Causes of WWIICauses of WWII

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression The Rise of FascismThe Rise of Fascism The Treaty of VersaillesThe Treaty of Versailles The Failure of the League of NationsThe Failure of the League of Nations The Rise of FascismThe Rise of Fascism The Appeasement of HitlerThe Appeasement of Hitler The Invasion of PolandThe Invasion of Poland

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression

The Depression destabilized economies and The Depression destabilized economies and governments world widegovernments world wide

People looked for changePeople looked for change Change often came in radical forms of government Change often came in radical forms of government Military spending and aggressive expansion helped Military spending and aggressive expansion helped

countries emerge from economic problems.countries emerge from economic problems.

The Rise of FacismThe Rise of Facism

Dictators of the 1930sDictators of the 1930s Hitler – GermanyHitler – Germany Mussolini – ItalyMussolini – Italy Stalin – RussiaStalin – Russia Hirohito – JapanHirohito – Japan Franco - SpainFranco - Spain

The Treaty of VersaillesThe Treaty of Versailles In 1919, Lloyd George of England, Orlando of Italy, In 1919, Lloyd George of England, Orlando of Italy,

Clemenceau of France and Woodrow Wilson from Clemenceau of France and Woodrow Wilson from the U.S. met to discuss the conditions for the end of the U.S. met to discuss the conditions for the end of World War I. World War I.

The Big Four

President Wilson President Wilson designed a 14 point designed a 14 point plan that was fair plan that was fair and balanced. and balanced. Germany, which was Germany, which was not invited to not invited to process, believed process, believed the Treaty would be the Treaty would be based on Wilson’s based on Wilson’s plan. plan.

Wilson’s plan Wilson’s plan was vetoed. The was vetoed. The French wanted French wanted revenge and the revenge and the Treaty was Treaty was created to created to punish punish Germany for Germany for the destruction the destruction France and France and other countries other countries suffered. suffered.

Terms of the Treaty of Terms of the Treaty of VersaillesVersailles

There were a total There were a total of 440 clauses in of 440 clauses in the final treaty. The the final treaty. The first 26 clauses first 26 clauses dealt with the dealt with the establishment of establishment of the League of the League of Nations. The Nations. The remaining 414 remaining 414 clauses spelled out clauses spelled out Germany's Germany's punishment. punishment.

The League of NationsThe League of Nations

The League was established to The League was established to ensure that war never broke out ensure that war never broke out again. This would be done through again. This would be done through collective securitycollective security and preservation and preservation of peace through arbitration of of peace through arbitration of international disputes. international disputes.

Forcing one or two countriesTo work out their problems peacefully

War would be avoided because no one War would be avoided because no one country would want to deal with the country would want to deal with the 65 member countries of the League. 65 member countries of the League. It was like a big police force.It was like a big police force.

War Guilt ClauseWar Guilt Clause

This clause, more than any other in This clause, more than any other in the entire Treaty of Versailles, was the entire Treaty of Versailles, was to cause lasting resentment in to cause lasting resentment in Germany… The guilt clause resulted Germany… The guilt clause resulted in German humiliation and rage. in German humiliation and rage.

ReparationsReparationsGermany had to pay for all damages caused Germany had to pay for all damages caused

by the war. The price was set at:by the war. The price was set at:

6 600 000 000 which equalled 6 600 000 000 which equalled

$ 32 000 000 000$ 32 000 000 000

Today it would be Today it would be

approximately:approximately:

$ 400 000 000 000$ 400 000 000 000

The debt would not be paid off until 1988The debt would not be paid off until 1988

500 000 marks500 000 marks 5 million Marks5 million Marks

1 Billion Marks 1 Billion Marks 500 Billion Marks500 Billion Marks

Military Clauses Military Clauses

Army Army - was - was to be reduced to be reduced to 100,000 to 100,000 men and no men and no tanks or tanks or heavy heavy equipment equipment was allowed was allowed

NavyNavy - Germany - Germany was only was only allowed : allowed :

6 battleships 6 battleships 6 light cruisers 6 light cruisers 12 destroyers 12 destroyers 12 torpedo 12 torpedo

boats boats Navy could not Navy could not

have more than have more than 1500 officers  1500 officers 

AirforceAirforce - - Germany Germany was not was not allowed any allowed any airforceairforce

Rhineland Rhineland - The Rhineland area - The Rhineland area was to be kept free of German was to be kept free of German military personnel and weaponsmilitary personnel and weapons

Territorial Clauses Territorial Clauses

AnschluAnschlussss - - Germany Germany was not was not allowed allowed to unite to unite with with Austria. Austria.

Land Land - Germany lost valuable land to a - Germany lost valuable land to a number of other countries. number of other countries.

Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France Eupen and Malmedy were given to Eupen and Malmedy were given to

Belgium Belgium North Schleswig was given to DenmarkNorth Schleswig was given to Denmark German land was also given to German land was also given to

Czechoslovakia and PolandCzechoslovakia and Poland

The League of Nations took control The League of Nations took control of Germany's colonies of Germany's colonies

May the hand wither May the hand wither that signs this treaty.that signs this treaty.

Frederick Scheidemann, the German Frederick Scheidemann, the German Chancellor (June 1919) then he Chancellor (June 1919) then he resigned rather than agree to the resigned rather than agree to the TreatyTreaty

Those who sign this Those who sign this treaty, will sign the treaty, will sign the death sentence of death sentence of many millions of many millions of German men, women German men, women and children.  and children.  

Count Brockdorff-Rantzau, leader of the Count Brockdorff-Rantzau, leader of the German delegation to Versailles (15 German delegation to Versailles (15 May 1919).  May 1919).  

The Failure of the League The Failure of the League of Nationsof Nations

It was weak from the beginning, and It was weak from the beginning, and had spectacular failures in had spectacular failures in Manchuria and Abyssinia, and in Manchuria and Abyssinia, and in making Hitler keep the Treaty of making Hitler keep the Treaty of Versailles.   It failed to achieve Versailles.   It failed to achieve disarmament.   disarmament.  

ManchuriaManchuria

In 1932, the Japanese army invaded In 1932, the Japanese army invaded Manchuria and  threw out the Chinese.     Manchuria and  threw out the Chinese.    

China asked the League to help. The League China asked the League to help. The League could not agree on sanctions or even a ban on could not agree on sanctions or even a ban on weapons sales. Britain and France did not weapons sales. Britain and France did not want a war, so nothing was done. want a war, so nothing was done.

The Japanese stayed in Manchuria. The Japanese stayed in Manchuria. The League had failed.  The League had failed.  

AbyssiniaAbyssinia

In 1935 Mussolini got ready to In 1935 Mussolini got ready to invade Abyssinia (Ethiopia). He invade Abyssinia (Ethiopia). He wanted war and glory. He tested wanted war and glory. He tested new weapons of war against tribal new weapons of war against tribal people. Abyssinia asked the League people. Abyssinia asked the League to help. Italy conquered Abyssinia to help. Italy conquered Abyssinia

The League did nothing.   The League did nothing.  

Reasons for FailureReasons for Failure

WAS DUMBWAS DUMB

WWeak eak AAmericamerica SStructuretructure DDepressionepression UUnsuccessfulnsuccessful MMembersembers BBig Bulliesig Bullies

WWeak – It had no army. eak – It had no army.

AAmerica – the strongest nation in the merica – the strongest nation in the world never joined.   Britain and France world never joined.   Britain and France were not strong enough to impose pace were not strong enough to impose pace on their own. on their own.

SStructure – the League was muddled, so tructure – the League was muddled, so it took ages to do anything. Members it took ages to do anything. Members couldn’t agree – but decisions had to be couldn’t agree – but decisions had to be unanimous. This paralysed the League. unanimous. This paralysed the League.

Depression – the world-wide Depression Depression – the world-wide Depression made countries try to get more land and made countries try to get more land and power. power.

Unsuccessful – the more the League failed, Unsuccessful – the more the League failed, the less people trusted it. In the end, the less people trusted it. In the end, everybody just ignored it.everybody just ignored it.

Members – the League’s main members let it Members – the League’s main members let it down. Italy and Japan betrayed the League. down. Italy and Japan betrayed the League. France and Britain did nothing to help it. France and Britain did nothing to help it.

Big bullies – in the 1920s, the League had Big bullies – in the 1920s, the League had dealt with weak countries. In the 1930s, dealt with weak countries. In the 1930s, powerful countries like Germany, Italy and powerful countries like Germany, Italy and Japan attacked weaker countries. They were Japan attacked weaker countries. They were too strong for the League to stop themtoo strong for the League to stop them.   .  

AppeasementAppeasement

~ G~ Giving in to a bully or pacifying iving in to a bully or pacifying a babya baby ~   ~  

1. CONSCRIPTION&RE-1. CONSCRIPTION&RE-ARMAMENT ARMAMENT

Hitler began to build up his armed Hitler began to build up his armed forces. In 1935 he introduced forces. In 1935 he introduced conscription (forced military conscription (forced military enlistment). This broke the Treaty enlistment). This broke the Treaty of Versailles, but Britain and France of Versailles, but Britain and France let him get away with it.   let him get away with it.  

3. RHINELAND 3. RHINELAND Hitler marched into the Rhineland on 7 Hitler marched into the Rhineland on 7

March 1936 The Rhineland is an area of March 1936 The Rhineland is an area of German territory on the border with France. German territory on the border with France. Germany was not to have any soldiers in this Germany was not to have any soldiers in this area so that the French could feel safe. area so that the French could feel safe. Bringing soldiers in broke the Treaty of Bringing soldiers in broke the Treaty of Versailles. It was a bluff – the German army Versailles. It was a bluff – the German army had only 22,000 soldiers and had orders to had only 22,000 soldiers and had orders to retreat if they met any resistance. But retreat if they met any resistance. But Britain and France did nothing. Britain and France did nothing.

4. AUSTRIA (4. AUSTRIA (Anschluss)Anschluss) In 1938, Hitler took over Austria. In 1938, Hitler took over Austria.

First, Hitler encouraged the Austrian First, Hitler encouraged the Austrian Nazis to demand union with Nazis to demand union with Germany. Then Hitler invaded Germany. Then Hitler invaded Austria (11 March 1938). This broke Austria (11 March 1938). This broke the Treaty of Versailles, but once the Treaty of Versailles, but once again, Britain and France did again, Britain and France did nothing.   nothing.  

5. Sudetenland 5. Sudetenland In 1938, Hitler tried to take over the In 1938, Hitler tried to take over the

Sudetenland (a part of Sudetenland (a part of Czechoslovakia with a large German Czechoslovakia with a large German population). British P.M. Neville population). British P.M. Neville Chamberlain appeased Hitler. At Chamberlain appeased Hitler. At Munich, on 29 September 1938, Munich, on 29 September 1938, Britain and France gave Hitler the Britain and France gave Hitler the Sudetenland. Sudetenland.

“Appeasement proves that sensible discussion instead of fighting can produce success - no lives were lost!” “This deal means fair treatment”. “Appeasement means we can avoid another terrible war. This is clearly a good idea” British Prime Minister Chamberlain

6. CZECHOSLOVAKIA 6. CZECHOSLOVAKIA On 15 March 1939, Hitler’s troops On 15 March 1939, Hitler’s troops

marched into the rest of marched into the rest of Czechoslovakia. This, for most Czechoslovakia. This, for most British people, was the time when British people, was the time when they realized that the only thing that they realized that the only thing that would stop Hitler was a war. Britain would stop Hitler was a war. Britain and France still did nothing. and France still did nothing.

“ “Appeasement makes us look Appeasement makes us look weak, powerless and a waste weak, powerless and a waste of space…Hitler must be of space…Hitler must be laughing! Giving Germany laughing! Giving Germany landland

only means they will get more only means they will get more powerful and thus less easy to powerful and thus less easy to defeat. Hitler has made his defeat. Hitler has made his plans clear - he wants all of plans clear - he wants all of Eastern Europe - he will Eastern Europe - he will NEVER keep to his promise.NEVER keep to his promise.

Russia will now look for Russia will now look for agreements with Nazi agreements with Nazi Germany rather than with us. Germany rather than with us. This is dangerous…A terrible This is dangerous…A terrible policy. Hitler now thinks he policy. Hitler now thinks he can get away with whatever can get away with whatever he wants!”he wants!”

Future Prime Minister Future Prime Minister Winston Churchill Winston Churchill

7. USSR ~ NAZI PACT7. USSR ~ NAZI PACT In summer 1939, Hitler began to In summer 1939, Hitler began to

unfold his plan to take over Poland. unfold his plan to take over Poland. Chamberlain promised the Poles that Chamberlain promised the Poles that Britain would support them if Britain would support them if Germany attacked Poland. In August Germany attacked Poland. In August 1939, Hitler made a secret treaty 1939, Hitler made a secret treaty with Russia. He thought this would with Russia. He thought this would stop Britain & France helping Poland. stop Britain & France helping Poland.

8. POLAND 8. POLAND

On 1 September 1939, Hitler invaded On 1 September 1939, Hitler invaded Poland. Poland.

On 3 September 1939, Chamberlain On 3 September 1939, Chamberlain declared war on Germany. declared war on Germany.

On May 10, after British forces are On May 10, after British forces are defeated by Germany in Norway, defeated by Germany in Norway, Chamberlain resigns as Prime Minister Chamberlain resigns as Prime Minister and is replaced by Winston Churchill.and is replaced by Winston Churchill.

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