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Causes of WWII

The worldwide overproduction of farm products in the mid-1920s resulted in lower prices, triggering the Great Depression. Italy under Mussolini invaded Ethiopia, while Hitler pursued rearmament and territorial expansion, defying Versailles restrictions. The failure of the League of Nations and a climate of fear led to appeasement of aggressive regimes, culminating in the outbreak of WWII with the invasion of Poland.

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Causes of WWII

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  1. Causes of WWII

  2. The Great Depression • mid-1920s with the worldwide overproduction of farm products • resulting lower prices and profits for farmers. • October, 1929 the U.S. stock market “crashed,” investors panicked, pulled their money out of Europe, • World Wide • sold their U.S. stocks at cut-rate prices, • banks closed, • industry declined, • unemployment & numbers of homeless

  3. Italy becomes Aggressive:Invasion of Ethiopia • Mussolini -new Roman Empire. • In 1935, he invaded Ethiopia & was condemned by Western powers • LoN does nothing

  4. Hitler's Goals • Rearmament of Germany • Expansion of Lebensraum: Living space for German People • Re-unification with Austria • Secure Eastern Border:Poland & USSR

  5. Hitler defies Versailles • 1935 creation of the Luftwaffe (air force) • draft -armyfrom 100,000 to 550,000 troops. • Saw Western states as weak & would not enforce the restrictions of Versailles • sent troops into the demilitarized Rhineland. • Britain began policy of appeasement.

  6. Failure of League of Nations • No military • US was not a member • No way of enforcing arms limitations on Germany • Economic Depression made many nations fearful of intervention • Fear of another war led to appeasment

  7. What were the Western nations scared of? (France and G B)

  8. Spanish Civil War(Review) • General Francisco Francooverthrew the republican govt. w. the help fascist Italy & Germany • France, Britain, and the US Non-Intervention policy. • The Soviets and international volunteers unsuccessfully aided the republicans.

  9. AXIS Alliances are formed • In 1936, Germany & Italy helped created Rome-Berlin Axis. • Worked together in Spanish Civil War • in Nov. Germany also signed the Anti-Comintern Pact w. Japan

  10. Anschluss • 1938, Hitler forced the Austria to put Nazis in power. • Hitler annexed Austria

  11. Munich Conference: • Hitler demanded the Sudetenland (German speaking area of Czechoslovakia.) • Western powers appeased Hitler in return for his “promise” to not make more demands. • British PM Neville Chamberlain called it “peace for our time.” • But in 1939, Hitler took ALL of western Czechoslovakia

  12. White Board • What pieces of land has Germany taken as their own and what has the L O N done.

  13. Hitler wants Poland • After Hitler demanded port city of Danzig, Britain promised to protect new independent country of Poland from Nazi aggression.

  14. Nazi-Soviet Pact • Fearful of a two-front war, Hitler signed the peace alliance with Communist USSR • Stalin was promised east Poland and the Baltic states • September 1, 1939 Hitler attacked Poland. Britain & France declared war. WWII had begun!

  15. Discuss • Why does Hitler want this land and why would he make a deal with Stalin

  16. Invasion of Poland • blitzkrieg to conquer in only four weeks • -Lighting War quick attack from land and air • Hitler addressed Reichstag • “I am going into this struggle strong in heart. My whole life has been nothing but a struggle for Germany… I myself am ready to risk my life… I demand the same of everyone else…Anyone who thinks that he can oppose this national commandment… will die!” • Sept. 28, 1939, Germans & Soviets divided a conquered Poland.

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