1. Immediate Causes of WWII
The Failure of the League of Nations
&
The Policy of Appeasement

2. The League of Nations
The League of Nations was created after WWI to stop aggressor countries from attacking other countries
Trade boycott (refusing to trade with aggressor country)
Combined force of member countries
Most powerful members were Great Britain and France
The USA never joined
As Prime Minister of Great Britain (the Leagues most powerful member) Neville Chamberlain was regarded as an important leader
Although it had some early success, it ultimately failed to prevent WWII

3. The Failure of the League of Nations
Example of Failure
Action of League of Nations
Invasion of Manchuria 1931
Japan (Triple Entente ally in WWI) was a rapidly developing nation in the 1920s
Needed resources to supply industrial growth
1931- Japan invades Chinese province of Manchuria – brutally oppresses the local Chinese population
Nothing
Members are mired in deep recession and fear a costly war
China too far away – League members do not care about the Chinese

4. Map showing the extent of Japanese control in 1940.

5. Failure of League Action of League of Nations
1935 – Italy invades Ethiopia (Abyssinia)
Action of League of Nations
Italy was an ally of Triple Entente in WWI
Promised territory – expected more from Treaty of Versailles
Benito Mussolini – fascists dictator – comes to power in 1922
1935 Italy invades Ethiopia
League does nothing – fear sparking another war
P.M. King – refused trade sanctions against Italy

6. Policy of Appeasement
To appease – to yield or concede to the belligerent demands of (a nation, group, person, etc.) in a conciliatory effort
During the 1930s Adolf Hitler watched as the League of Nations failed to oppose aggressor countries
Emboldened, he too tested the Leagues will – the result: World War II

7. The Policy of Appeasement: The Road to War
Hitler’s Action
Reaction of Chamberlain and League of Nations
1936 Remilitarization of the Rhineland
Hitler orders German troops to enter the Rhineland
Orders them to withdraw if they meet any resistance (no ammunition in weapons!)
Hitler gambles that League of Nations will not resist
Nothing!
British reason that Hitler is merely “walking into his own backyard”

8. These troops did not have ammunition in their weapons
These troops did not have ammunition in their weapons. Hitler did not want to risk a military confrontation that he could not yet win.

9. Action: Label and shade Germany,
Label and shade Rhineland and the Saar region
Label Hungary, France, Belgium ,Netherlands, Switzerland (CH)

10. The Policy of Appeasement: The Road to War
Hitler’s Action
Reaction of Chamberlain and League of Nations
1938 Hitler takes over Austria – unite all German speaking people (Anschluss)
1938 – Hitler takes over the Sudetenland – German region of Czechoslovakia
1938 – Hitler takes over all of Czechoslovakia
Nothing
Fooled by Hitler’s assurance he would want no more territory
Agreed to turn over German part of Sudetenland
Hitler wants all or else war – Chamberlain gives in
League does nothing – Hitler promises no further aggression
Chamberlain negotiates peace treaty with Hitler – claims he has achieved “peace for our time”

11. Hitler’s annexation of Austria

12. Hitler’s Annexation of Austria

13. Action:
Label and shade Austria, Sudetenland & Czechoslovakia

14. These are not tears of joy!
Chamberlain shaking Hitler’s hand

17. “Peace in our time…Peace with Honour”

18. The Policy of Appeasement: The Road to War
Hitler’s Action
Reaction of Chamberlain and League of Nations
September 1, 1939 – Hitler invades Poland – World War II has begun
Finally Britain and France declare war on Germany – but now it is too late – Germany has a large fully equipped army
Unfortunately for Poland this results in virtually no help

19. Action
Label and shade Poland