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The World at War – WWII Review Package Section 1 After World War I, life was not easy in Europe. The war had left many countries heavily in debt. Some people resented the new borders that had been drawn at the end of the war. They distrusted the new democratic forms of government that had been set up. The Great Depression made these problems even worse. In all this uncertainty, dictators easily gained control. They offered simple solutions and promised glory for their country. They silenced all who spoke against them. In Italy and Spain, Benito Mussolini and Francisco Franco came to power. In the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin ruled with an iron fist and in Japan, Emperor Hirohito and his right-hand man, Hideki Tojo, reigned supreme. Section 3 Section 2 Most dangerous of all was Adolf Hitler, who gained power in Germany in 1933. He told Germans they were the “Master Race.” He blamed all of Germany’s problems on scapegoats – “non-German traitors” within the country – and the unfair terms of the treaty that ended World War I. Hitler’s sweeping racism became government policy. Fear of his secret police gripped the country while Hitler urged Germans to dream of ruling the world. Other nations knew Germany had real causes for complaint. They hoped that if they let Hitler take a little, Germany would be satisfied. In 1939, Hitler’s armies swept into Austria and Czechoslovakia. When Poland fell to German tanks and dive bombers in 1939, world leaders knew they had to fight back. Their resistance came too late: soon most of Europe was under Nazi rule. Section 4 - Canadians figured prominently in World War II. The Royal Canadian navy organized huge supply convoys to Britain. Canadian pilots helped stop Hitler in the Battle of Britain and other air battles. Canadian soldiers fought bravely on the battlefields of Europe and Asia. They suffered a tragic defeat at the Battle of Dieppe, France. They played a valiant part and major role in the slow advance through Italy and in the final invasion of Western Europe on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. Section 7 Section 5 - Canadians at home produced airplanes, ships and armaments. They bought Victory bonds to help pay for the war. Food and gasoline were rationed so more supplies could go to Europe. Women entered the factories and joined the armed forces. Young people ploughed up their school yards to plant “victory gardens”. Section 6 - Japanese army officers also dreamed of a vast empire. They attack China, American bases in the Pacific, and British and French colonies in Asia. Many Canadians feared and hated the Japanese who had moved to Canada. Japanese-Canadians were taken from their homes on the Pacific coast and held in camps until the end of the war. The war ended with the dropping of atomic bombs on two Japanese cities. This was the final horror in a war marked by crimes against humanity. Millions of Jews and other minorities had been murdered under Hitler’s rule. Too many power had been willing to prove their might through warfare. The World at War – WWII Review Package Section 1 Section 2 1. What impact did WWI have on the economic stability of many European countries? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ 1. Who gained power in Germany in 1933? _____________________________________________________________ 2. What three strategies did he use to get elected to power? a. ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ b. ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ c. ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ 2. What economic event further aggravated the condition? _____________________________________________________________ 3. How did the people feel about the new boundaries drawn up in the 1919 Treaty of Versailles? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ 4. Identify the new leaders who emerged during the 1920s and 30s around the world: a. b. c. d. e. Germany - ________________________________________ Italy - _____________________________________________ Spain - ____________________________________________ Soviet Union - ______________________________________ Japan - _____________________________________________ 5. Why do you think these dictators gained control in their countries so easily? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ 6. Define the term “Dictator”. _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ 3. How did Hitler maintain absolute power? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Section 3 1. How did the other nations feel about Germany’s treatment by the terms of the Treaty of Versailles? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ 2. Define “Appeasement”. _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ 3. In spite of the Treaty of Versailles, what areas did Hitler invade with his armies? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Section 4 1. What role did Canada play in World War I? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Section 5 1. What contributions did Canadians make on the home front? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Section 6 1. What was Japan’s goal in World War II? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ 2. Who did the Japanese attack in World War II? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ 3. What happened to Japanese-Canadians who were living in Canada during World War II? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Section 7 1. What event ended World War II? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ 2. What was the Holocaust? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ 3. Can you name a modern day “Holocaust” where one group has exterminated another? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Why was there a Second World War? WWII Review Package The Treaty of Versailles On June 28th, 1919, most of the countries which had fought in World War I, signed the Treaty of Versailles. Many people thought that this treaty would prevent future wars. They believed that people and countries would learn from their past mistakes and avoid the horrors of another world war. Unfortunately, the Treaty of Versailles was an important cause of WWII. The countries which had won the war, especially France, wanted revenge on Germany. They wanted to teach Germany a lesson. They thought that Germany should be forced to take all the blame for WWI. They insisted that Germany agree to pay back all the money which the winners had spent on the war – a total cost of $35,000,000,000! Germany was also forced to give up all its colonies and some of its own lands. Belgium, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, and France all received German territory with about 6.5 million German citizens. The Austrian-Hungarian Empire was divided up by the winners of the war and communist Russia was punished for withdrawing from the war in 1917. Several new countries like Poland and Czechoslovakia were created from the lands taken away from Germany, Austria-Hungary and Russia. The Treaty of Versailles humiliated the losers. When Germany protested against the conditions of the treaty, the winners of WWI threatened to invade Germany. Germany was forced to sign the treaty but the shame Germany felt was not forgotten by the German People. Certain Countries Threaten World Peace Italy Italy was unhappy with the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. Although Italy had fought with the Triple Entente after switching side’s midway through the war, they had received very little new territory as a reward at the peace conference. After the war, many Italians were unemployed and unhappy with their democratic government. In 1922, they turned to a new leader who promised action – Benito Mussolini, the son of a blacksmith, had fought in WWI. After the war, he became a newspaper reporter. He was a colourful public speaker who could excite and entertain his audiences. Mussolini and his “Black Shirts” called Fascists. Promised the Italian people jobs, security, law and order and a return to the great days of the Roman Empire. Fascists believed that individuals must support one political party and one leader who would control the government, the army, the economy, and the lives of the people. Other political parties and leaders who opposed the Fascists were destroyed. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press was taken away. The Fascists used propaganda to brainwash the people into accepting the government. Mussolini had made himself a dictator and his word was law. Once Mussolini and his Fascist Party had gained power, they did improve some services like the railways. They spent more money on new roads and bridges to create jobs. Mussolini was a powerful speaker and he made wonderful promises for the future. However, with the coming of the Great Depression, unemployment grew worse. “Il Duce” (The Leader) looked for ways to take the people’s minds off their poverty. In 1935, Mussolini decided that a war to conquer new lands in Africa was the best answer. Japan Japan had also supported the Triple Entente in WWI. In return, Japan had received the German colonies in China and the Pacific. The Japanese had copied Western science and built modern factories since the 1850s. They had also built a powerful navy and a strong army. However, Japan did not have the many natural resources like oil, coal, or iron ore. The population was growing rapidly and the land was becoming over crowded. These were real problems for the Japanese government. They wanted to conquer land with rich resources to make Japan the greatest power in Asia. In 1931, they decided to invade the wealthy province of Manchuria in northern China. Japan was determined to build a great empire and become a world power. Germany The loss of WWI and the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles left Germany very weak. The war debts and payments to the Allies were very heavy. Many workers were unemployed and could not find jobs after the war. The value of German money fell and by 1923, their money had become absolutely worthless. People’s life savings were destroyed and completely wiped out. For a few years, from 1925 to 1929, economic conditions seemed to improve, but with the start of the Great Depression in 1929, these small gains were quickly erased. The German people had never felt very loyal to the new democratic government, the Weimar Republic, who had signed the “shameful” Treaty of Versailles, after the Kaiser had abandoned Germany and fled at the end of WWI. When the government failed to provide jobs and security, many people were ready to turn away from democracy because they felt it did not work. Enter Adolf Hitler, who promised them a better life. Adolf Hitler was born in the German speaking country of Austria in 1889. He was an unsuccessful artist and house painter in Vienna before WWI. Hitler was very proud of the German people. When Germany and Austria-Hungary went to war against the Entente in 1914, a young Adolf joined the army. Hitler became a corporal in the army and fought bravely in the trenches until he was wounded. He received a medal, the Iron Cross, for his bravery. Hitler organized the Nazi Party in Germany after WWI. For years, no one took Hitler seriously. They thought he was a “crackpot”. When he led a small revolt in Munich in 1923, it was easily defeated and he was thrown into jail. While he was in jail, Hitler wrote a book, entitled “Mein Kampf” (My Struggle), which glorified Germany and attacked other peoples and races. He encouraged racial discrimination against Jews and others by blaming them for Germany’s problems. After his release, Hitler returned to politics. He organized his followers, calling his most ardent followers the “Brown Shirts”, and got them to parade through the streets and break up meetings of other political parties. The Nazi Party also believed in Fascism. The members called for a strong leader, the use of the armed forces and blind loyalty to Germany. They attacked democracy, peace, and other peoples such as Jews, the Slavs and Blacks. The Nazi Party did poorly in the 1928 elections but, as the Great Depression set in, their support quickly grew. In the elections in 1932 and 1933, the Nazi Party won the most seats in the German parliament. Hitler was legally appointed Chancellor of Germany in 1933. Then parliament voted Hitler complete control of the German government. Adolf Hitler had become the absolute leader of Germany and was given the dubious title of “Fuhrer” or Leader. Why did so many Germans vote for the Nazi Party and support Hitler? There were many reasons. Hitler hated the Communists and so he was supported by some rich people who wanted to prevent a Communist revolution in Germany, like what had happened in Russia. He promised the workers’ jobs. He appealed to German pride and nationalism at a time when the German people felt down and out. He attacked the Jews and the Treaty of Versailles and promised to make Germany a strong country again. Hitler was a very powerful speaker and the Nazis used propaganda to shape the thoughts of the people. Radio, movies, and newspapers were used to send out the Nazi message. Comprehension Questions Using your own paper, read the article and answer the following questions to review some of the events that led up to World War II. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. Hitler was successful in many areas. His government created jobs and reduced unemployment. Workers built highways and worked in factories producing everything from airplanes to the newly designed “Volkswagen” or “People’s Car”. Life for Germans in the 1930s improved under Hitler. Hitler was even more successful in restoring Germany’s honour by 1938. He boldly broke the Treaty of Versailles, while Britain, France, and their allies stood by. The armed forces were expanded and much of the German land lost at the end of WWI was regained. All this was done before 1939, without firing a single shot. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. Who signed the Treaty of Versailles? When was it signed? Why did France want revenge on Germany? What type of revenge did they want? How did the German people feel about the Treaty of Versailles? Why was Italy unhappy with the treaty? Who did the Italian people turn to in order to get action? What did the Fascists promise the Italian people? What freedoms were taken away by the Fascists? What did Mussolini and the fascists give to Italy? What was Japan given for helping the Entente defeat Germany and the Triple Alliance in WWI? What problems did Japan have? How did they decided to solve their problems? What effect did losing the war and the Treaty of Versailles have on Germany? What happened when the German government failed to make jobs for the German people? Who did the German people turn to? What party did Adolf Hitler organize? What book did Adolf Hitler write when he was in jail? What did Hitler’s book tell the German people? What was the outcome of the elections in 1932 and 1933 in Germany? When Hitler took over the German government, what title was he given? What did Hitler promise to do for Germany? What success did he have with German industry? What car was created at this time? What did Hitler do about the Treaty of Versailles and the lost German colonies?