The Road to WarWorld War II

Treaty of Versailles Fails Revolution Economic Depression Dictators

Caused anger and resentment

Failures of Peace Weimer Republic

Democratic government set up in Germany Not fair to blame Debt Want colonies/border territories

Russia Resented the carving up of parts of Russia

The Soviet Union

Soviet Union Russia’s democracy collapses into Civil

War Communist State established

Soviet Union Joseph Stalin (1924) Wanted the Soviet Union to become a

great industrial power Abolished private farms and created

collectives 1928--Five-year Plans 1937--Becomes 2nd largest industrial

power Eliminated competition 8-13 million killed, plus famine 1939— totalitarian government

Italy

Italy Unemployment and inflation strikes Upper/middle classes wanted leader Benito Mussolini

Italy 1921—Fascist Party Stressed nationalism,

state above the individual Il Duce—the leader Crushed all

oppositiontotalitarian state

Germany

Germany Adolf Hitler 1919 joined the Nazi Party Became leader, Der Fuhrer Mein Kampf1. Unite all German-speaking

people2. Enforce racial purification3. National expansion for

more living space

Germany 1932 Hitler appointed chancellor Dismantled the Wiemar Republic Established the Third Reich

Japan

Japan Emperor Hirohito Military controlled politics

Japan Need for more living space for the growing

population 1931--Militarists seize control of the

Chinese province of Manchuria League of Nations responds Japan pulls out of League 1933

Europe Follows Japan Germany pulls out of League in 1933 1935 began military build up 1936 sent troops to the Rhineland Mussolini built up new empire starting with

Ethiopia in 1936

Spain

Spain 1936—Spanish army officers led

by Francisco Franco, rebelled against the Spanish republic

Spanish Civil War begins Hitler and Mussolini back Franco 1939 Franco victorious

500,000 lives lost

U.S. Response

Continued Isolationism Kellogg-Briand Pact

Signed by 62 countries in 1928 declaring that war would not be used

Nye Committee supports idea that U.S. dragged into WWI by greedy bankers/businesses

Neutrality Acts1./2. Outlawed arms sales or loans to nations at

war3. Extended ban on arms sales and loans to nations engaged in civil wars

C

E

B

A

D

F

AB

C

D

E

F

War in Europe

Austria

Austria Majority of people were Germans who

favored unification March 12, 1938, German troops marched

into Austria No opposition

Czech

Czechoslovakia 3 million German speaking people in

Sudetenland (western) Living space Hitler accused Czech of abusing Sudeten

Germans Sept. 30, 1938, signed Munich Agreement

“Britain and France had to choose between

war and dishonor. They chose dishonor. They will have war.”

Winston Churchill

German Offensive March 15, 1939, took over the remainder of

Czechoslovakia. Looked next to Poland

Poland Large German-speaking population Stalin signed a non-aggression pact and

secret pact to divide Poland Sept. 1, 1939, blitzkrieg of Poland

Lightning war Sept. 3, 1939, Britain and France declare

war. WWII had begun…

Phony War

Sitzkrieg Sitting war

Maginot Line

in France

Siegfried line in Germany

Fin.

Baltic

Stalin and the Soviet Union Annexed the Baltic States Sent army into Finland

Surrendered in 3 months

Norway

Neth

Bel.Lux

Denmark

Offensive Continues… April 9, 1940, surprise invasion of Denmark

and Norway Then the Netherlands, Belgium, and

Luxembourg Through Belgium they bypass the Magniot

line and invade France Italy joins Germany France falls on June 22, 1940

Battle of Britain Summer 1940 Goal: destroy British RAF to control skies and

prepare way for land invasion of Great Britain August 15—2000 German planes Bombings on London every night for 2 months

Airfields/aircraft Cities

RAF fights back with radar Hitler calls off invasion

Spitfire

Hurricane

Bombing of London

No one shall go hungry. No one shall be cold.

This is what Adolf Hitler has done for German craftsman.

"I ask the German people to strengthen my faith and to lend me its strength so that I will always and everywhere have the strength to fight for its honor and freedom, to work for its economic prosperity, and particularly to strenthen me in my struggles for genuine peace."

Germany is free!

After takeover of Austria

"One People, One Reich, One Führer."