The Road to WWIIThe Road to WWII

Links to WWILinks to WWI

The events that led up to WWII are nearly all directly linked to what happened in WWI, the Treaty of Versailles.

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles

Blame: War Guilt Clause Blame: War Guilt Clause ReparationsReparations $$$Demilitarized Demilitarized Loss of territory and vital agricultural and Loss of territory and vital agricultural and

mining areasmining areasResult?Result?Opened the door to new leadershipOpened the door to new leadership

““These points have been burned into the brain These points have been burned into the brain and emotion of this people, until finally in sixty and emotion of this people, until finally in sixty million heads, a common sense of shame and a million heads, a common sense of shame and a common hatred would become a single fiery sea common hatred would become a single fiery sea of flame, from whose heat a will as hard as steel of flame, from whose heat a will as hard as steel would have risen and a cry burst forth: ‘Give us would have risen and a cry burst forth: ‘Give us arms again’.”arms again’.”

From From Mein Kampf (My Struggle) Mein Kampf (My Struggle) by Adolf Hitlerby Adolf Hitler

Rise of Hitler Rise of Hitler

After WWI, Hitler had joined a German Working Man's party, his extremist views and enthusiasm quickly escalated him to leader of this party.

With the now breaking economy in 1930s Germany, Hitler took his chance and used his extremist views to eventually take control of the country.

Hitler becomes LeaderHitler becomes Leader Hitler succeeded Hindenburg

as leader of Germany on August 19th, 1934.

He abolished democracy, replacing it with a radical, racially motivated revision of the world order.

Fascism: A radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology that puts the that puts the needs of the country before the needs of the country before the needs of individuals. needs of individuals.

Hitler’s Ambition Hitler’s Ambition European countries

underestimated the extent of Hitler's ambitions.

He was well respected for single handedly recreating the German economy, and no one thought he would actually spark another World War.

Re-Militarization Re-Militarization Hitler then began to re-militarize

Germany, beginning with the rearmament of its citizens.

This went against the rulings outlined in the Treaty of Versailles.

He then re-militarized Rhineland which had been free of military presence since WWI.

He now had his military directly on the border of France

Response to Re-Militarization Response to Re-Militarization

Britain and France wouldn't stand up to him without the support of the other, in truth they could easily have defeated the small army of 30,000 men.

Appeasement Appeasement Britain and France both

caved in to Hitler's demands at the Munich Conference.

They gave Germany back Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia, that had large German populations.

Why did they Give it Back?Why did they Give it Back?

Again, Britain and France wouldn't stand up to Germany without the support of the other.

Both Countries were fearful of another World War.

Last StrawLast Straw

Nazi Germany attacked neutral Poland which forced both France and Britain to come to Poland's aid.

Two-SidesTwo-SidesAxis Power

V.S

Allied Powers