The Road to WW2: Causes (Part 1)

1. The Treaty of Versailles(1919)

In reality the treaty had the opposite effect.

Harsh terms intended to make Germany powerless

1. accept total blame for WW1

2. reduced military3. reparations of $33

billion4. loss of territory

It gave Germans grievances that Hitler would attempt to solve, such as restoring national pride

2. Europe: The Emergence of New Countries After WW1

Europe 1914 Europe 1919-1939

•After WW1 German people were living in new countries (Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria) that had previously been Germany

•Many Germans felt these countries should “belong” to Germany

Lebensraum

3. Economic Depression 1930’s

The Great Depression (1930’s) made times hard for all people especially Germans Depression + ($33 billion Reparations)

desperation!

a people that will agreed to almost anything enthusiastically in return for a better life

4. Rise of Extremism - Dictators(Fascism / Communism)

1. Political democracies were new to many post WW1 European nations – voters had difficulty judging the new politicians

2. Great Depression caused social, economic, political problems – People were ready to follow any leader that promised to make things better!

Political Spectrum (of sorts!)

CentreDemocracy

LeftCommunism

RightFascism

State

Individual

Canada, Britain, France, US

USSR NAZI GermanyItaly

4. Rise of Fascism –Totalitarianism(Dictators)Fascism

A form of government (dictatorship) backed by secret police and the army

Based on nationalistic and racist theories

The state (nationalism) is more important than the individual

All opposition is suppressed (political, labour, religion)

Rise of Fascism –Totalitarianism(Dictators)

DICTATORS

Secret police

No politicalopposition

Control the media

create an us and them

Military support

prison or death

citizenship

Jews, Gypsies

Scapegoat(to blame for all the

problems)

Rise of Extremism: Fascism & Communism

FascismFranco

FascismHitler

CommunismStalin

FascismMussolini

Called “Il Duce” meaning “The Leader”

Created a totalitarian dictatorship (1922) by:

banning opposing political parties & unions

censoring newspapers

creating a secret police force

Wished to return Italy to its glorious history (Rome)

Benito Mussolini

Communism in the USSR October 1917- Communist

overthrow of the Russian Monarchy and government

A Civil War followed until the 1920’s- the communist party- Bolsheviks, led by Lenin and Josef Stalin held on to power

The communist government took control of banks, mines, oil companies and manufacturing industry

Religion was banned and the media was controlled by the state

Josef Stalin 1924 Josef Stalin became the leader of the USSR (probably by poisoning

Lenin)

He annexed many surrounding areas to form a Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) by force

Stalin was ruthless, paranoid and intelligent- destroyed any opposition by executing, imprisoning, deporting, and starving upwards of 30 million people

In Canada people were very afraid of communism due to it being associated with the USSR and Stalin which wasn’t really communism (it was Stalinism)

In 1990 the USSR collapsed creating around 20 countries that in the 1920’s were their own independent states

Spain 1931- 1936 Spain was democratic but the Depression caused many

people to despise their government

1936 an attempted coup by army officers and conservative groups

Civil War occurred- 1 million Spanish were killed (by other Spanish)

General Francisco Franco led the rebels- and was supported by Mussolini (and Hitler, we haven’t talked about him yet)

Franco relied on terrorism

February 1939 Franco was victorious and created a ruthless totalitarian state- he remained in power until 1975

Canadians in Spain Canada refused to become involved in the Spanish Civil

War- however many individuals did not agree with this

40, 000 people form Britain, the USA and Canada joined the International Brigade against Franco

1700 Canadians had fought in Spain and 1/3 of them died

Dr. Norman Bethune- mobile blood transfusion service (refrigerated trucks)

Rise of Adolph Hitler

1923 -Hitler, leader of Nazi party, conducts an armed revolt in Munich-Thrown in prison – writes “Mein Kampf” (My Struggle)

-Hitler re-organized the NAZI (National Socialist) party.-Established NAZI s throughout Germany – wins 12 seats

1928

-NY Stock Market Crash and economic world Depression-Hindenburg government fails to solve economic problems-Hitler widespread campaigns – using the airplane – rallies

1929

1932

propaganda

-Hindenburg president appoints Hitler chancellor to gain support of the Reichstag (German parliament) – believed Hitler could be controlled.

-Hitler seizes power. Proclaims himself Fuhrer1933

The establishment of a totalitarian state. State before the Individual.

Why Germans Supported Hitler

1. Glad to see a strong man in charge

2. Didn’t realize his intentions even though they were documented in Mein Kampf

3. Inspiring leader4. Brilliant and hypnotizing

speaker5. Inspiring Nazi rallies: songs,

parades6. People felt they were part of a

new movement7. Propaganda offered a source

of all problems – the Jews8. Made being a Nazi exciting –

uniforms, songs, symbols9. Fear

1933 -Hitler becomes the “Fuhrer”

His policies – What he did!

1. “Lebensraum” (living room) to take over all German-speaking countries annexed by the Treaty

of Versaille (Austria, Poland, Czechoslovakia)

2. Secret police – Gestapo Search-out, seize, torture and terrorize all opposition

3. Propaganda – gave people targets to blame for all problems: The Treaty of Versailles, Jews and communists. Preached “racial purity” - Germans were a ‘master race’

4. Jobs - Got Germans back to work – poured money into construction and factories: new roads, weapons (forbidden by T of Versailles.) men flocked to the army