Download World War II

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Economic Issues
Devastation of economies from war
 Great Depression  inflation; inability to repay
loans
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Political Unrest
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Fear of Communism
Rise of right wing dictators
Germany
War Guilt
 Reparations
 Decreased military
 Overall feeling of resentment by German people
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The overall economic turmoil and depression
of European nations allowed for the rise of new
political leaders  dictators
Totalitarian – complete and total control over
all aspects of daily life.
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Commonly ruled through fear and violence
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Joseph Stalin  Soviet Union
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Benito Mussolini  Italy
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Adolf Hitler  Germany
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Hideki Tojo  Japan
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Joseph Stalin came to
power in the newly
communist USSR (or Soviet
Union) after the death of
Lenin.
Stalin’s Soviet Union
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Communist
Push for industrial growth
Acted as totalitarian dictator
– controlled aspects of daily
life
Silenced and even killed any
who spoke against him
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On the opposite end of the political spectrum
from communism is the political ideology
known as….Fascism
Fascism- a system of government in which the
glory and will of the state is held above all
other things (even the individual)
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Little rights or concerns towards individuals.
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Mussolini rose through
Italian politics after World
War I.
His vision- strong and
orderly Italy – appealed to
most Italians
Blamed Communists and
Socialists for all problems
 Promised a return to greatness
– like the Roman Empire
 He gained wide support,
why?
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Mussolini in action
Allowed no political
opposition
 Controlled newspapers,
schools, businesses, etc.
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As a young adult, joined the Nazi party in
Germany
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His vision
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Party attracted many unhappy with German
conditions after WWI
After an unsuccessful revolt, ordered to prison
Stressed nationalism and devotion to state
Dreamed of uniting all Germans into a greater
German empire
Racial superiority of Germanic peoples (Aryans)
Rise to Power
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1933- Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany
Gained support and was able to acquire full power
Immediately began taking action to restore Germany
to greatness…
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Italy
In 1935, Italy invaded Ethiopia
 In an effort to establish a new Italian empire
 Ethiopian emperor pleaded to the League of Nations
(collection of European nations) to help
 League criticized Mussolini, but just asked that he
maintain Ethiopian independence.
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 Lack of true economic sanctions allowed Mussolini to
have his way
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Japan
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By the 1930s, Japan was eager to acquire an empire
like most of the European nations
In 1931, Japan invaded the Chinese province of
Manchuria – wanted their resources
League strongly criticized Japan
In return, Japan simply left the League and ignored
their criticism
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After Hitler took power, he took immediate
action to restore German greatness
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Re-built the German military (especially Navy- was
granted permission to do so..)
Sent troops into demilitarized zone of the Rhineland
Both direct violations of Treaty of Versailles
Actions
Austria: 1938, Hitler sent troops into neighboring
country of Austria to join it with Germany
 Sudetenland: German speaking region of
neighboring country of Czechoslovakia
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 Pushed Germans in the region to protest Czech rule and
threatened military action.
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Appeasement: a strategy in which
nations gave in to Hitler’s demands
in the hopes of avoiding war
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This was decided upon at the Munich
Conference by British and French leaders
(with American support)
Hitler and Czechoslovakia
Leaders allowed Hitler to annex the
Sudetenland if he promised to not touch
the rest of the nation
 March 1939- Hitler invaded the rest of
Czechoslovakia
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After the issue in Czechoslovakia, Hitler
realized no one could stop him…
Invasion of Poland
September 1, 1939: Hitler began his invasion of new
country Poland. Using his blitzkrieg tactic, Poland
was no match and quickly fell
 Problem- British and French had declared support to
Poland
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War Declared
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2 days after invasion on September 3, 1939- British
and French declared war on Germany.
World War II officially began
 Germany
 Britain
 Italy
 France
 Japan
 USSR
 USA