WWII WWII BeginsBegins

What were the What were the Causes of Causes of WWII?WWII?

#1 Treaty of Versailles#1 Treaty of Versailles• destroys German nationalism and destroys German nationalism and

economyeconomy

• US Stock Market CrashUS Stock Market Crash

- Sends Germany into a huge Depression!- Sends Germany into a huge Depression!

• People are panicked and will listen to People are panicked and will listen to anyone!anyone!

- Hitler rises to power- Hitler rises to power

$1 $1 worth worth

3 3 trilliotrillio

n n MarksMarks

Selling Money by Selling Money by WeightWeight

• Hitler promises a Hitler promises a return to German return to German

Prosperity and Prosperity and GloryGlory

• Becomes dictator Becomes dictator in March 1933in March 1933

#2 Rise of Aggressors #2 Rise of Aggressors

Adolf HitlerAdolf Hitler Benito MussoliniBenito Mussolini

GermanyGermany ItalyItaly JapanJapan

Japanese AggressionJapanese Aggression

• 1931 attacks Manchuria

• 1932 attacks Shanghai

• 1937 invades China

Chinese Prisoners

being buried alive

Thirty girls were taken from language school last night, Thirty girls were taken from language school last night, and today I have heard scores of heartbreaking stories of and today I have heard scores of heartbreaking stories of girls who were taken from their homes last night--one of girls who were taken from their homes last night--one of the girls was but 12 years old....Tonight a truck passed in the girls was but 12 years old....Tonight a truck passed in which there were eight or ten girls, and as it passed they which there were eight or ten girls, and as it passed they called out "Ging ming! Ging ming!"--save our lives. called out "Ging ming! Ging ming!"--save our lives. (Minnie Vautrins diary, 16 December 1937) (Minnie Vautrins diary, 16 December 1937)

It is a horrible story to relate; I know not where to begin It is a horrible story to relate; I know not where to begin nor to end. Never have I heard or read of such brutality. nor to end. Never have I heard or read of such brutality. Rape: We estimate at least 1,000 cases a night and many Rape: We estimate at least 1,000 cases a night and many by day. In case of resistance or anything that seems like by day. In case of resistance or anything that seems like disapproval there is a bayonet stab or a bullet. disapproval there is a bayonet stab or a bullet. (James McCallum, letter to his family, 19 December, (James McCallum, letter to his family, 19 December, 1937)1937)

Italian AggressionItalian Aggression

October 1935 Mussolini attacks October 1935 Mussolini attacks EthiopiaEthiopia

German AggressionGerman Aggression

• 1936 Marches into Rhineland1936 Marches into Rhineland

• 1938 Anschluss of Austria1938 Anschluss of Austria

• 1939 Takes Czechoslovakia1939 Takes Czechoslovakia

“Well, two years ago when we marched into the Rhineland with a

handful of battalions - at that moment I

risked a great deal. If France had marched then, we should have

been forced to withdraw. But for

France it is now too late!”

-- Adolf Hitler

Austria Austria WelcomeWelcomes Hitlers Hitler

We Sing For Adolf HitlerWe Sing For Adolf Hitler

#3 Appeasement#3 Appeasement

Giving in to Giving in to an aggressor an aggressor to avoid warto avoid war

League of NationsLeague of Nations• Does little to stop Japan, Italy, Does little to stop Japan, Italy,

and Germanyand Germany

• No one wants to go to war againNo one wants to go to war again

Example of AppeasementExample of Appeasement• Munich Conference 1939Munich Conference 1939• France and Great Britain meet with Hitler France and Great Britain meet with Hitler

to persuade him to not go after the to persuade him to not go after the Sudetenland Sudetenland - end up allowing him to take it- end up allowing him to take it- Hitler promises it will be his last invasion- Hitler promises it will be his last invasion- “This is the last territorial claim I have to - “This is the last territorial claim I have to make in Europe.”make in Europe.”

““Peace in our Peace in our Time”Time”

After Munich ConferencesAfter Munich Conferences

• Hitler Invades the rest of Hitler Invades the rest of CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia• Announces future invasion of Announces future invasion of

PolandPoland

What event What event signified the signified the beginning of beginning of

WWII?WWII?

September 1, 1939September 1, 1939Germany Invades Germany Invades

PolandPoland

Countdown to WarCountdown to War• August 1939 Nazi-Soviet PactAugust 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact

- Russia agrees to help Germany - Russia agrees to help Germany invade Polandinvade Poland

• September 1 – Invasion BeginsSeptember 1 – Invasion Begins

• September 3- Great Britain and September 3- Great Britain and France Declare War France Declare War

To the chancellor of the German Reich,

Herr A. Hitler. I thank you for

your letter. I hope that the German-

Soviet Nonaggression Pact will mark a decisive turn for the better in the political relations between our two countries. . . . • J. Stalin

Adolf HitlerAdolf Hitler Benito MussoliniBenito Mussolini

GermanyGermany ItalyItaly JapanJapanAxis PowersAxis Powers

Hideki TojoHideki Tojo

Winston Winston ChurchillChurchill

Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin

Great BritainGreat BritainRussiaRussia

United StatesUnited StatesAllied PowersAllied Powers

Franklin D. Franklin D. RooseveltRoosevelt

Questions?Questions?