak Crisis (1938)
Many Germans live in Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia – Hitler wanted them to join Germany
Hitler threatened to annex Sudetenland and Czechololooslovakia

28. Munich Conference (Sept 1938)
Hitler, Mussolini, Neville Chamberlain (Great Britain), France – no Stalin
Choice – war or sacrifice Czechoslovakia
Hitler allowed to annex Sudetenland if promise not to take Czechoslovakia

29. 1939 Hitler took Czechoslovakia (March) Mussolini conquered Albania
Hitler demanded access to E. Prussia and Danzig, Poland returned to Germany
Nazi-Soviet Non-aggression Pact
August 1939
Promised not to fight each other
Germany invaded Poland (Sept 1, 1939)