WWII is coming fast The Treaty of Versailles wasnt fair The world-wide Great Depression made matters far worse When people get desperate they are more willing to believe that a single person can solve their problems, dictators often seem like easy answers. After WWIthis process began to emerge in Europe and Asia In 1919 Benito Mussolini started the Fascist Party Fascism believes that the country is more important than the person. Mussolini pledged to take Italy back to the glory days of the Roman Empire. His nickname was il Duce which means the leader. Mussolini may have done many brutal and tyrannical things; he may have destroyed human freedom in Italy; he may have murdered and tortured citizens whose only crime was to oppose Mussolini; but one had to admit one thing about the Dictator: he made the trains run on time. Joseph Stalin became the leader of the USSR in He imposed communism ruthlessly and forcefully killing 8-10 million Russians. "Comrade Stalin, having become General Secretary, has concentrated enormous power in his hands: and I am not sure that he always knows how to use that power with sufficient caution. I therefore propose to our comrades to consider a means of removing Stalin from this post and appointing someone else who differs from Stalin in one weighty respect: being more tolerant, more loyal, more polite, more considerate of his comrades." Born to very poor parents in Austria Very good in school, very serious, very religious and considered becoming a monk Wanted to be top of class, didnt make itand completely stopped trying Only class he liked Historyand he loved German military history Dropped out of high school WWI occurred and he was happybut refused to fight for Austria and instead moved to German and volunteered to fight for them Adolf Hitler admired Mussolini and how he came to power. Hitler began to associate with the National Socialists German Workers Party. Better known as the Nazi Party. Hitler was arrested in 1923 for trying to start a revolution. He was copying Mussolinis March on Rome While in jail, he wrote his autobiography titled Mein Kampf (my struggle). After prison, he became Chancellor in 1933 and President in 1934. In Mein Kampf, Hitler describes what he considers to be the master race. Blonde hair and blue eyes were considered superior over everyone else. This master race was called Aryans. He believed that Aryans needed more living space. That is one of his many reasons for invading Europe. Being an island, Japan lacks many resources In the Depression other countries raised tariffs and it crushed Japan because they rely on many imports The military and the people blamed the political system and corrupt politicians The military took over the government and believed the only way Japan could prosper is if they controlled more of Asia 1931 Japan invaded Manchuria, China for its resources The United States was still in the Great Depression. They did not want to get involved in a costly war with Europe. Congress would pass two Acts to remain neutral: 1. Neutrality Act of Neutrality Act of 1937 The U.S. sold materials to other countries based on the cash and carry policy. Hitler wanted to unify all German-speaking people. Both Austria and Czechoslovakia spoke German. If Hitler were to take these countries, he would gain: 1. Food Supplies3. More men to fight 2. Land4. More natural resources In March of 1938 Hitler invaded Austria declaring Anschluss (means unification). Hitler set his eyes on the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia, but the Czechs were resisting France promised to fight for the Czechs, and Britain had promised to help the French Representatives from Britain, France, Italy, and Germany agreed to meet in Munich, 1938 At the Munich Conference the sides agreed to give Hitler the Sudetenland, but it had to be the end of Hitlers demands Appeasement trying to make peace through bribery Only a month later, Hitler declared he wanted Danziga German city given to Poland after WWI Now no more appeasementif Poland got invaded, France and Britain announced they would go to war. August 23 rd, 1939 Germany and the USSR signed the Nazi-Soviet Nonagression Pact agreement. This was done by Hitler so that he wouldnt have to fight a war on two fronts. September 1st, 1939, Germany invades Poland and thus starting WWII. It only took a month for the Germans to take Poland Germany was using a new type of warfare called Blitzkrieg meaning lightning war It combined several new technologies -- Overhead bombing coordinated with tanks to break through opposing forces quickly. Paratroopers and radios connected the forces for lightning fast speed. The polish army rode horses and had lances so they had a fighting chance. France and Britain were prepared for an invasion from Germany. After WWI, France had built a wall of concrete bunkers and various fortifications on the German border named the Maginot Line. What is wrong with the Maginot line? Hitler knew of this wall and decided to invade France through Belgium. Britain and France didnt expect Germany to attempt to go thru the Ardennes Forest Hitler easily won Belgium and turned toward France. June 22nd 1940, Hitler accepted the surrender of France. In 1940 Winston Churchill became the new Prime Minister in England. Germany wanted to invade England, but you know, its an island...so they had to first beat them through the air. To invade England Germany had to win air control over the English Channel The German Luftwaffe (airforce) began dropping bombs on England. From August 23rd until September 6 th Germany bombed London during daylight. From September 7th - November 3rd, Germany sent 200 bombers every NIGHT except for one. The British had developed an advanced radar systemso they could protect themselves with air fire and getting civilians into safe places By the end of 1940, Hitler called off his invasion of England.