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World War
II
Major Leaders / Dictators
Adolf Hitler
Nazi Germany
Benito Mussolini
Italy
Adolf Hitler
Benito Mussolini
Said he could solve
his country’s
problems
Led the political party
called the National
Socialists, or Nazis
The Nazis believed in
fascism
In 1933 the Nazis
took control of
Germany fascism
Led the country of
Italy
Was a member of the
Fascist party
Promised to bring
order to Italy and to
restore its power
Other Major Leaders
Hideki Tojo
Japanese Prime Minister
Winston Churchill
British Prime Minister
Other Major Leaders
Joseph Stalin
Russian Leader
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
US President
Underlying causes of WWII
1. Treaty of Versailles (p. 315)
A. Germany lost land to surrounding
nations such as France
B. War Reparations*
1) Germany had to pay $57 trillion
(modern equivalent) to Allied
Countries
2) Bankrupted the German economy
& embarrassed Germans
Lloyd George, Georges Clemenceau, and Woodrow Wilson
during negotiations for the Treaty
*Reparation: the act of making amends or
compensation for a wrong.
More underlying causes of
WWII
2. World-wide Depression
A. The Depression made Germany’s
debt even worse
B. Desperate people turn to desperate
leaders
1) Hitler seemed to provide
solutions to Germany’s
problems
1923 - Wallpapering with German Deutchmarks
More underlying causes of WWII
3. Racism: the idea that one race, or
group of people, is better than all
others
The leaders of Germany, Italy, and
Japan believed in racism.
Hitler blamed the Jewish people for
Germany’s problems and sent many
German Jews to prison.
1923 - Wallpapering with German Deutchmarks
Why did the US lean
towards isolationism*?
Why was the U.S. Isolationist?
1. Great Depression (problems at home)
2. Perceptions of WWI
a. WWI did not seem to solve much
b. People were horrified by the destruction of WWI
Isolationism: the policy that a nation should avoid political and
economic relationships with other countries
Germany Invades Poland
Great Britain and France formed an
alliance known as the Allied Powers, or
Allies
The Allies tried to stop Germany from
invading by signing an agreement with
Hitler
Hitler promised not to invade any more
countries. In return, the Allies agreed to
let Germany keep the land it had already
taken.
September 1939: Germany invaded Poland
The agreement
allowed Germany
to march into
Poland without
fear of an attack
because he had
signed and
agreed.
On September 1,
1939, Germany
invaded Poland.
German troops marching
into Warsaw, the capital
of Poland.
When Germany attacked Poland, the
Allies declared war on Germany.
Italy and Japan son declared war on the
Allies.
The Allies could not stop the German
army.
By the end of 1941, Germany controlled
most of Europe. Only Britain had not
fallen.
British Prime Minister
Winston Churchill
inspired people to
keep fighting.
“We
shall go on to the
end. We shall fight in
France, we shall fight on
the seas and oceans . . .
We shall never surrender.”
Late 1941:
Britain now stood
alone as the last
remaining enemy
of Hitler’s
Germany in
Western Europe.
Adolf Hitler tours Paris after his
successful invasion.
Summary: Germany Expands
After World War I
Treaty of Versailles seriously damaged
German economy
Adolf Hitler came to power
– Promised to restore Germany’s greatness
Hitler wanted more territory
– Neighbors aware of threat
– Memories of World War I still fresh
– No one willing to fight over words
Identify Supporting Details
With whom did Hitler seek alliances
in the late 1930s?
Answer(s): Japan and Italy; he also signed a
nonaggression pact with the Soviet Union
The War Begins: Summary
September 1, 1939
Devastating effects
• Germany attacked Poland
• Polish air force destroyed
• World War II begins
• Soldiers fought; no match for
German forces
• No natural barriers in the way
Support for Poland
• Britain and France declared war
on Germany
German troops in position
• On Germany’s western border
• Allies gave no real help
• Hitler eager for assault on
France
• Poland fell into German hands
• Plans for invasion made
• Hitler conquers all of Western
Europe except Great Britain
America Enters
the War . . . .
.