Causes of WWII

1. Causes of WWII

2. Background • Totalitarianism – Form of government in which the government controls every aspect of life • Fascism – The importance of the State (nation) overrides the importance of the individual

3. 2 Fascist Leaders • Benito “Il Duce” Mussolini of Italy • Angry about WWI peace settlement • Organized fascist groups • Used thugs called “blackshirts” to terrorize opposition • Suspended elections and established a Dictatorship • Adolf “Der Fuhrer” Hitler of Germany • Angry about WWI peace settlement • Joined Nazi Party • Sentenced to 5 years for trying to overthrow government • Wrote “MeinKampf” (My Struggle) while in prison • Outlined Nazi philosophy • Defined Germany’s problems • Detailed plans for the nation • Blamed Jews for problems and loss of WWI • Promised to rebuild German empire and stabilize Germany • Gained power and became head of German state

4. Expansion • Hitler wanted to expand Germany’s borders to include Germans living in other nations • Marched into the Rhineland • Annexed Austria • Demanded Sudetenland (East Czechoslovakia) • European response • Britain and France (Allies) met with Germany and Italy (Axis), September 1938 • Britain and France chose “Appeasement” – Give into demands to keep peace

5. Hitler moves again • Took the rest of Czechoslovakia • Warned by Britain and France not to invade Poland • Hitler invaded Poland, September 1, 1939… Europe went to war

6. The Lightning War • Poland • Germany used a “Blitzkrieg” (Lightning War) to take Poland in 1 month • Germany gave East Poland to Russia per an earlier deal • Other Lands • April 1940 – Hitler took Denmark and Norway • May, 1940 – Hitler took Belgium and the Netherlands • June 14th, 1940 – Hitler marched on Paris… Paris fell in 3 days

7. Britain • Hitler turned on the only power left…. Britain • Sent German Air Force (Luftwaffe) • Battle of Britain • 1000 planes a day bombed Britain • Lasted from December, 1940 to June, 1941 • Japan • Followed the same steps as the Axis powers in China • Joined the Axis powers in April 1941

8. American Response • Americans did not want to fight in Europe or Asia • Isolationism led to Neutrality Acts (mid 1930’s) • No weapons or loans to nations at war • Non-military goods (food and medicine) must be paid for in cash and transported by that nation = “Cash and Carry” • 1939 – FDR moved a built-up Pacific fleet to Hawaii (Pearl Harbor) • 1939 – Neutrality Acts changed to include weapons in “Cash and Carry” • U.S. slowly helped • FDR “traded” old destroyers for naval rights • Wanted to “loan” war supplies to Allies • “Lend Lease” Act • Passed by Congress in March 1941 • Allowed FDR to help nations vital to U.S. security

9. The U.S. and Japan • The U.S. and Japanese ties became strained • The U.S. demanded that Japan stop taking Asian lands… put economic pressure on Japan • Japan decided their goals in Asia could not be achieved as long as the U.S. had a powerful fleet in the Pacific

10. Dec. 7th, 1941…”A day that will live in infamy” • 180 Japanese “Zeroes” attacked just after 7:00 am • “Kamikaze” suicide pilots crashed into ships • 18 Ships sunk or heavily damaged • 300 planes destroyed • 2400 Americans killed • 1200 Americans wounded • FDR went to Congress…. America went to War!