1. The road to war – Causes and beginnings
World War II
The road to war – Causes and beginnings

2. Causes of World War II
Sorry…I don’t have a cool way to remember it   
Treaty of Versailles
Caused problems for German economy
Nationalism
Germany and Japan wanted to unite their peoples
Need for resources
Empire building
Appeasement: Germany kept wanting more…
Great Depression – led to rise of dictators (Fascism + Totalitarianism)

3. Italians Invade Ethiopia (Again)
Angry from all their troubles after WWI
Earlier invasion failed in 1896
Italy returns in October 1935
Conquers Ethiopia in 1936
Deaths: 2000 Italians vs. 275,000 Ethiopians
Ethiopian technology overmatched
Also they took over Albania and then Libya

4. Spanish Civil War (1936 – 1939) Nationalist rebels vs. Republican Army
Nationalists backed by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy
Led by Francisco Franco
WWII Rehearsal
Seen as a way for Germany to try out its war tactics

5. “Guernica” by Pablo Picasso

6. Japan started it all… Japan conquers Manchuria (1931-1932)
Need for resources
Invades China (1937)
The Rape of Nanjing
Use Chinese for bayonet practice
Rape/murder woman
Burn of homes
Chinese risk of civil war
Nationalist vs. Communist

7. What are the teams this time around?
Allies:
Great Britain
France
USA
Soviet Union
Axis:
Germany
Italy
Japan

8. Overview “Official” start date: Sept. 1, 1939 Germany invades Poland
Germany and Soviet Union sign a “Non-Aggression” pact
Germany later violates this by invading USSR
Soviet Union moves to the Allies
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor
USA enters WWII against the Axis