Setting the Stage for War

1. Setting the Stage for War

2. Following World War I • World War I brought about new conflicts • What was the Treaty of Versailles? • Did not work • German resentment • What was going on in the world following WWI? • Weimar Republic- successful? • Dictators driven by nationalism • After the war democracies were set up, but collapsed • Dictators were able to take power

3. Russia becomes the Soviet Union • Communism established by Lenin in 1922 • Joseph Stalin takes over in 1924 • ?Totalitarian Government? • Abolished privately owned farms • Established Collectives- large government owned farms worked by hundreds of families. • 5 Year Plans- to industrialize quickly • 1937 second strongest power in the world • Estimated 8 to 13 million killed • Stalin murdered people who did not agree with him • Millions more died from hunger

4. Mussolini’s Italy • Following WWI- unemployment and inflation = discontent in Italy • Italy ruled by a king • Mussolini takes advantage of discontent • Powerful speaker • Played on people’s fears • 1921 Mussolini established Fascist party • Black Shirts= followers • Italian King appoints Mussolini head of government

5. Adolf Hitler • Following WWI a jobless soldier • 1919 joined struggling Nazi Party- German form of fascism based on extreme nationalism. • Powerful speaker • Good organizer • Became party leader • The Beer Hall Putsch- 1923 Nazi Party attempted to gain power in Munich, but failed.

6. Mein Kampf(My Struggle) • Hitler’s political beliefs • Nazi expansion • Unite all German speaking people • Enforce racial purification (Germans especially) • Aryan Race- blue eyed, blond hair=master race destined to rule the world • Jews and non-white were only fit to serve Aryan race

7. ??? • What was going on in the world which helped the Nazi’s gain power? • How did the Treaty of Versailles treat Germany?

8. Nazi’s Gain Power • War Debts & dependence on American loans made German economy suffer. • By 1932- 6 million unemployed • Many turned to Hitler for help • Joined Hitler’s army “Storm Troopers” • 1932 Nazi’s strongest political party in Germany • 1933 Hitler appointed German chancellor (Prime Minister) • Dismantled the Weimar Republic • Established the Third Reich

9. Hitler’s First Years • Bans Strikes • Gov’t given authority over businesses and labor • Unemployment dropped from 6 million to 1.5 million in 1936!!!! • Built roads, constructed factories, manufactured weapons, and served in the military. • What’s wrong with the above statement? • Controlled every aspect of German life • Press, radio, books to embrace Nazi belief • Hitler Youth & League of German Girls

10. SPEECH! SPEECH! SPEECH!

11. The Build Up To World War II

12. China 1830-1912---(1912 Proves To Be A Very Important Year For China

13. Militaristic Japan • Emperor reigns but doesn’t rule • 1920’s extreme military leaders attempted to overthrow the emperor. • Great Depression put blame on government • Unsuccessful • Military leaders launch surprise attack on China anyway • In Manchuria • Why would Japan want to invade another country?

14. Manchukuo- 1931 • Within months Japan controlled this area • Set up a “puppet government” Why didn’t China win against tiny Japan? • Back in 1912- Democracy established in China • Chiang Kai-shek (democratic) could not defeat the Japanese • Better equipped and trained (westernization) • Conquer Beijing and Nanjing • The Democratic Chinese set up new capital in west and continue to fight Mao Zedong (a Chinese communist) Civil War

15. Japanese Invasions • What’s the League of Nations? • Sent people to investigate • What did Japan do? • Militarists in total control of Japan

16. Show the Japanese Flick Here!

17. Italy Conquers • Ethiopia • Resisted Italians in 1890s • Mussolini wants revenge • October 1935 defeats the Ethiopians • Italians had modern weapons, Ethiopians did not • League condemns Italy but does nothing • Hope to keep peace by giving in

18. Hitler Ignores Versailles Treaty • See’s the League did nothing to Japan or Italy- Hitler builds up army. • League could not stop him • Actually makes Hitler more confident • Rhineland • Buffer between Germany and France • Hitler invades despite warnings • What happens? • Appeasement • Giving in to the opponent to keep peace • If Britain had stepped in at this point, Hitler would of stopped. • Strengthens Hitler’s prestige and power • Opens up Belgium and France to Germany • Axis Powers Formed • Italy and Japan decide to join up with Germany

19. Taking the Rhineland Video Clip #2

20. The Spanish Civil War • Francisco Franco • Fascist leader starts civil war in Spain • Hitler and Mussolini come to his aid • Western democracies stay out of it • Russia helps a little • Franco wins and becomes dictator

21. The Final Steps • U.S. was still Isolationist • Passes Neutrality Acts • The Third Reich • March 1938 • Germany annexes Austria • France and Britain ignore pledge to protect Austria • Sudetenland • Area of Czech made up of German speakers • Hitler demands rule of the area • Czech’s ask for help • Appeasement Round 2 (Hitler Calls A Meeting) • Munich Conference • Germany, France, Britain, Italy • Neville Chamberlain • British P.M. chooses appeasement • Gives Germany Sudetenland if Germany would respect Czech border • Winston Churchill • Warns that appeasement would lead to war

22. Was Hitler really done?

23. Six Months Later • March, 1938 • Hitler takes Czechoslovakia • Mussolini takes Albania • Hitler demands Danzig port from Poland • Doesn’t think Britain and France will risk war • Hitler and Stalin sign nonaggression pact • August 23rd, 1939 • Why? • No one is left to stop the Axis Powers