1. Bridging the Gap Between WWI and WWII 8-4 Social Studies
Leading up to WW2:
Bridging the Gap Between WWI and WWII
8-4 Social Studies

2. WWI: “The War to End All Wars” 1914-1918
Much turmoil after WWI
Treaty of Versailles ended WWI
Germany vs. the Allied Powers (Britain, France, Russia, Italy, United States)
135 countries participated in this war
Death total: 15 million+

3. Several Major Causes of WW2…

4. 1. The Treaty of Versailles
Germany lost WW1, faced harsh treaty
Germany forced to “accept the responsibility” of the war damages suffered by the Allies
Germany required to pay hugely
Country left in economic ruins
Starvation
Government in chaos

5. 2. Japanese Expansion Before WWII: Japan growing rapidly
Didn’t have land or natural resources to sustain growth
Looking to expand their empire to gain new resources
Invaded Manchuria (Northeast Asia) in 1931 and China in 1937
Sparked upheaval

6. 3. Fascism Dictatorial form of government (opposite of democracy)
Ruling party & single person in power are superior to all other citizens.
Reject basic human rights…
Freedom of speech
Right to protest the government

7. Fascism, cont’d… Post WWI: countries taken over by powerful dictators
Mussolini=Italy
Looking for lands to conquer to expand their empires
Italy invades Ethiopia in 1935
Adolf Hitler emulates Mussolini as he takes over Germany

8. 4. Hitler and the Nazi Party
Hitler and the Nazi Party rise to power in Germany
Germans desperate to turn their country around after WWI destruction
Hitler offered hope
1934: Hitler proclaimed the “Fuhrer” (leader)
Becomes dictator of Germany

9. Hitler and the Nazis, cont’d…
Hitler furious about restrictions of Germans in Treaty of Versailles
Rearms Germany
Teams up with Mussolini and Italy
Takes over Austria in 1938
Grows bolder; takes over Czechoslovakia in 1939

10. 5. Appeasement European countries didn’t want another war
Britain and France tried to keep the peace through “appeasement”
Tried to make Germany and Hitler happy rather than trying to stop them
Backfires: Hitler grows bolder; gives him time to build up his army

11. 6. The Great Depression Pre WWII, during the 1930s
Great economic suffering throughout the world
Result: unstable governments (i.e., where Fascist leaders stepped in) and worldwide turmoil
Contributed to causes of WWII

12. The Beginning of the Second World War
Phase 1: September 1939-June 1940

13. The Official Beginning…
Germany invades Poland from the West
Marks the official beginning of WWII
September 1, 1939
16 days later, Soviet Union invades Poland from the East
Germany and the Soviet Union sign a non-aggression pact
They wouldn’t be enemies
Agree to divide Poland between them

14. Allied Forces During Phase 1
France
Britain
The Commonwealth (several countries; for example: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa)
**Canada officially entered the war on September 10th, 1939, but didn’t make a total commitment to the war effort until May, 1940.

15. Axis Forces During Phase 1
Germany
Italy
Japan

16. Blitzkreig, 1940 German term for “lightning war”
A military tactic to easily break through Allied defences in several places
Combines tanks, aircraft, and mobile infantry
Fast-moving, powerful units

17. Blitzkreig, cont’d…
Germany unleashes against Belgium and the Netherlands
Bypass Maginot Line (French concrete line of fortifications)

18. Blitzkreig, cont’d…
British and French armies tried to stop the Germans but were defeated.
Humiliated, the French government surrendered to Germany, leaving Britain to carry on the fight alone

19. Canada’s Contribution
Sent small volunteer army using ships known as the Merchant Marine
Merchant Marine: ocean-going ships used for trade that were converted to transport military personnel and supplies
First ships (September, 1939) sunk by German submarines almost immediately

20. Canada’s Contribution, cont’d…
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) or simply “The Plan”
Created December, 1939
Massive, joint military aircrew training program created by UK, CAN, AUS, and NZ
Canada’s air force would train Allied pilots in Canada
131,000 air crew trained in Canada

21. Canadian Government During Phase 1
William Lyon MacKenzie King and Liberal Party win federal election
Policy of sending small volunteer army overseas while having large scale war production at home.
Why would this policy be popular with Canadians?
May, 1940: Canada changes policy
German victories
National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA)
Canada moves into a total commitment to the war effort

22. The Second World War
Phase 2
June July 1943

23. The War Takes a Turn Two major events:
1. German armies invade Soviet Union (breaking the terms of the non-aggression pact). Soviet Union becomes Britain’s ally
2. December 7, 1941: Surprise military strike by the Japanese Navy against the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor , in the U.S. territory of Hawaii.
United states declares war on Germany and Japan

24. Significant Losses
June 1942: U.S. forces destroyed much of Japan’s air and naval forces.
German army suffers major defeat at the hands of the Soviet army in February 1943 near the city of Stalingrad.