The Causes of World War II

1. The Causes of World War II

2. 4 Key Vocab Words • Totalitarianism • Nazism • Appeasement • Militarianism

3. Origins of WW II APPEASEMENT Conditions and Policies that led to the Second World War

4. #1 Post WW I: The Treaty of Versailles • 1918 the “big four” met to end WWI • (US, Great Britain, France, and Italy) • Determined to blame and punish Germany for WWI

5. #2 Post WWI Conditions • World wide depression began • Unemployment and inflation in many countries • Rise of communism, fascism, military rule

6. What makes war possible? • With the person sitting next to you, list 5 (five) things that you think are KEY for war. *Hint* • Try to think of reasons WHY countries may go to war…

7. What Makes World War II Possible? CAUSES CONSEQUENCES Aggression Expansion War • Aggressive Leadership… • Extreme Nationalism - pride - racism - aspirations (empire building) • Economic “Needs” - resources - living space • Little Opposition

9. #3 Conditions in the Soviet Union • 1917 Revolution brought communism • Political or economic system in which the state or the community owns all the property and the means of production (dictatorship, classless) • Joseph Stalin leader • Economic Goals: • Agricultural production • Modernize industry • Conditions: • Communal farms • Concentration camps • The Great Purge killed between 20 – 30 Million people

10. #4 Conditions in Japan • Depression brought military to power • Goals: • To create an empire in Asia • Needed oil / raw materials • “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere” concept • Japanese led movement to get western powers / influence out of Asia (“Asia for Asians”) • Secretly Japan wants control / power / resources Result : Military leader Hideki Tojounder Emperor Hirohito

11. East Asia under Japanese Rule

12. General Hideki Tojo Emperor Hirohito

13. Fascism • Political movement based on extreme nationalism • Controlled by a dictator who uses propaganda, fear, and nationalism, racism, and censorship • Goals = restore social, economic, and cultural life of a country • Use of force / military against opposition

14. #5 Conditions in Italy • Many soldiers lost in WWI • Didn’t get land promised by treaty • Rising inflation / unemployment / labor strikes / riots • King directs him to create a government (Il Duce) • Goals were to rebuild: • Economy (made the “trains run on time”) • Roman Empire Result : Benito Mussolini becomes leader

15. Mussolini Mussolini and Black Shirts during the March on Rome 1922 Mussolini as WWI allied soldier

16. #6 Conditions in Germany • Germans felt cheated and were hit hardest by Treaty of Versailles • Couldn’t pay reparations to Allies • Inflation / unemployment on the rise • Goals were to: • Make Germany powerful again: • Politics: Replace existing govt. - implement totalitarian fascist dictatorship (Nazi party) / ignore Treaty of Versailles • Territory: Create German empire (lebensraum - living space) • Social: Blame Jews for problems / Purify Germany of all non-Aryans – “Final Solution” Result : Adolf Hitler becomes leader

17. Hitler arriving in Munich Hitler with Von Hindenburg 1933

18. WWII Causes and Overview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q78COTwT7nE

19. Class Wrap-Up • In a well written paragraph, please answer the following questions: • Why was food so important to Germany before WWII? And • Explain the significance of the following cartoon