The Causes of World War IIGlobal History and Geography II Name: ______________________________E. Napp Date: ______________________________

Adapted from historyonthenet.com “World War Two began in September 1939 when Britain and France declared war on Germany following Germany’s invasion of Poland. Although the outbreak of war was triggered by Germany's invasion of Poland, the causes of the war are more complex.”Questions:1: When did the Second World War begin? _____________________________________ 2: What event triggered the war? _____________________________________ 3: Review Question: What event triggered World War I? _____________________________________4: Of course, the event that triggers a war is never the only cause of the conflict. Review Question: What were the causes of the First World War? _____________________________________

The Failure of the Treaty of Versailles: A Cause of the Second World War

A War Guilt Clause - Germany had to accept the blame for starting WWIReparations - Germany had to pay £6,600 million 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.5: Why were Germans unhappy with the Treaty of Versailles? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“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 and voted to power a man who promised to rip up the Treaty of Versailles. His name was Adolf Hitler.”6: What difficulties did Germans face in the 1920s? ____________________________________________________________________ 7: Why did many Germans vote for Adolf Hitler? ____________________________________________________________________

Word Bank: Poland, Adolf Hitler, Treaty of Versailles, League of Nations, Reparations, Great Depression, Anschluss, Rhineland, Benito Mussolini, Japan, Neville Chamberlain, Appeasement, Sudetenland, Joseph Stalin, Severe Climate, Neville Chamberlain

Adolf Hitler’s Rise to Power Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in January 1933. Almost immediately he began secretly building up Germany’s army and weapons. In 1934, he increased the size of the army, began building warships and created a German air force. Compulsory military service was also introduced

Although Britain and France were aware of Hitler’s actions, they were also concerned about the rise of Communism and believed that a stronger Germany might help to prevent the spread of Communism to the West.1: Why did the British and the French not stop Hitler as he violated the Treaty of Versailles and rebuilt the German army? ____________________________________________________________________________ In 1936, Hitler ordered German troops to enter the Rhineland. At this point the German army was not very strong and could have been easily defeated. Yet neither France nor Britain was prepared to start another war.2: Why did the British and the French not stop Hitler from entering the Rhineland? _____________________________________________________________________________ Hitler also made two important alliances during 1936. The first was called the Rome-Berlin Axis Pact and allied Hitler’s Germany with Mussolini’s Italy. The second was called the Anti-Comitern Pact and allied Germany with Japan.3: With which nations did Hitler form alliances? ______________________________________________________________________________ Hitler’s next step was to begin taking back the land that had been taken away from Germany. In March 1938, German troops marched into Austria. The Austrian leader was forced to hold a vote asking the people whether they wanted to be part of Germany. The results of the vote were fixed and showed that 99% of Austrian people wanted Anschluss (union with Germany). The Austrian leader asked Britain, France and Italy for aid. Hitler

promised that Anschluss was the end of his expansionist aims and not wanting to risk war, the other countries did nothing. 4: What was the Anschluss? ______________________________________________________________________________ Hitler did not keep his word and six months later demanded that the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia be handed over to Germany. Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister of Britain, met with Hitler three times during September 1938 to try to reach an agreement that would prevent war. The Munich Agreement stated that Hitler could have the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia provided that he promised not to invade the rest of Czechoslovakia. Hitler was not a man of his word and in March 1939 invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia. Despite calls for help from the Czechoslovak government, neither Britain nor France was prepared to take military action against Hitler. However, some action was now necessary and believing that Poland would be Hitler’s next target, both Britain and France promised that they would take military action against Hitler if he invaded Poland. Chamberlain believed that, faced with the prospect of war against Britain and France, Hitler would stop his aggression. Chamberlain was wrong. German troops invaded Poland on 1st September 1939.5: What were the terms of the Munich Agreement? ______________________________________________________________________________ 6: What did both Britain and France promise they would do if Hitler invaded Poland? ______________________________________________________________________________ 7: Why was Chamberlain wrong? ______________________________________________________________________________

The Failure of Appeasement

Appeasement means giving in to someone provided their demands are seen as reasonable. During the 1930s, many politicians in both Britain and France came to see that the terms of the Treaty of Versailles had placed restrictions on Germany that were unfair. Hitler's actions were seen as understandable and justifiable.1- Why did a policy of appeasement not bring a lasting peace?

__________________________________________________________________________ The League of Nations was an international organization set up in 1919 to help keep world peace. It was intended that all countries would be members of the League and that if there were disputes between countries they could be settled by negotiation rather than by force. If this failed then countries would stop trading with the aggressive country and if that failed then countries would use their armies to fight. In theory, the League of Nations was a good idea but ultimately it was a failure. When countries called for the League to intervene, the League had to set up an emergency meeting, hold discussions and gain the agreement of all members. This process meant that the League could not act quickly to stop an act of aggression.

1. In the 1920’s and 1930’s, the rise of totalitarian governments in Germany, Italy, and Spain was largely the result of(1) the success of the Communists in establishing a command economy in the Soviet Union (2) severe economic and social problems that arose in Europe after World War I (3) the active support of the United States (4) movements demanding the return of the old monarchies

2. The harsh conditions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles after World War I helped lay the foundation for the

(1) rise of fascism Germany (2) uprisings during the French

Revolution (3) division of Korea along the 38th

parallel (4) Bolshevik Revolution in Russia

3. Between the Meiji Restoration and World War II, Japan tried to solve the problem of its scarcity of natural resources by(1) exporting agricultural products in exchange for new technology (2) establishing a policy of imperialism (3) building nuclear power plants (4) cooperating with the Soviet Union to gain needed resources

4. Which idea was included in the Treaty of Versailles to show the intent of the Allies to punish the Central Powers for their role in World War II?(1) all nations shall maintain open covenants of peace (2) freedom of the seas will be maintained (3) Germany will accept full responsibility for causing the war (4) territorial settlements shall be made along clearly recognizable lines of nationality

5. Fascism in Europe during the 1920’s and 1930’s is best described as a(1) demonstration of laissez-faire capitalism that promoted free enterprise (2) form of totalitarianism that glorified the state above the individual (3) type of economic system that stressed a classless society (4) set of humanist ideas that emphasized the dignity and worth of the individual

6. Censorship, mass arrests, and a secret police force are most characteristic of(1) parliamentary democracies (2) republics (3) totalitarian regimes (4) constitutional monarchies

7. Which policy shows that appeasement does not always prevent war?(1) British policy toward Germany in Munich during the 1930’s (2) French policy in Indochina in the 1950’s (3) United States policy toward Cuba in the early 1960’s (4) Iraqi policy toward Iran in the 1980’s

8. What was one reason the Nazi programs and policies of the early 1930’s appealed to many people in Germany?(1) the people were frustrated with their current economic and political situation (2) Germany had been denied membership in the United Nations (3) a coup d’etat had forced communism on the German people (4) the German people feared that the French of the British would soon gain control of the Polish corridor