CAUSES OF WORLD WAR 2 1933 39 1933

CAUSES OF WORLD WAR 2 1933 - 39 1933 Jan: Hitler chosen as Chancellor of Germany 1934 Alleged attempt by Germany to takeover Austria Japan left League Germany left League and Disarmament Conferences Saar plebiscite 1935 Germany announced rearmament and conscription Italy invaded Abyssinia 1936 1937 1938 1939 Start of Spanish Civil War Rome Berlin Axis Rhineland remilitarised Italy left League Anschluss Sudetenland Crisis Munich Conference Appeasement Rest of Czechoslovakia occupied Nazi-Soviet Pact of Steel: Italy and Germany Invasion of Poland

Why were the Peace Treaties a cause of World War 2? • • Made Germany bitter and wanting revenge Was not rigidly enforced as came to be seen as unfair Created new weak countries in eastern Europe Ignored self determination especially for Germany. This gave Hitler the excuse to invade eg Sudetenland, Poland In what ways did the League’s failure contribute to World War 2? • • • Failed to enforce Treaty of Versailles Countries did not disarm Failed to stop aggression of Japan and Abyssinia, and so encouraged Hitler

How did the Great Depression affect international relations? • • • Countries put up tariffs against other countries; this increased bad feeling Japan invaded Manchuria to solve economic problems Mussolini invaded Abyssinia in part to distract the Italians Countries not willing to spend money on keeping the peace Countries not willing to use sanctions as worried about effect on own trade Helped the rise of Hitler as Germans unhappy with their governments response to the Great Depression Why is the Spanish Civil War seen as a cause of World War 2? • • Gave Germany a chance to try out their new weapons and tactics Drove Germany and Italy closer together Made UK and France more afraid of Fascism Showed weakness of league of Nations

What were the aims of Hitler’s foreign policy? • • • Unite all German speaking people Create a THIRD REICH (Empire) Gain LEBENSRAUM (living space) for the German master race Get back the losses of the First World War and Treaty Of Versailles Eliminate USSR and get revenge on France In what ways did Hitler break the Treaty of Versailles by mid 1938? • • • 1935: announced rearmament and conscription March 1936: remilitarised Rhineland March 1938: united with Austria (Anschluss)

Why was Hitler able to? Remilitarise the Rhineland? • UK did not object as felt it was German land anyway • UK and France over estimated strength of German invading army • Invaded at weekend so French government was away • League and UK distracted by Abyssinia • France would not act without support of UK Occupy Austria • Italy and Germany now allies in Rome Berlin Axis • Hitler claimed he was restoring law and order • French government had just resigned • The Anschluss was not seen as a threat to UK • Self determination as both spoke German You need to also revise the details of these Take over the Sudetenland? • British public did not want war • Self Determination • Czechoslovakia not seen as important enough • UK more scared of USSR • UK and France not ready for war • Italy supported Germany

Why did the allies practice appeasement? • • More scared of USSR Hitler seen as able to stand up to USSR and a useful ally UK and France not ready to fight a war Public not wanting to fight another war In what ways was appeasement a cause of World War 2? • Gave Hitler confidence that he would not be stopped • As a result invaded Poland September 1939 as thought UK and France would not stop him. • Germany gained valuable resources and equipment • Made Stalin think allies would not help USSR if invaded by Germany so signed Nazi-Soviet Pact

Why is the Nazi Soviet Pact seen as a cause of World War 2? August 1939 Stalin wanted an alliance with Hitler as USSR was not ready to fight a war Stalin felt that UK and France would not help USSR in the event of an invasion Hitler keen to sign an alliance as would not have to fight a two front war Agreed to not fight and divide Poland between them Meant Hitler invaded Poland but UK and France did support Poland 3 rd September 1939: declared war on Germany