The road to war presentation

The Road to WarUnderlying Causes of World War Two

1. The Treaty of VersaillesHarsh terms intended to make

Germany powerless• accept total blame for WW1• reduced military• reparations of $33 billion• loss of territory

Territorial Disputes After WWI

Many German people were living in new countries such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Austria.

Germany lost territory to several countries, leading to grievances.

2. Rise of FascismFascism

A system of government in which:• Nationalism is promoted• Labour and industry are

regulated by a strong national government

• All opposition is suppressed

Italian Fascism

The political ideology of fascism originated with Benito Mussolini, who became dictator of Italy in 1922

1922- “March on Rome” Mussolini’s blackshirts destroyed Italy’s government

Benito Mussolini

• Called “Il Duce” meaning “The Leader”

• Created a totalitarian dictatorship by:

– banning opposing political parties & unions

– censoring newspapers

– creating a secret police force

Rise of Adolph Hitler

• 1923: Hitler, leader of Nazi party, conducts an armed revolt in Munich– the “Beer Hall

Putsch”

• Hitler thrown in prison

• Wrote “Mein Kampf” (my struggle) while in prison

Rise of Fascism in Germany• 1933 -Hitler is elected Chancellor of Germany, becoming “Fuhrer” (leader)• organized opposition was violently suppressed by the “brownshirts”

• Hitler’s policy of “Lebensraum” (living room):– take over German-speaking territories in neighbouring countries such as

Austria, Poland, Czechoslovakia– defeat Soviet communism and expand German territory to the east into

the U.S.S.R., expelling non-German people

Anti-Semitism in Germany

Blamed Germany’s problems on “scapegoats” such as Jews, blacks, Gypsies, homosexuals and the mentally ill.

Nazi party policy very racist and anti-Semitic

Widespread discrimination against Jews in Germany

3. Failure of the League of Nations

Non-intervention is when one does not involve themselves with foreign affairs.

Appeasement is the act of giving into, or satisfying ones demands.

• Canada and most other countries followed a policy of non-intervention and appeasement

The League of Nations was established in 1920 to prevent war, but its decisions were not legally binding

The Manchurian Crisis

• Sept. 1931: Japan invaded Chinese province of Manchuria on the pretext that China attacked Japanese-owned South Manchurian Railroad

Manchurian Crisis (con’t)• China applied to the League of

Nations for help• The League condemned Japan’s

actions, but there was little support for economic sanctions due to Great Depression

Limited Membership

•The United States never joined the League

•The Soviet Union joined only in 1934, and was expelled in 1939

•Germany and Japan both withdrew in 1933

Spanish Civil War

In 1936 a Spanish civil war breaks out between:

New Republic government led by communists

vs.

Fascists led by Francisco Franco

Response to Spanish Civil War• “MacKenzie-Papineau Battalion” made up of Canadian supporters

of communism - over half of volunteers die• Britain, France and Canada maintain official policy of non-

intervention• Germany and Italy support the fascists with arms, equipment, and

money

Italian Invasion of Abyssinia

• Border clash between Abyssinian troops (Africa) and neighboring Italian Somaliland

• Mussolini launched full-scale attack against Abyssinia

• League of Nations imposes boycott against Italy, but little world enthusiasm for sanctions

• England and France took no action against Italy, allowing Italian ships through the Suez canal

5. Formation of Axis Powers

In 1937 Germany and Italy made a pact not to go to war with each other, later joined by Japan

They became known as the “Axis Powers” during World War Two

Hitler with Mussolini