1. Background Causes of WW2 1930’s Instability

2. World Politics in the 1930s  1933: 30% of global workforce was unemployed  The chaos of the Great Depression provided fuel for fascist movements in Europe  Benito Mussolini – fascist dictator in Italy since 1922  Francisco Franco – Spanish Civil War - overthrew the elected government (1936)  Franco had support of fascist leaders Mussolini and Hitler  Former government was supported by communists

3. Where does Canada stand?  King used his new control of Canada’s foreign policy to remain neutral in these foreign conflicts  King believed taking sides threatened national unity  French Catholics – sided with Spain as Franco supported Catholic values and tradition  Communist Party of Canada – supported the overthrown left-wing government  English Canadians – feared communist ideas would appeal to frustrated, unemployed workers

4. Canada’s Involvement  King banned Canadians from fighting in Spanish Civil War  1500 Canadians defied the law and went to fight in Spain  Called “Mac-Paps” (Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion)  400 died  Franco’s army won the war and returning Canadians were ignored and not recognized as veterans until 2001

5. Mac-Paps “We went to Spain because we knew what the people of Spain had gone through, how they had suffered and starved, the same thing we were going through in Canada, and we decided that if at all possible we would get to Spain to help defend democracy and their elected government.” - Perry Hilton, volunteer soldier in the Spanish Civil War, 1936 Mackenzie-Papineau Monument in Ottawa

6. Background Causes of World War 2 1. The Treaty of Versailles 2. Economic Problems: Inflation 3. Depression and Unemployment 4. Political Instability

7. 1. The Treaty of Versailles  US President – leave Germany with honour and justice to avoid revenge  French & British leaders – Germany must pay for war, take blame, lose land, have a weak army  Germans were humiliated by the treaty; found it unjust and wanted revenge! “Today in Versailles the disgraceful Treaty is being signed. Do not forget it! The German people will, with unceasing labour, press forward to reconquer the place among the nations to which we are entitled! Then will come vengeance for the shame of 1919!” (German newspaper)

8. Treaty of Versailles Matching Game! Decide which groups of German people would be opposed to each of the conditions of the Treaty of Versailles Conditions of the TreatyGerman groups French had access to the Saar Valley Coal Fields and provinces of Alsace & Lorraine The Military German army limited to 100 000 people. No submarines, aircraft, etc. Big Business Owners Germany to pay $5 billion in reparations The Middle Class / Working People Germany’s colonies go to France, Britain, and Japan All German People Germany to take blame for all losses and damages (War Guilt Clause) Nationalists

9. 2. Economic Problems: Inflation  To finance WWI, Germany borrowed a lot of money  As a result, Germany faced a huge debt  To pay off debt, the government began printing off more money  But instead of boosting the economy, the money was used to pay off debt and reparations  The printing of money was not supported by economic value, which caused severe inflation  Prices for goods and services rose astronomically

10. Economic Problems: Inflation  German currency are called “marks”  Example of inflation:  1922: 300 marks = 1 American dollar  1923: 50 000 marks = 1 American dollar  It took a shopping bag full of marks to pay for fare on a streetcar!  Wages were carried home in wheelbarrows  A lifetime’s savings could become valueless in a matter of weeks  Essentially, individual marks became a worthless piece of paper

11. 3. Depression & Unemployment  As the German market was beginning to recover, they were hit with the American Stock Market Crash of 1929!  No more American trade or loans from banks  German businesses went bankrupt and people lost their jobs or had wages cut  Germans felt the full force of the depression  Could not afford to feed families, pay rent, afford heating, etc.

12. Depression & Unemployment  Hitler saw his chance  To the Germans who were bitter about inflation and economic trouble, Hitler and the Nazi party said this: “Believe me, our misery will increase! The government itself is the biggest swindler and crook. People are starving on millions of marks! We will no longer submit! We want a dictatorship.” (Hitler)

13. 4. Political Instability  After WW1, Germany had a weak political system with over 12 political parties  They could be categorized in 3 groups  Communists  Social Democrats  National Socialists (Nazis)  They shared little in common and bitterly opposed each other  Election campaigns used intimidation and violence  No one could win a majority government

14. Nazi Beliefs  As conditions worsened, people were willing to listen to the extremist voices of the Nazi party:  Government should be run by the army and the wealthy  Industry should be privately owned  The power of the military should be increased  Democratic government should be outlawed  Activities of Jews and foreigners should be severely restricted (because they were believed to be responsible for Germany’s economic problems)