* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Causes of WWII - ECI Summer School 2014
Survey
Document related concepts
British propaganda during World War II wikipedia , lookup
Consequences of Nazism wikipedia , lookup
Western betrayal wikipedia , lookup
Foreign relations of the Axis powers wikipedia , lookup
Propaganda in Nazi Germany wikipedia , lookup
Diplomatic history of World War II wikipedia , lookup
End of World War II in Europe wikipedia , lookup
Anglo-German Naval Agreement wikipedia , lookup
Fascism in Europe wikipedia , lookup
World War II and American animation wikipedia , lookup
Nazi Germany wikipedia , lookup
New Order (Nazism) wikipedia , lookup
Nazi views on Catholicism wikipedia , lookup
Economy of Nazi Germany wikipedia , lookup
Transcript
Causes of WWII The Failure of The League Of Nations The Versailles Peace Treaty at the end of World War I provided for the creation of a new world organization called the League of Nations. At its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland, the nations of the world would meet to discuss problems and to attempt to avoid war in the future. Canada joined the League of Nations as an independent country. Causes of WWII One of the major final terms of the treaty was that the League of Nations be created. Interestingly, the United States never joined the League (or signed the Treaty of Versailles), weakening its reputation and authority. However, at various times, important countries such as the United States, Germany, Japan and the Soviet Union were not members of the League of Nations, and as a result, keeping the peace proved difficult. Causes of WWII Japan In 1931, the first serious test of the League’s power occurred when Japan invaded the resource-rich Chinese province of Manchuria. China appealed to the League but it did nothing. Why? • Member nations were in the midst of the Great Depression and were preoccupied with their own economic problems; • China and Japan were far away and were not seen as a threat to other member nations. Causes of WWII Italy • In 1935, the League received its second test: Italy. • Italy was disappointed with the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. Italy had expected more land as a reward for changing sides during the war (to the Allies). Italy was also experiencing a depressed economy following the war, with high unemployment. Italians turned to Benito Mussolini, who appealed to the needs and emotions of Italians. Mussolini promised jobs, prosperity, and that he would make Italy a great world power. •Sensing that the League would do nothing to stop him, Mussolini invaded Ethiopia, Africa, in 1935. Again, appeals to the League were made and nothing was done. Why? •Nations were afraid of starting another major war. Causes of WWII Germany •Disgusted by the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, Hitler withdrew Germany from the League in 1933. •In 1935, Hitler violated the Versailles treaty when he introduced conscription and began to increase the size of the Germany military forces. Once again, the League did nothing. •In 1936, Hitler ordered a small German army to march into the Rhineland – another violation of the Treaty of Versailles. And again, the League did nothing. •It was clear that the organization that was set up to preserve world peace was unwilling and unable to take any action on aggressor nations. The League’s member nations were all taking isolationist approaches and would not risk starting another world war. Causes of WWII By 1936, three countries had successfully defied the League of Nations and got away with it: Japan, Italy and Germany. In 1936, these three countries joined together by signing an agreement to support each other. Prime Minister Bennett said that Canada could do nothing to stop Japan’s aggression. Prime Minister King refused to agree to any actions against Italy, because he worried about Canada being involved in another world war. Causes of WWII The Treaty of Versailles, 1919 After World War One, leaders of the victorious countries gathered at the Paris Peace Conference in France to sign the Treaty of Versailles – the treaty that officially ended the Great War. At the conference, American President Woodrow Wilson offered a peace plan called the “Fourteen Points,” which was designed to prevent future wars. Wilson proposed the creation of a world organization called the League of Nations. The nations belonging to the League would be responsible for making decisions in order to settle disputes peacefully around the world and promote international cooperation. Causes of WWII Wilson’s plan also recommended that no revenge be taken on the countries that lost World War One. Wilson’s plan was a good starting point for the final peace agreement, but not all of its recommendations were adopted in the final peace treaty. The people of Germany were outraged by the terms of the treaty: •Germany had to pay reparations ($145 billion today); •Germany had to surrender all of its colonies; •Germany was to have no air force or submarines, only a small navy and an army of 100,000 troops; •Germany was to lose some of its territory (approx. 10%), along with its natural resources; •and most humiliating, Germany had to agree to the War Guilt Clause and accept full blame for the war. Causes of WWII The Treatment of Germany In the Versailles Peace Treaty, the losing country, Germany, was treated harshly by the victorious countries. Germany was blamed for the war, and forced to pay for its entire cost. Germany lost important chunks of its territory and also had its armed forces drastically reduced. Many people in Germany felt that their country had been unfairly treated by the winning countries of the First World War. As a result, feelings of anger and frustration were present among the German population. These feelings increased when the German people suffered large economic hardships because they had to pay for the war. Causes of WWII The Nazi Party in Germany In this atmosphere, a new party, called the Nazi Party, found supporters among the German voters. The Nazis were led by Adolf Hitler. The party blamed Germany’s problems on the Versailles Peace Treaty and on the actions of the Jewish people. Causes of WWII In this atmosphere, a new party, called the Nazi Party, found supporters among the German voters. The Nazis were led by Adolf Hitler. The party blamed Germany’s problems on the Versailles Peace Treaty and on the actions of the Jewish people. Causes of WWII Anti-Semitism The Nazis made the Jewish people scapegoats (people blamed for the wrongdoings of others). The Jewish people were targeted because they had different religious and cultural practices from the majority of Christian Europeans. Hundreds of years ago, Jewish people had been excluded from many professions. Some went into banking and business and experienced large success. This in turn led some to be jealous and suspicious of Jewish people. Prejudice and hatred against Jewish people is called antiSemitism. Causes of WWII After Adolf Hitler and the Nazis gained control of the government in 1933, they began to pass laws that discriminated against Jewish people. Jews were forbidden to take government and professional positions, or to join the armed forces. They lost their German citizenship rights and their children were banished from the government schools. Causes of WWII In 1938, the Nazi party organized an attack on Jewish shops and offices. It was later called "The Night of Broken Glass" or “die Krystallnacht.” Approximately 100 Jews were killed, and another 20,000 sent to the newly formed concentration camps. Causes of WWII Such examples of anti-Semitism promoted and in fact, heralded by government, prompted many Jewish people to attempt to leave Germany. One family that was able to flee Germany was the Frank family. Anne Frank and her sister and parents moved to Amsterdam, Holland. Unfortunately, the Nazis invaded Holland in 1940, and the Frank family went into hiding in 1942. They were eventually found more than two years later. Anne Frank died in a concentration camp, but her story captured the imagination of millions when her diaries were published at the end of the war. Causes of WWII In May 1939, over 900 Jewish refugees from Germany tried to reach safety in the United States, by way of Cuba. They were aboard the ship, the S. S. St. Louis. When the promised landing in Cuba was denied, the passengers asked other countries to accept them. Countries in South America, and both the United States and Canada, refused to help. Canadian officials stated that they did not wish Canada to become “the dumping ground” for Jewish refugees, and if one shipload were allowed, others would follow. Causes of WWII In his diary, Mackenzie King wrote that he wished to avoid “internal problems” and he refused to accept the passengers on the St. Louis. Belgium, Holland, France, and England did accept the passengers. Soon, however, the Nazis occupied the first three of these countries, and most of the passengers eventually perished in concentration camps. Causes of WWII Isolationism While the Canadian government rejected Jewish refugees, it also rejected involvement in the international community during the 1930's. Canada, like the United States, was following a policy of isolationism. Both countries attempted to stay away from issues that took place away from North American shores. Both countries virtually ignored the happenings in Europe that involved Hitler and Nazi Germany. Causes of WWII The Actions of Hitler (1936-1939) To protect France from future attack, the Treaty of Versailles stated that the German military could not occupy the border area between the two countries named the Rhineland (named after the Rhine River that runs through the area). In 1936, German troops moved into the Rhineland. The League of Nations did nothing to stop Hitler. Causes of WWII In 1938, Hitler’s troops marched into Austria (a largely German-speaking country). He took it over without a shot being fired. Later in the same year, Hitler threatened to attack Czechoslovakia, so that he could take over the Sudetenland - an area where 3 million German-speaking people lived. Appeasement failed miserably. When Hitler invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, Britain and France decided that enough was enough and they declared war on Nazi Germany on September 3. This signalled the start of World War II. Causes of WWII Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King had been a supporter of appeasement. Based on one meeting, King was convinced that Hitler was “a man of deep sincerity” and “no serious danger to anyone.” King’s government declared war on Germany on September 10, 1939 - one week after Britain had declared war. Causes of WWII British and French leaders had met Hitler in the German city of Munich in September 1938 and made a deal with him. They allowed Hitler to take over the Sudetenland on the promise that this would be his last territorial demand. The agreement was not worth the paper it was written on. Six months later, in March, 1939, Nazi forces took over the remaining parts of Czechoslovakia. Causes of WWII In dealing with Hitler, most of the world, including Canada, had been following a policy called appeasement. This policy involves giving in to demands to keep someone quiet. It could be compared to giving in to the demands of a screaming child to achieve peace in a household. Many countries, trying to avoid a world war, allowed Hitler to have what he wanted. Causes of WWII Policy of Appeasement Appeasement is the policy of giving in to the demands of an unfriendly power to prevent hostilities. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King were big supporters of appeasement and were both fooled by Hitler. King and Chamberlain believed that war could be avoided if the democracies gave in to some of the demands of dictators. Causes of WWII At the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, the Canadian team was the only sports team from the British Commonwealth to march past Hitler at the opening ceremonies and give him the Nazi salute. In 1938, despite Hitler’s promise to respect the independence of Austria, marched troops into Austria and forced a takeover – the Anschluss. Causes of WWII Next, Hitler turned his attention to Czechoslovakia and specifically, an area called the Sudetenland. Hitler demanded that it become part of Germany because of the number of German-speaking people that lived there. In 1938, Hitler invited Prime Minister Chamberlain to Berlin and promised he would make no more demands if Britain and France agreed to the German takeover of the Sudetenland. The Munich Conference agreed to the takeover in return for a written promise from Hitler that he would make no further territorial demands. Causes of WWII Once again, the western leaders were fooled by Hitler. They now saw him for what he was and began to prepare for war. They knew that soon Hitler would make a demand that only force would be able to stop. Hitler now turned his attention to Poland. Hitler demanded some of its territory and Britain and France refused to even consider these new demands and guaranteed Poland’s borders. Britain and France promised to go to war if Poland was attacked. Causes of WWII On August 23, 1939, the world was shocked to learn of the Nazi-Soviet Pact made by Hitler and Joseph Stalin, dictator of the Soviet Union. These two ruthless dictators hated each other! Each seeing an opportunity to delay war with each other and to expand their territories created this temporary alliance. Hitler and Stalin secretly agreed to divide up Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe after the war.