Download Origins of World War II

`Origins of World War II
1. Worldwide depression causes rise of totalitarian dictators in
Europe.
A. Mussolini in Italy
B. Hitler and the Nazi party in Germany
C. Francisco Franco in Spain
D. Stalin in the Soviet Union
E. Prime Minister Hideki Tojo in Japan
2. Effects of World War I
A. Unfair peace settlement
B. Built up resentment
C. Economic hardship
D. Appeasement—people scared of another war
3. Fascism
A. Created in Italy
a. From the Italian word Fasces
b. Symbol of Power and Jurisdiction
c. “Strength Through Unity”
B. It is anti-liberal, and nationalistic
C. In favor of conservative dictatorship
D. Against liberal parliamentary values
E. Believes in the good of the state over that of the individual
F. ANTI-COMMUNIST
G. Who supported Fascism?
a. Wealthy Industrialists
b. Aristocratic Military Families
c. Farmers
d. Shopkeepers
H. Who was against Fascism?
a. Doctors
b. Lawyers
c. Teachers
d. Church Leaders
4. Fascism in Germany
A. World War One blamed on Germany
B. Unfair Peace—Versailles
C. Current Government (Wiemar Republic) associated with loss of
war.
D. Economic problems
a. Trade Deficit
b. Inflation
c. Depression
E. No Liberal Tradition
F. Many radical political parties and beliefs
G. One of these parties: NAZI Party.
a. stands for National Socialist Party
b. led by Adolf Hitler
c. He turns party into para-military organization…uniforms,
salutes, flags…
d. Failed attempt to overthrow government in Munich.
e. In Prison, writes Meinkampf
f. Elaborates on his world views:
1. Volkish ideas
a. Mythical philosophy from late 19th Century
b. German people descended from a “master race”
c. Superior to other cultures genetically
2. Preached that Germans were the master race, and that
they needed “Lebensraum.”
a. Living Space (To avoid being tainted by inferior
races)
b. All other races were to be servants
H. Sets up conditions to put SUPREME power in his hands….How
does he do this?
a. Uses violent, thug tactics to disrupt competing political
parties
b. Once Nazi Party is in power, he continuously invents
external threats to justify putting more power in his own
hands
5. Each Nation pursues expansion
A. Italy attacks Ethiopia
B. Germany pursues Lebensraum
a. Remilitarizes Rhineland
b. Annexes Austria
c. Annexes Sudetenland (Northern Czechoslovakia with
ethnic Germans living there)
d. Signs non-aggression pact w/Soviet Union
e. Invades western half of Poland September 1st 1939
(eastern half occupied by Soviet Union)
C. Stalin and the Soviet Union (reclaim former Russian Empire)
a. Invades Eastern Half of Poland
b. Conquers the Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
c. Invades Finland in winter 1940
D. Japan Invades Manchuria (Northern China) in 1931 during a
period of Civil War and unrest in China
6. America Clings to Isolationism
A. Congress passes Neutrality Acts throughout the 1930’s
a. FDR continually asks them to amend them to allow the
United States to indirectly assist Britain, France, and
China in opposing Germany, Italy, and Japan
b. Some private Americans volunteer to fight against
Fascism in the Spanish Civil War of 1936 as well as in
China against the Japanese
B. Merchants in the United States continue to trade Oil, Rubber,
and other war supplies to Japan
a. Since Japan did not officially declare war, no violation of
neutrality
b. The American government however did send aid to
Chiang Kai-Shek to fight both the Japanese and the
Chinese Communists
C. Japan, Italy, and Germany Sign the Tripartite Treaty
a. “Axis Powers”
b. Britain Stands alone after defeat of France
c. January 1941