WWII Introduction

• Most destructive human endeavor in history• Battles were fought on every continent• More than 60 countries were involved• Three quarters of the world population was

impacted• At least 57 million people were killed– More than half of them were civilians

WWII Introduction

• Everything about the war was on a grand scale– Villains, were more evil than most: Hitler, Eichmann– Heroism was truly extraordinary: Murphy– Atrocities were more heinous: Rape of Nanking, Death

camps– Destruction was more devastating: Dresden, Hiroshima

Causes of World War II

There are no definitive causes that led directly to WWII; however, we can look to the past to find many culprits.

1. Treaty of Versailles: Germany was destroyed politically, militarily, economically and territorially.

2. Nationalistic: Bring pride back to the people of Germany. Superiority to all other races (Germany and Japan)

3. Militaristic: Bring glory to once proud Empires4. Imperialistic: Quest of raw materials and a “Devine Destiny”

World War II

Economic Crisis of the 20s and 30s

• 1921: 75 German Marks = 1 U.S. Dollar• January 1923: 18,000 Marks = 1 U.S. Dollar• November 1923: 4 Billion Marks = 1 U.S. Dollar– Germany’s Middle Class lost everything

• Hitler saw FDRs New Deal galvanize the American Isolationist Lobby.– This led Hitler to believe the U.S. would not get

involved again in European affairs

Fascist Dictators Rise

• Benito Mussolini–1922 takes

control of Italy

Imperial Japan

• Emperor Shōwa was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order, reigning from December 25, 1926, until his death on January 7, 1989.

Nationalistic move by military

• Tojo held extreme right-wing views and was a supporter of Nazi Germany.

• Tojo became prime minister on 16th October 1941.

Fascist Dictators Rise

•Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler

• Born April 20, 1889– Braunau am Inn, Austria

• Poor student– Dropped out at 16

• Failed 2x to get accepted to Vienna Academy of Art

Adolf Hitler

• Influenced in Vienna by 1. Karl Lueger– Socialist mayor– Showed Hitler that the public would forego

freedom to get economic security

2. Georg von Schoenerer– Blamed Jews for all of the world’s evils

Adolf Hitler

• World War I– Refused to fight for Austria • Didn’t want to fight alongside Jews and Slavs

– Volunteered for Bavarian Infantry Regiment• Decorated 2x for bravery• Wounded 2x

– Blamed the Marxists and Jews for Germany’s defeat and suffering following the war

Adolf Hitler

• 1919 Hitler joins the German Workers’ Party– Becoming the 7th active member– 1921 party becomes known as National Socialist

German Workers’ Party, which becomes known as the Nazi Party

– Creates the SA, his own personal army• Become known as the Brown Shirts

– Party adopts the Swastika as its symbol• Swastika is an ancient religious emblem

Adolf Hitler

• Beer hall Putsch (revolt)– November 8, 1923– Attempt to take control of Bavarian Government– Revolt Fails• Hitler arrested• Sentenced to 5 years in prison• Writes book title Mein Kampf (My Struggle)

– Book lays out Hitler’s views on Jews, Aryan purity, Communism, and the need to rebuild Germany

• Hitler released after 9 months in prison

Adolf Hitler

• 1925 Hitler establishes himself as Fuhrer of the Nazi Party

• Creates the SS to control and protect the party• January 30, 1933 Hitler becomes Chancellor of

Germany– First speech as Chancellor