Download Mrs

Name_________________________
Date__________________________
The Road to World War II
Slide #1: Germany Faces Economic Collapse
In this slide we see Town Shelter, a lithograph by Kathe Kollwitz that
graphically depicts the misery of the poor in Germany following the
economic collapse on 1923.
A Troubled Germany: After WWI, Germany was in a state of ________
despair and political instability. The Treaty of Versailles assigned
Germany complete responsibility for the war. Germany was forced to
give up a lot of land, limit the size of its military and pay $32 billion in
reparations to France and England for the cost of the war. Germany was
already $____ billion dollars in debt from fighting the war. To relieve this problem, Germany simply printed
more money, which led to incredible __________. In 1914 (before WWI), it took 4.2 German marks to buy one
U.S. dollar; by the fall of 1923 one dollar was worth one billion marks! The same year, a glass of beer cost 2
million marks and a loaf of bread 4 million. The middle class, who suffered unemployment as well as the rising
inflation, was most hurt. Inflation left the currency and life savings of Germans virtually _______. Germany’s
post-World War I government, the Weimar Republic, was unable to deal with the problems that resulted from
the unfair treaty. And the winning countries of WWI were so vengeful that they were unwilling to change the
conditions of the Treaty even though they were aware of the economic devastation. From the start, the Weimar
Republic was discredited in the eyes of many Germans because its representatives had signed the hated
Versailles treaty. Many people were looking for someone to _________ for the German defeat in World War I.
In the space below, list THREE pieces of evidence from the information above that illustrate why Germany was in trouble.
Slide #2: The Rise of Adolf Hitler
In this slide we see Adolph Hitler, the Nazi leader of Germany.
Hitler’s Early Years: Adolph Hitler was born in __________ in
1889. He dropped out of high school and tried unsuccessfully to
become and artist. When WWI broke out, Hitler enlisted in the
German army, and he emerged from the war an extreme
nationalist. He believed that Germany had been “________” by
the Weimar Republic when it signed the Treaty of Versailles.
Hitler settled down in Munich, where his skill in public speaking
made him popular among other extreme German nationalists.
Hitler and the Nazi Party: Hitler became involved in the
National Socialist German Worker’s Party (the _______ Party) in
1921, which at the time it was only a small force in German
politics. In wildly emotional speeches, Hitler attacked the Weimar Republic and denounced the Treaty of
Versailles. In 1923 he led an __________ in Munich that was quickly crushed by the army. For his leadership
in the uprising, Hitler was put in prison for a year. While in prison, he wrote Mein Kampf (“My __________”),
a book which detailed his political ideas for Germany. In this now infamous book, Hitler claimed that German
people belonged to a superior “Aryan” race that was destined to control the _________ races and rule the world.
Hitler considered Jews an inferior race and blamed them for Germany’s economic troubles and defeat in WWI.
Hitler Becomes Dictator: After his release from prison, Hitler worked hard to rebuild the Nazi Party. He
promised benefits to peasants, workers, and the _____________, and therefore the membership of the party
grew dramatically. As more and more Nazis were voted into government positions, the party grew in power
and influence. By 1932, the Nazis had become the largest single party in the Reichstag, the German legislature,
and the German president, Paul von Hindenburg, asked Hitler to become chancellor. Hitler then increased his
___________ swiftly. On August 2, 1934, Hindenburg died and Hitler combined the offices of chancellor and
president and declared himself Fuhrer (“leader”). He proclaimed the birth of the ________ Reich. The next
day, he had all members of the army take an oath to obey him. He then took control of all aspects of the
government, outlawed his opposition, and censored dissent from the German media. Within one year, Hitler
had established a fascist state.
Anti-Semitic Policies: Hitler also moved ruthlessly against German ________. Jews were expelled from all
government jobs and teaching positions. Soon after, Jews were forbidden to practice ______ and medicine.
The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 deprived German Jews of their citizenship and banned marriages between Jews
and non-Jews. All Jews had to register with the government and wear yellow stars of David on their clothing so
they could be easily identified. Though the majority of German Jews did not want to leave the country of their
birth, many emigrated to other countries in Europe and around the world.
Hitler’s Policies: Hitler’s appeal grew among the German public despite the atrocities. He promised economic
____________ and territorial expansion for Germany. He used his belief in the “Aryan ___________ race” to
convince people that Germany had the right to expand eastward and win more territory. Ignoring the Treaty of
Versailles, he began rebuilding the German military. He also built housing, highways, and sports arenas. To
pay for his programs, Hitler increased __________ and controlled wages and prices. By the mid 1930’s Hitler
had made German strength and determination clear to the world.
In the space below, describe how you would feel as a NONJEWISH GERMAN about Hitler’s rise to power and
policies in pre-WWII Germany.
In the space below, describe how you would feel as a
GERMAN JEW as Hitler instituted his anti-Semitic
policies in pre-WWII Germany.
Slide #3: Fascism in Italy
In this slide we see Benito Mussolini addressing his Fascist followers in the
Roman Colosseum.
Turmoil in Italy: Like Germany, Italy faced severe political and economic
______________ in the years immediately following WWI. Though the Italian
government had promised social change and land reform during the war, it did
not live up to its promises. Peasants and workers joined Italian nationalists in
denouncing the government for its weaknesses. This turmoil was used by an
ambitious politician, Benito Mussolini, to gain power.
Mussolini and Fascism: As a young man, Mussolini was a socialist. When
WWI broke out he became an enthusiastic nationalist and fought for Italy.
After the war, he organized many war _____________ into a Fascist party. Mussolini’s goal was to unite
Italians using reminders of the glory of ancient Rome to inspire patriotism and obedience to authority. Fascism
appealed to many Italians. They wanted a strong leader who would establish ___________.
Mussolini’s Rise to Power: In 1922, Mussolini led a “March on Rome” which successfully frightened the
government into _______________. Mussolini was named Prime Minister and under his leadership Fascists
controlled elections and outlawed opposition.
Italian Imperialism: Since many of Italy’s economic problems were not solved by fascist policies, Mussolini
sought to distract people by establishing an _________________ foreign policy. He turned his attention toward
Ethiopia. Ethiopia’s outdated rifles were no match for Italian planes, tanks, and artillery and Ethiopia was
conquered in 1936. Ethiopia appealed to the League of Nations for ______________ from Italy, but the league
proved to be ineffective in preventing Italy’s aggression.
Based on what you learned so far about Adolph Hitler and Benito Mussolini, complete the T-chart below.
SIMILARITIES
DIFFERENCES
Slide #4: The Rise of Militarism in Japan
In this slide we see Japanese troops marching into the Chinese port city of
Ningpo, 100 miles south of Shanghai, on May 14, 1941, after capturing the
city in an effort to block China’s supply lines.
Militarism in Japan: In addition to those in Germany and Italy, a dictatorship
arose in Japan in the years prior to World War II. While Japan’s economy had
not been adversely affected after _____________, it was so dependent on world
markets for natural resources that the Great Depression of the 1930s caused
economic ________. Also, the Japanese were dissatisfied with the instability of
their country as a second-rate power. This enabled a group of military leaders to
rise to power. These leaders built up Japan’s military and sought to expand its
control in Asia. Within Japan, the military-controlled government imposed
censorship, arrested government __________, and dismissed oppositional professors from universities. A
secret police was set up to punish enemies of the state. The press and the schools preached total obedience to
the emperor. Nationalist groups ____________ war and the empire.
Japanese Imperialism: Seeking to expand Japanese territory, in 1931 the Japanese army attacked Manchuria, a
region of northeastern China rich in _______ and iron. Japan also sought support from other fascist powers,
and in 1936 signed a military agreement with Italy and Germany, forming the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis.
In the space below, create a POLITICAL CARTOON that illustrates the militaristic nature of Japan or the forming of the Rome-BerlinTokyo Axis. Use the one below to give you an idea of political satire.
Slide #5: Violation and Appeasement
In this slide we see German chancellor Adolph Hitler and British prime
minister Neville Chamberlain after signing the Munich Agreement in
Germany.
Hitler Violates the Treaty of Versailles: With support from both Italy and
Japan, Hitler began to _______ his plan to expand German borders. In 1936,
he violated the Treaty of Versailles by rearming Germany and reoccupying
the Rhineland, a territory on France’s border that had been given to France in
the treaty. Next, Hitler moved on to Austria in 1938, declaring it part of
Germany. Hitler met minimal resistance to his violations. Britain and
France condemned his moves but took no _________. With memories of the
bloody battlefields and huge losses of World War I still vivid in both Britain
and France, pacifism was widespread. In trying to maintain this peace, the British and French approach toward
Hitler was one of ________________________, or making concession to preserve peace.
Hitler Demands the Sudetenland: After his success taking over the Rhineland and Austria, Hitler turned to
Czechoslovakia. Three million __________ lived in the Sudetenland, the western border region of
Czechoslovakia. When a German invasion seemed likely, Chamberlain, the Prime Minister of Great Britain
stepped in with hopes of resolving the crisis. He again used his approach of appeasement and convinced the
Czechs to agree to self-government for the Sudetenland. Hitler, seeing how ________ it was to get his way,
followed up by demanding that Czechoslovakia surrender the region to Germany.
The Munich Agreement: Hitler’s aggressive demand caused fear and a change of opinion in Czechoslovakia,
France, and England. Many began to support ________ against Germany. On September 28, 1938, Hitler and
Chamberlain met in Munich to discuss the tense circumstances in Czechoslovakia. After some discussion,
Great Britain decided to appease Hitler. Germany was given the Sudetenland. In exchange, Hitler guaranteed
the independence of the rest of Czechoslovakia and announced that he had no further _______________ in
expanding Germany’s territorial claims in Europe. While Czechoslovakia mourned the loss of its territory,
Chamberlain stepped off the plane from Munich at Heathrow Airport in London and proclaimed that the
Munich Agreement guaranteed “peace in our time.”
In the space below, answer the question, What if Chamberlain DID NOT APPEASE Hitler? Would the history of the world be
different? Why or why not?
Slide #6: The Invasion of Czechoslovakia
In this slide we see German tanks rolling through a Sudeten
street in Czechoslovakia.
Hitler invades Czechoslovakia: Hitler left Munich convinced
that France and Britain were too weak to oppose his aggressive
expansion. In March of _____, six months after the agreement,
German troops overran the rest of Czechoslovakia. Next Hitler
started making demands in Poland. He wanted to return land to
Germany that was taken away by the Treaty of Versailles.
Chamberlain was shocked by the violation of the agreement
made in Munich and he realized that the policy of appeasement
had rested on the _________ assumption that Hitler could be trusted. Chamberlain promised that Britain would
aid Poland if Poland were ___________ by Germany. France also pledged to support Poland.
Plans to Invade Poland: In a statement to his generals, Hitler called the leadership of Britain and France “little
_________,” too weak to intervene. He went on to say, “I shall give a good propaganda reason for starting the
war, whether plausible or not. The victor will not be asked, later on, whether he told the truth or not. In starting
and making war it is not right, but victory, that matters.” Upon hearing this, the head of the Nazi air force
“jumped upon the table and offered bloodthirsty thanks while he ____________ like a savage.”
In the space below, retrace the steps that led Europe and its neighbors into World War II starting with the end of WWI and ending with Hitler’s
plan to invade Poland.
Slide #7: World War II Begins
In this slide we see German troops marching through a city street in
Poland on September 1, 1939.
World War II Begins: Despite Britain and France’s warnings,
Hitler invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Keeping their pledge to
support Poland, Great Britain and France immediately declared war on
Germany, thus beginning ___________. The encounter in Poland was brief,
and the Polish armies were defeated in less than _______ weeks. The Polish
government fled to Romania. For the next six months the war proceeded
slowly, with occasional submarine warfare, aerial raids on naval bases, and battles between naval vessels.
Britain Isolated: Soon the battles in Europe _______________, with Hitler steadily gaining power and
territory. By late 1940 Hitler was in control of much of Eastern Europe, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, the
Netherlands, and France. Britain was isolated as the lone power capable of forestalling Hitler’s conquest of all
of Europe. The Battle of Britain raged in the _________ over England. The fate of Europe lay in the hands of
the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the British people.
The United States Gets Involved: In August of 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States
met with Winston Churchill, the new British prime minister, on a ____________ off the coast of Canada. They
drew up a statement of war aims known as the Atlantic Charter. Among their pledges, they promised to seek no
gains in territory and to support the right of all peoples to choose their own form of government. And as Britain
continued to wage the war alone against Germany, many U.S. citizens felt compelled to ___________ with
Britain’s war effort. So Congress responded by passing Roosevelt’s Lend-Lease Act which allowed for the
transfer of military equipment to Britain. Now Britain was not so alone. Soon, the United States would join the
Allies in defeating the German war _______________. To almost everyone’s surprise, however, the attack that
actually drew the United States into the war did not come from Germany. It came from ____________.
In the space below, imagine you are the editor for the London Times in 1939: create a newspaper headline announcing the start of
WWII, a two sentence description of the war’s recent events, and draw a picture with a caption to accompany the headline all with the
aim of evoking sympathy of U.S. citizens to help the war effort.
Slide #8: The Japanese Bomb Pearl Harbor
In this slide we see the explosion of the destroyer of the
destroyer USS Shaw during the Japanese attack on Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941
Japanese Aggression: As the war raged on in Europe, Japan
continued to seek aggressive expansion in Asia. In October
1941, General Hideki _____, an outspoken expansionist, became
prime minister of Japan. The United States, in opposition to
Japan’s aggressive expansion, ceased economic trade relations
with Japan and stopped exporting gasoline and scrap metal. In
obvious search and need of ____________________, this policy crippled the Japanese war machine. Tojo’s
government sent representatives to Washington, D.C. to negotiate with American officials. The Japanese
offered to withdraw some of their ____________ in the Pacific if the Americans would resume economic
relations with Japan. But Japan insisted that it be allowed to occupy China.
However, even while these __________________ were underway, the decision to attack the United States had
been made in Tokyo. Japan had decided several months earlier that war with United States was inevitable.
Japan _______________ needed the oil, rubber, and extensive food resources in the Pacific to successfully
wage its war in China and the Pacific Islands. By crushing the American naval and air power in the Pacific,
Japan would be assured of no interference in its efforts to control Asia and the Pacific.
Japanese Attack Pearl Harbor: In November 1941 the Japanese attack ________ set sail in secrecy for
Hawaii under the leadership of Tojo. Pearl Harbor, a military base in Hawaii, was devastated by a Japanese air
attack on _________________, 1941. In the attack, the Japanese sank or badly damaged 8 American
battleships, damaged 10 other ships, destroyed 188 planes, and killed over 2,300 Americans and wounded 1,100
more. Fortunately, the three aircraft carriers happened to be outside the harbor.
The Unites States Declares War: The Japanese attack was _______ unexpected. However, the U.S. thought
the Japanese would strike their first blow at the Philippines or the Dutch East Indies. Not one high-ranking
American authority in Washington believed the Japanese were strong or bold enough to attack __________.
The day after the bombing, President Franklin Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan. Within a few
hours of Roosevelt’s speech, _____________ declared war on Japan. Germany and Italy, Japan’s allies in the
Axis powers, declared war on the Untied States a couple of days later. This action made official the alliance of
the United States, Great Britain, and France as the Allied Powers.
In the space below, imagine you are a Japanese pilot who has just attacked Pearl Harbor. You survived the attack and are back on the
ship from which your plane took off. Write a letter home to your loved ones describing what you witnessed during the attack, how you felt
during the attack, and explain to them your reasons for taking part in the bombing of the United States of America.