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Treaty of Versailles
and Germany
•Germany:
•Took Responsibility
•Gave up Territory
•Limited Military
•Assumed War Debt
Nationalist
Socialist German
Workers Party
(Nazi)
Hitler beliefs described in Mein
Kampf (My Struggle)
• Germans are superior “Aryan race”
• Destined to rule the world and the inferior races
within it.
• Germany’s economic problems were caused by
Jews
• Germans needed more land to fill with the pure
race
• Germany will be the Third Reich ( The other two
being Rome and The German Empire)
Fascism
• System which usually has a dictator
who establishes strict social and
economic controls usually by threat
of force. Nationalistic in behavior
Once in Power Hitler:
• Forced the army to take a loyalty
oath
• Outlawed political opposition
• Censured Media
• Hitler employed many Germans
building the military, highways,
sports arenas, and schools.
Nuremberg Laws (1935)
• Deprived Jews of citizenship
• Banned marriages between Jews and Non-Jews
• Jews had to register and wear yellow stars
Reasons Hitler wanted to build up
the military
• Stimulate the economy
• Increase national pride
• Allow Germany to
expand (“elbow room”)
• Be able to defend itself
against Russia
Mussolini’s Goals
• Build Military to
stimulate economy
and patriotism
• Unite Italy to spread a
new Roman Empire
• Replace democracy
with fascism.
Japan’s Goals
• Gain land for population
(65 million)
• Gain land for raw
materials
• “Asia for Asians”
• Invades China
• Quarantine Speech
• FDR called for containing
fascism through
economic embargoes
Once in Power Mussolini:
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Controlled elections
Outlawed opposition
Censured media
Mussolini employed
many Italians by
building schools,
roads, and industry
Neutrality Acts (1935-1937)
• Forbade selling weapons to aggressive
nations
• Banned Americans from traveling on ships
of warring countries
• Banned loans to nations at war
• Isolationism: The policy to avoid getting
involved in any foreign problems.
Concentrate on issues at home
The Munich
Agreement
• British Prime Minister
Chamberlain agrees that
Hitler can occupy the
Sudetenland as long as
he promises to not touch
the rest of
Czechoslovakia or any
other part of Europe
Appeasement
• Making concessions
to preserve peace.
Nazi-Soviet
Pact (Aug.
1939)
• Germany and Russia
agree to divide
Poland and not attack
each other.
• Sept. 1939 Germany
invades Poland
• Britain Declares War!
US Response to German invasion
of Poland
• Cash and Carry
Policy:
• Britain can buy
weapons from the US
only in cash.
• Britain had to
transport them
The Axis Powers Expand!
• April 1940 Germany
takes Denmark and
Norway
• May 1940 Germany takes
Holland, Belgium, and
Luxemburg
• June 1940 Germany
conquers France
• July 1940 The Battle of
Britain Begins
Battle of Britain
• 1000 German planes
a day
• 1500 fires in Dec.
1940 alone
• 30,000 killed
• 120,000 injured
• America debates
Neutrality
Lend Lease Act (Dec 1940)
• Allows for the transfer of
military equipment to
nations whose defense
was considered vital to
the defense of the US
• US ships will convoy
materials as far as
Iceland
Reasons for Lend Lease
• Britain cannot stand by
itself
• Good neighbor policy
Atlantic Charter (Aug. 1941)
• Meeting between
FDR and Prime
Minister Churchill
where they agreed
that after the war the
US and Britain will:
• Not seek to gain
territory
• Support the right of all
people to choose their
own government
Dec. 7 1941
• Pearl Harbor
• “A day that will live in infamy”
8 Battle Ships and 10 other ships Sank or were
badly damaged
188 Planes destroyed
2300 Americans Killed
Reason for Attack on Pearl Harbor
• Crushing US Naval and Air power in
pacific would force the US into dealing
with Japan to avoid war / invasion.
Result:
• Dec. 8 1941 US declares war on Japan
• Dec. 10 1941 Germany and Italy declare
war on US