The Causes of World War II

1. The Causes of World War II Ms. Olson USH – WWII Unit March 28, 2010

2. What are the causes of WWII? Treaty of Versailles Hitler’s Actions Failure of Appeasement Failure of the League of Nations

3. Treaty of Versailles • The four main points of the treaty were: • War Guilt Clause: • Germany should accept the blame for starting World War I • Reparations: • Germany had to pay $33 billion for the damage caused by the war • Disarmament: • Germany was only allowed to have a small army and six naval ships. No tanks, no air force and no submarines were allowed. The Rhineland area was to be de-militarized. • Territorial Clauses: • Land was taken away from Germany and given to other countries. Anschluss (union with Austria) was forbidden.

4. Treaty of Versailles cont… • The German people were very unhappy about the treaty and thought that it was too harsh. • Germany could not afford to pay the money and during the 1920s the people in Germany were very poor. • There were not many jobs and the price of food and basic goods was high. • People were dissatisfied with the government • voted into power a man who promised to rip up the Treaty of Versailles • Adolf Hitler!

5. Political Cartoon showing how Germany felt about the Treaty of Versailles…

6. Hitler’s Actions • Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in January 1933. • Immediately he began secretly building up the army and weapons. • 1934 • Increased size of the army • Built warships, created air force • Compulsory military service was introduced

7. Hitler’s actions cont… 1936 • German troops entered the Rhineland • Their army was still weak though • Entered into the Rome-Berlin Axis Pact – which allied Hitler’s Germany with Mussolini’s Italy. • Entered into the Anti-Comitern Pact – which allied Hitler’s Germany with Japan.

8. Hitler’s actions cont… 1938 • Anshluss or the annexation of Austria • Hitler promised this was the end of his expansionist policies, not wanting to risk war • Austrian leader was forced to hold a vote to ask the people if they wanted to be part of Germany, even though Germany had already invaded. • 99% - fixed voted • Austrians asked for help, but Britain, France, and Italy did nothing, choosing to believe Hitler really was going to stop his expansionist policies.

9. Hitler’s Actions cont… 1938 6 months later Hitler demanded Sudentenland of Czechoslovakia Munich Agreement: Hitler got Sudentenland as long as he did not invade the rest of Czechoslovakia Did not stick to his word – invaded the remainder of Czechoslovakia in 1939

10. What else was Hitler up to? • September 1935 –Nuremberg Laws • Took away citizenship rights of German-Jews • November 1938 – Kristallnacht • Looting and burning of 7,500 Jewish businesses, synagogues, and homes • Opened first concentration camp - Dachau

11. Failure of Appeasement • 1930s politicians in Britain and France believed restrictions placed on Germany in the Treaty of Versailles were unfair: • Began to see Germany’s actions as understandable and justifiable • So, when Germany began to re-arm, they felt Hitler had the right • Also, would help stop the spread of communism to the west

12. Appeasement cont… • May 1937, Chamberlain become PM of Britain • Believed Treaty of Versailles had been too harsh on Germany • Felt that giving into Hitler’s demands would prevent another war • Chamberlain’s = “Policy of Appeasement”

13. List of Appeasements • Did not stop Germany from Re-Arming (1934) • Stationing troops in German Rhineland, on the border with France (1936) • France could not fight Germany alone, and Britain was not prepared to go to war again. • Austrian Anschluss • Munich Agreement – Invasion of Czechoslovakia

14. Failure of Appeasement • Chamberlain celebrates Munich Agreement as a success • when Hitler breaks the agreement Europe realized the policy was a failure • Chamberlain still not prepared for war • “a quarrel in a far-away country between people of whom we know nothing” • Guaranteed that if Poland was invaded by Hitler, Britain would come to their aid

15. Failure of the League of Nations • League of Nations  International organization set up in 1919 to help keep world peace. • All countries would be members • Disputes would be settled by negotiation rather than force • If that failed, trade would stop • If blocking trade stopped, use of armies • This failure encourage Germany’s Hitler, Italy’s Mussolini, and Japan’s Hirohito • We covered what Germany did, so what about Japan and Italy?

17. Failure of the League cont… • Japan • 1931 hit by depression • Lost faith in gov’t, turned to army • Army invaded Manchuria, China • Rich in minerals and resources • China appealed to the League of Nations • Ordered Japan to leave • Called for a stop in trade • BUT, due to the depression, many countries did not want to lose trade • Again, asked Japan to leave • Japan responded by leaving the League

18. Failure of League cont… • Italy • October 1935 invaded Abyssinia (Ethiopia) • Appealed to League of Nations • League condemned the attack • Asked member states to stop trade • Ineffective, since they could trade with non-member states (America) • Also, Britain and France afraid Italy would attack them • April 1939 – Invades Albania

19. Failure of the League cont… • Can be summarized into these 4 points • Not all countries joined the League • US and Russia • The League had no power • The League had no army • Member countries had to provide troops, many were reluctant out of fear of direct retaliation • Unable to act quickly • Only met 4 times a year – emergency meetings

20. And the US? • The US played a role as well • Did not joined League of Nations • contributed to ineffectiveness • Followed policy of isolationism, • kept us out of European affairs • Depression crippled us • desperate for trade • Refused to close Suez Canal (Egypt) • prevent troop, ammunition, and weapons transports from Italy to Ethiopia

21. So… • Hitler invades Poland • Britain and France declare war on Germany • September 3rd, 1939 • Germany, Italy, and Japan sign Tripartite Pact • Pledges mutual support if the U.S. entered the war. • Japan bombs Pearl Harbor in retaliation for economic ban on trade over China • (December 7th, 1941) • 4 Days later Hitler declares war on the US