Introduction to WWII
Key Concept:�What were the four main causes of WWII?
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1. Failure of the Treaty of Versailles
Germany’s borders were changed, and its economy was bankrupted by reparations payments.
4. Appeasement and Isolationism:
England and France were still recovering from WWI and unsuccessfully tried to use diplomacy to stop Hitler. Some countries, such as the United States, isolated themselves to try to avoid being drawn into other nations’ wars.
3. Nationalism:
Extreme nationalism gave rise to Fascism in Italy and Nazism in Germany and caused Japan to colonize Asia.
2. Economic Factors:
All countries suffered the effects of the Great Depression, and people blamed their governments and sought change.
Quick Facts
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A. War Costs
Quick Facts:
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B. Human Costs
When?
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1939
Sept.1 - Germany invades Poland (official start to the war)
Sept. 3 -Britain & France declare war on Germany
Dec. 7 – Japan bombs Pearl Harbor; US enters the War
1941
May - Germans Surrender
Sept. - Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima & Nagasaki, Japanese Surrender
1945
Who?
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Allies
Axis
Great Britain
France
(note: France surrendered to Germany in 1940 (after 6 weeks of fighting)
United States
Russia
Germany
Italy
Japan
(major powers)
(major powers)
Major Leaders
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Adolf Hitler
Nazi Germany
Benito Mussolini
Italy
Major Leaders
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Hideki Tojo
Japanese Prime Minister
Winston Churchill
British Prime Minister
Major Leaders
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Franklin Delano Roosevelt
US President
Joseph Stalin
Russian Leader
Why? (underlying causes of WWII)
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1. Failure of Treaty of Versailles
nations and wanted them back.
B. War Guilt Clause
1) Germany forced pay $57 trillion (modern equivalent). These payments bankrupted the German economy and left them hopeless and embarrassed.
Lloyd George, Georges Clemenceau, and Woodrow Wilson during negotiations for the Treaty of Versailles
Why?
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2. Economic Factors
A. The Depression made Germany’s debt even worse.
B. Desperate people turn to leaders who make them feel better about themselves and put the blame on others. In this case, Hitler blamed the former government, Jews, foreigners, communists, Roma (Gypsies), the mentally ill, and homosexuals.
C. Similar situations existed in other countries such as Italy.
1923 - Wallpapering with German Deutschmarks
1938- Evidence of Kristallnacht, or the Night of the Broken Glass
Why?
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3. Nationalism
A. Extreme nationalism gave rise to Fascism in Italy and Nazism in Germany and caused Japan to colonize Asia.
B. It is an extreme form of having pride in one’s country. It creates a situation in which people think, “My country and people are the best, we deserve the best, and we’re going to take it from you.”
C. To support nationalism, countries increase their military strength to get what they want.
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Why?
4. Appeasement and Isolationism
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A. Why was the U.S. isolationist?
1. The Great Depression caused economic problems in the U.S.
2. Perceptions of WWI:
a. WWI did not seem to solve much and cost too much in money and lives.
3. People thought that the U.S. got into WWI for the wrong reasons (greedy businessmen!).
B. This led to “Appeasement.”
1. Appeasement: give dictators what they want and hope that they won’t want anything else.
2. Appeasements included allowing the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, and Germany’s invasion of taking of part of Czechoslovakia called the Sudetenland.
Rise of Totalitarian Regimes
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In a Totalitarian country, individual rights are not viewed as important as the needs of the nation. The government controls every aspect of public and private life.
Totalitarianism
Communist Dictatorship (USSR)
Fascist Dictatorship (Germany, Italy)
Military Dictatorship (Japan)
Fascism: military government with based on racism & nationalism with strong support from the business community
What else did Hitler get?
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Hitler's triumphal entry into Danzig, Poland 1939
How Did Hitler Make War?
Blitzkrieg = “Lightning War”
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In the next year, Hitler invades:�
Hitler in Paris
US Assistance
Roosevelt provided aid to the Allies:
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Lend-Lease - 1939
London Firefighter Tackles an Air Raid Blaze
Atlantic Charter
Meanwhile … in the Pacific
Pearl Harbor: “a date which will live in infamy”
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USS Arizona sinking in Pearl Harbor
What?
Effect?
Key Concept: What were the four long-term effects of WWII?
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Effect | Examples |
Power Shifts | U.S. and U.S.S.R become world powers, replacing England and Germany. |
Tensions Rise | Arms Race and Cold War begin. |
Communism Spreads | U.S.S.R. sets up satellite nations in Eastern Europe. |
Hope Survives | United Nations and Marshall Plan implemented. |
The Assignment
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