World War IIWorld War II

Major Leaders / DictatorsMajor Leaders / Dictators

Adolf HitlerNazi Germany

Benito MussoliniItaly

Adolf HitlerAdolf Hitler

Said he could solve Said he could solve his country’s his country’s problemsproblemsLed the political party Led the political party called the National called the National Socialists, or NazisSocialists, or NazisThe Nazis believed in The Nazis believed in fascismfascismIn 1933 the Nazis In 1933 the Nazis took control of took control of Germany Germany fascismfascism

Said he could solve Said he could solve his country’s his country’s problemsproblemsLed the political party Led the political party called the National called the National Socialists, or NazisSocialists, or NazisThe Nazis believed in The Nazis believed in fascismfascismIn 1933 the Nazis In 1933 the Nazis took control of took control of Germany Germany fascismfascism

Led the country of Led the country of ItalyItalyWas a member of the Was a member of the Fascist partyFascist partyPromised to bring Promised to bring order to Italy and to order to Italy and to restore its powerrestore its power

Benito MussoliniBenito Mussolini

Other Major LeadersOther Major LeadersHideki Tojo

Japanese Prime Minister

Winston ChurchillBritish Prime Minister

Other Major LeadersOther Major Leaders

Franklin Delano RooseveltUS President

Joseph StalinRussian Leader

Underlying causes of WWIIUnderlying causes of WWII1. Treaty of Versailles

(p. 315)A. Germany lost land to

surrounding nations such as France

B. War Reparations*

1) Germany had to pay $57 trillion (modern equivalent) to Allied Countries

2) Bankrupted the German economy & embarrassed Germans

Lloyd George, Georges Clemenceau, and Woodrow Wilsonduring negotiations for the Treaty

*Reparation: the act of making amends or compensation for a wrong.

More underlying causes of More underlying causes of WWIIWWII

2. World-wide DepressionA. The Depression

made Germany’s debt even worse

B. Desperate people turn to desperate leaders

1) Hitler seemed to provide solutions to Germany’s problems

1923 - Wallpapering with German Deutchmarks

More underlying causes of WWIIMore underlying causes of WWII3. Racism: the idea that one race, or group of people, is better than all others

The leaders of Germany, Italy, and Japan believed in racism.

Hitler blamed the Jewish people for Germany’s problems and sent many German Jews to prison.1923 - Wallpapering with German Deutchmarks

Why did the US lean Why did the US lean towards isolationism*?towards isolationism*?

Why was the U.S. Isolationist?

1. Great Depression (problems at home)

2. Perceptions of WWIa. WWI did not seem to solve much

b. People were horrified by the destruction of WWI

Isolationism: the policy that a nation should avoid political and economic relationships with other countries

Germany Invades PolandGermany Invades Poland

Great Britain and France formed an Great Britain and France formed an alliance known as the Allied Powers, or alliance known as the Allied Powers, or AlliesAlliesThe Allies tried to stop Germany from The Allies tried to stop Germany from invading by signing an agreement with invading by signing an agreement with HitlerHitlerHitler promised not to invade any more Hitler promised not to invade any more countries. In return, the Allies agreed to countries. In return, the Allies agreed to let Germany keep the land it had already let Germany keep the land it had already taken.taken.

The agreement The agreement allowed Germany allowed Germany to march into to march into Poland without Poland without fear of an attack fear of an attack because he had because he had signed and signed and agreed. agreed.

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

September 1939: Germany invaded Poland

German troops marching into Warsaw, the capital of Poland.

When Germany attacked Poland, the When Germany attacked Poland, the Allies declared war on Germany.Allies declared war on Germany.

Italy and Japan son declared war on the Italy and Japan son declared war on the Allies.Allies.

The Allies could not stop the German The Allies could not stop the German army.army.

By the end of 1941, Germany controlled By the end of 1941, Germany controlled most of Europe. Only Britain had not most of Europe. Only Britain had not fallen.fallen.

British Prime Minister British Prime Minister Winston Churchill inspired Winston Churchill inspired people to keep fighting.people to keep fighting.

““We shall go on to We shall go on to the end. We shall the end. We shall fight in France, fight in France, we shall fight on we shall fight on the seas and the seas and oceans . . . We oceans . . . We shall never shall never surrendersurrender.”.”

Late 1941:Late 1941:Britain now stood Britain now stood alone as the last alone as the last remaining enemy remaining enemy of Hitler’s of Hitler’s Germany in Germany in Western Europe.Western Europe.

Adolf Hitler tours Paris after his successful invasion.

Summary: Germany ExpandsSummary: Germany ExpandsAfterAfter World War I World War I

Treaty of Versailles seriously damaged Treaty of Versailles seriously damaged German economy German economy Adolf Hitler came to powerAdolf Hitler came to power

– Promised to restore Germany’s greatnessPromised to restore Germany’s greatnessHitler wanted more territoryHitler wanted more territory

– Neighbors aware of threatNeighbors aware of threat– Memories of World War I still freshMemories of World War I still fresh– No one willing to fight over wordsNo one willing to fight over words

Identify Supporting Details

With whom did Hitler seek alliances in the late 1930s?

Answer(s): Japan and Italy; he also signed a nonaggression pact with the Soviet Union

September 1, 1939

• Germany attacked Poland

• World War II begins

Support for Poland

• Britain and France declared war on Germany

• Allies gave no real help

• Poland fell into German hands

Devastating effects

• Polish air force destroyed

• Soldiers fought; no match for German forces

• No natural barriers in the way

German troops in position

• On Germany’s western border

• Hitler eager for assault on France

• Plans for invasion made

• Hitler conquers all of Western Europe except Great Britain

The War Begins: SummaryThe War Begins: Summary

America Enters the War . . . . .

America Enters the War . . . . .