Download The Rise of Dictators and World War II

The Rise of Dictators and World
War II
Steps to War
Chapter 26
Section 1
The Rise of Dictators
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What brought dictators to power?
Rise to power was due to economic and political
conditions created by World War I.
Italy, Germany, Japan, and Soviet Union.
Treaties from WWI did not resolve issues.
Germany most severe.
Economies of Europe in ruins; heavy debt.
Widespread unemployment caused unrest and
Europeans turned to new leaders.
Dictators Seize Power
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Benito Mussolini – Italy- fascism.
Facism – extreme nationalism linked to racism.
Adolf Hitler – Germany – Nazi (National Socialist
German Workers’ Party); Chancellor; der Fuhrer
– “The Leader”.
Joseph Stalin – Soviet Union – Communism
control every aspect of life in the nation.
Hideki Tojo – Japan – Prime Minister – military
control.
Dictators Expand Their Territory
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How did dictators demonstrate their power in the
1930s?
Seized power and threatened democratic
governments.
1936 – Hitler & Mussolini formed the RomeBerlin Axis; Japan joined in 1940.
1938- Hitler invaded Austria; wanted the
Sudetenland(Czechoslovakia).
Appeasement – meeting Germany’s demand to
avoid war; gave Hitler Sudetenland and Germany
would stop seeking more territory.
Churchill and other disagreed.
World War II Begins
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What events led to World War II?
Hitler conquered the rest of Czechoslovakia.
Promised to seize Poland; Britain and France
warned of war.
Germans and Soviet Union agreed not to attack
each other.
Germany invades Poland; Sept.1, 1939.
Britain & France declare war on Germany
Blitzkrieg “lightning war”. Which stressed speed
and surprise.
1940; Hitler conquered Denmark, Norway,
Belgium and Netherlands.
Allies Under Attack
June 1940 – Germany invaded France;
Hitler thought GB would seek peace.
 Hitler invades Great Britain.
 Battle of Britain – Germany’s airforce –
Lufwaffe bombed London.
 Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) fought the
Germans, but many civilian targets in
Britain were bombed
 British did not surrender.
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Con’t
Despite agreement with Soviet Union,
Hitler wanted Soviet Unions wheat and oil.
 1941 – invaded Soviet Union; harsh winter
stopped the Nazi advance.
 US Congress – 1941- Lend-Lease Act;
Roosevelt supported. Allowed lending or
leasing resources and equipment to allies;
50 billion worth of goods to Britain & SU
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Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor
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1940 – Japan joined Axis alliance.
Only the US stood in the way of them conquering
Dutch East Indies, and other Asian territories.
December 7, 1941; Japanese warplanes make a
surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.
2,400 Americans died; warplanes and ships
destroyed
President Roosevelt declares war on Japan.
“a date that will live in infamy”.
Dec. 11, 1941; Germany & Italy declared war on
US.