Chapter 13 A World in Flames

WWII is coming fast

The Rise of Dictators after WWIThe Treaty of Versailles wasnt fairThe world-wide Great Depression made matters far worseWhen people get desperate they are more willing to believe that a single person can solve their problems, dictators often seem like easy answers.After WWIthis process began to emerge in Europe and Asia

Mussolini in Italy

In 1919 Benito Mussolini started the Fascist PartyFascism believes that the country is more important than the person.Mussolini pledged to take Italy back to the glory days of the Roman Empire.His nickname was il Duce which means the leader.

Mussolini arrested in Switzerland in 1903 for leading a violent workers protest

Mussolini leading his Blackshirts into Rome as the Fascists take over

An Italian at the time wrote:Mussolini may have done many brutal and tyrannical things; he may have destroyed human freedom in Italy; he may have murdered and tortured citizens whose only crime was to oppose Mussolini; but one had to admit one thing about the Dictator: he made the trains run on time.

Stalin in Russia

Joseph Stalin became the leader of the USSR in 1926.He imposed communism ruthlessly and forcefully killing 8-10 million Russians.

Stalin in his mid-20sAround this time he adopted the name Stalin which is the Russian word for steel

Vladamir Lenin on his death bed wrote about Stalin:"Comrade Stalin, having become General Secretary, has concentrated enormous power in his hands: and I am not sure that he always knows how to use that power with sufficient caution. I therefore propose to our comrades to consider a means of removing Stalin from this post and appointing someone else who differs from Stalin in one weighty respect: being more tolerant, more loyal, more polite, more considerate of his comrades." Collective Farms

Stalin was the most ruthless of all the dictators towards his own people. If he didnt trust youhe killed youand then photo shopped you.

Stalins Siberian Labor Camps

ADOLF HITLTER

Born to very poor parents in AustriaVery good in school, very serious, very religious and considered becoming a monkWanted to be top of class, didnt make itand completely stopped tryingOnly class he liked Historyand he loved German military historyDropped out of high schoolWWI occurred and he was happybut refused to fight for Austria and instead moved to German and volunteered to fight for themWWI Portrait

Hitler with fellow German troops in WWI (far left)

WWI (far right)

Hitler in Germany

Adolf Hitler admired Mussolini and how he came to power.Hitler began to associate with the National Socialists German Workers Party. Better known as the Nazi Party.Hitler was arrested in 1923 for trying to start a revolution.He was copying Mussolinis March on RomeWhile in jail, he wrote his autobiography titled Mein Kampf (my struggle).After prison, he became Chancellor in 1933 and President in 1934.

1928 Nazi Rally after Hitler is out of jail

1933-standing ovation after being named Chancellor

The Master Race

In Mein Kampf, Hitler describes what he considers to be the master race.Blonde hair and blue eyes were considered superior over everyone else.This master race was called Aryans.He believed that Aryans needed more living space. That is one of his many reasons for invading Europe.

JapanBeing an island, Japan lacks many resourcesIn the Depression other countries raised tariffs and it crushed Japan because they rely on many importsThe military and the people blamed the political system and corrupt politiciansThe military took over the government and believed the only way Japan could prosper is if they controlled more of Asia1931 Japan invaded Manchuria, China for its resourcesJapanese occupied Manchuria

U.S. wanting to stay Neutral

The United States was still in the Great Depression.They did not want to get involved in a costly war with Europe.Congress would pass two Acts to remain neutral:1. Neutrality Act of 19352. Neutrality Act of 1937The U.S. sold materials to other countries based on the cash and carry policy.

The Anschluss

Hitler wanted to unify all German-speaking people.Both Austria and Czechoslovakia spoke German.

If Hitler were to take these countries, he would gain: 1. Food Supplies3. More men to fight 2. Land4. More natural resources

In March of 1938 Hitler invaded Austria declaring Anschluss (means unification).Germany invading Austria

Austrians cheering for the Germans as they enter

The Munich CrisisHitler set his eyes on the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia, but the Czechs were resistingFrance promised to fight for the Czechs, and Britain had promised to help the FrenchRepresentatives from Britain, France, Italy, and Germany agreed to meet in Munich, 1938At the Munich Conference the sides agreed to give Hitler the Sudetenland, but it had to be the end of Hitlers demandsAppeasement trying to make peace through bribery Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain waves the document giving the Sudetenland to Hitler. With this, he told the world, "I give you peace in our time."

Appeasement EndsOnly a month later, Hitler declared he wanted Danziga German city given to Poland after WWINow no more appeasementif Poland got invaded, France and Britain announced they would go to war.August 23rd, 1939 Germany and the USSR signed the Nazi-Soviet Nonagression Pact agreement. This was done by Hitler so that he wouldnt have to fight a war on two fronts.September 1st, 1939, Germany invades Poland and thus starting WWII.

Germany invades PolandIt only took a month for the Germans to take PolandGermany was using a new type of warfare called Blitzkrieg meaning lightning warIt combined several new technologies -- Overhead bombing coordinated with tanks to break through opposing forces quickly. Paratroopers and radios connected the forces for lightning fast speed.The polish army rode horses and had lances so they had a fighting chance.

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Invasion of France

France and Britain were prepared for an invasion from Germany.After WWI, France had built a wall of concrete bunkers and various fortifications on the German border named the Maginot Line.

What is wrong with the Maginot line?

France had a false sense of security because of the Maginot Line

Invasion of FranceHitler knew of this wall and decided to invade France through Belgium.Britain and France didnt expect Germany to attempt to go thru the Ardennes ForestHitler easily won Belgium and turned toward France.June 22nd 1940, Hitler accepted the surrender of France.

Battle for Britain

In 1940 Winston Churchill became the new Prime Minister in England .Germany wanted to invade England, but you know, its an island...so they had to first beat them through the air.To invade England Germany had to win air control over the English ChannelThe German Luftwaffe (airforce) began dropping bombs on England.

Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.

Battle for BritainFrom August 23rd until September 6th Germany bombed London during daylight. From September 7th - November 3rd, Germany sent 200 bombers every NIGHT except for one.The British had developed an advanced radar systemso they could protect themselves with air fire and getting civilians into safe placesBy the end of 1940, Hitler called off his invasion of England.