LEADING INTO WWII

Germany Faces Economic Despair and Political Instability

Post-WWI

Economic and Political Issues

Why? Treaty of Versailles forced them to give up

land, limit its military and pay $32 billion for cost of war

REVENGE!: Many European nations were on the verge of bankruptcy and refused to make the treaty more just

Germany started printing more money- creating terrible inflation

Weimer Republic: post-WWI German government

INFLATIONMoney became worth less and less,

so – by the fall of 1923 one US dollar was worth one BILLION

German marks!

2 millions marks 4 millions marks

WEIMER REPUBLIC

•Unable to deal with post-war problems

•German people were looking for someone to blame! And those Weimer guys had signed the

Treaty!

So how does America respond? ISOLATION! Leave us out of it! But we need our money!

Dawes Act (1924)we give money to Germany Germany pays back England and France

England and France pay us back (essentially we’re paying ourselves back!)

The Rise of Adolf Hitler

Background on Adolf Hitler

Born in 1889 in Austria WWI

Enlisted in German army

Emerged from war an extreme nationalist- giving wildly emotional speeches attacking WR and promoting Nazism

Hitler speaking in 1933

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q-6H4xOUrs&feature=related

Hitler’s Power Increases

1923- Hitler led an uprising and was jailed for a year, he wrote:

Mein Kampf (“My Struggle”) German people are of a

superior “Aryan” race that was meant to control others and rule the world

Blamed Jews for Germany’s economic problems and defeat in WWI

Hitler’s Power Increases

Nazi party grows and gain more seats in the Reichstag (German legislature)

1932- several events occur that quickly increase the power of Hitler and his Nazi party

1934- He becomes FUHRER (“leader”) and creates a fascist state Army takes oath to obey Hitler Took control of all aspects of government-

outlawed opposition and dissent

Hitler’s Policies

Anti-Semitic Policies

Starts with limiting Jewish professions (no teaching, law, medicine…)

Nuremberg Laws, 1935 No citizenship Banned marriages

between Jews and non-Jews

Register with government and wear yellow Stars of David

Symbols

Symbols and colors were used to identify different groups based on race and religion

Anti-Semitic Policies

Kristallnacht “Night of Broken

Glass” 15 hours:

200 synagogues destroyed by fire

7,500 Jewish-owned stores looted

over 100 Jews killed, 30,000 Jews were

arrested and interned in prison camps

Domestic and Foreign Policies

Military buildup (ignoring Treaty of Versailles) is necessary for recovery and national pride

“Aryan master race” means: Germany has the right to expand and win territory!

Increased taxes and controlled wages and prices Built housing, highways and

sports arenas

Our economy will be

awesome! We will gain new territory! We deserve it!!

Domestic and Foreign Policies

So how does the US respond?

FDR and Hitler came into power in the same year (1932)

So we focus on domestic concerns! New Deal!

Americans did not want to get militarily involved, instead we encourage disarmament

What’s going on in the US at that time?

What’s going on in other nations at this time?

Italy, Spain and Japan

Issues In Italy

Severe social and economic problems (much like Germany)

Benito Mussolini and fascism to save the day (so they said) Inspired patriotism, obedience to authority

and militarism Fascists controlled or regulated social,

political and economic aspects of Italy If problems continue- it’s the world’s fault!!

Remind you of anyone?

Issues in Italy

Imperialism! Pursued territorial

expansion Ethiopia fell to

Italian military and the League of Nations did nothing effectively to stop it

Issues in Spain

Spanish Civil War Franco and Nationalist Party vs.

Republicans Franco wins!

Mussolini and Hitler back him up! Rome-Berlin Axis

Military alliance- hey and maybe we’ll interfere in other countries too!

Issues in Japan

Economic problems! Nationalism rising

Militarism Military leaders rose

to power Arrested government

critics, preached total obedience, glorified war and empire

Imperialism Attacked Manchuria

and wanted to continue aggressive policies in Asia

Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis

FearsFears??

US Response

Neutrality Acts- 1935, 1936, 1937 Cannot trade with military aggressive

nations, travel on ships of countries at war or loan them money

“Moral Embargo” with Italy Responding economically to Italy’s

aggression (so instead of selling them munitions, we sold them oil, copper and scrap metal so that Italy could make war materials themselves)

US Response

Trying to maintain neutrality as Franco takes power in Spain

Issued Stimson Doctrine to Japanese “We don’t like what you’re doing Japan! But

we’re staying out of it.” “Quarantine Speech” by FDR

As aggression continued in Asia and Europe, FDR became more concerned- BUT no action accompanied the speech.

““The epidemic of world The epidemic of world lawlessnesslawlessness is is

spreading. When an spreading. When an epidemic of physical epidemic of physical

disease starts to spread, disease starts to spread, the community approves the community approves and joins in a quarantine and joins in a quarantine of the patients in order of the patients in order to protect the health of to protect the health of the the communitycommunity against against

the spread of the the spread of the disease..”disease..”

““The epidemic of world The epidemic of world lawlessnesslawlessness is is

spreading. When an spreading. When an epidemic of physical epidemic of physical

disease starts to spread, disease starts to spread, the community approves the community approves and joins in a quarantine and joins in a quarantine of the patients in order of the patients in order to protect the health of to protect the health of the the communitycommunity against against

the spread of the the spread of the disease..”disease..”

German Aggression

WWII

Territorial Expansion

Reoccupied Rhineland (‘36)

Invaded Austria (’38) Demands Sudetenland

(region within Czechoslovakia)

Munich Agreement, Sept. 28, 1938Hitler and ChamberlainHitler gets to keep

Sudetenland and promises he won’t try to expand anymore

Appeaseme

nt

The US?

Encourages the Munich Agreement Maintains neutrality

More German Aggression

Hitler invades Czechoslovakia

Nazi-Soviet Pact Pledged not to attack

each other world is astonished! But

Soviets felt they had to act independently because France and Britain were hesitant to join forces with Soviet Union!

I was kidding about I was kidding about the Munich the Munich

Agreement! I want Agreement! I want more land! Germany more land! Germany

deserves it!deserves it!

WWII Begins

The Start

September 1, 1939 Hitler invades

Poland Great Britain and

France declare war on Germany

US Actions- Road to War

Debating neutrality at start of war- it’s becoming more complicated

Cash and Carry FDR: If we want to continue neutrality we

need to help Allies or we’ll be in danger! Sell weapons to Allies as long as paid in cash

and the Allies transport them across the Atlantic

American public thinks Hitler needs to be defeated BUT they want to stay out of war

FDR State of the Union January 6,

1941

In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression--everywhere in the world.

The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way--everywhere in the world.

FDR State of the Union January 6,

1941

The third is freedom from want--which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants--everywhere in the world.

FDR State of the Union January 6,

1941

The fourth is freedom from fear--which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor--anywhere in the world.

FDR State of the Union January 6,

1941

Are these worth fighting for?Do we fight?

US Actions- Road to War

Hitler is gaining power and territory Britain was lone power fighting off

Germany Atlantic Charter- August 1941

British PM Churchill meets with FDR Stated no desire for territory and full

support for rights of all peoples to choose their government

US Actions- Road to War

Lend-Lease Act Isolationist feelings

wavering as France fell to Germany

We’ll “loan” you weapons (replace cash and carry)

Oct. 1941- Germany sinks 2 ships killing about 100 Americans as we deliver weapons

US Actions- Road to War

Japan, General Tojo pursuing aggressive expansion in Asia

Tensions increased and US enacted some economic sanctions

Japan attacks Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 Over 2,300

Americans killed

Pearl Harbor

“Yesterday, December 7, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy – the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the empire of Japan…No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.”

US Declares War

Allied Powers US Great Britain France

Axis Powers Japan Germany Italy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIyvnrKl1Rk&feature=related