Causes of World War II Four Major Causes

Causes of World War II

Four Major Causes � Treaty � World of Versailles Wide Depression � Fascism � Policy of Appeasement

Treaty of Versailles � Antagonized German population �“War Guilt Clause” caused lasting resentment �“War reparations” caused economic hardship � Gave Hitler political ammunition �Britain, France and US lessen the reparation payments � Added insult to injury �Hitler stopped making payments all together

World Wide Depression � Allies were busy trying to solve problems within their own borders �Isolationist, economic and foreign policies �Inability to properly re-arm � Economic stress leads people to do drastic or extreme solutions �Massive unemployment in Germany �Fear of inflation – money worth nothing

Fascism (Nazism) Originated in Italy (Mussolini) � Adolf Hitler created the most powerful Fascist Party in Europe � Dependent on militarism � Unquestioning acceptance of a dictator � The use of aggression as foreign policy � Ultra Nationalism � �Notion of “Master Race” � Appeals to ideas of glory

Adolf Hitler � After winning a democratic election he established a dictatorship �Eliminated all opposition • His personal body guard was the SS • responsible for criminal police • political police (Gestapo) • Opposition to government was handled with terror/ violence

� Hitler worked to end Humiliation of the Versailles Treaty (T of V) �Reparations – stopped making payments ○ Direct violation of the T of V �Reduced unemployment ○ Started to build arm forces ○ Helped farmers to rebuild their farms ○ Public works: Autobahn

� Worked to Restore German Pride �Military parades �Blamed WWI failures on Jews �Called Germans the “Aryan Master Race” • Hitler had very effective propaganda • Hitler was a good speaker • Attracted people to his Nazi ideas • Cult of Personality – intense devotion to Hitler • Used mass media – used radio, slogans, newspapers and campaigns

Hitler was EXTREMELY popular in Germany!!!!!!!

Appeasement • Before WWII, appeasement was routinely used as a foreign policy in order to prevent war • Involves giving in to the “reasonable demands” of a foreign power in order to prevent the outbreak of war.

Why Appeasement? There was a fear of repeat of WW I Britain: • Was recovering from WWI very slowly: and rearming was also slow • Guilt over harsh treatment of Germany after WWI • Unable to defend interests around the world Japan: �launched second invasion of China in 1937 • Britain could do nothing without the help of the USA • USA was isolationist, no help was coming France: • Couldn’t count on allies - Russia • Was concerned with defense rather than offence • Constructed the Maginot Line – a line of concrete fortifications

Maginot Line � Make work project during depression � Intended to combat trench warfare � With obstacles and weapon installations � Constructed on the French side of its borders with Switzerland, Germany and Luxembourg during the 1930 s.

League of Nations was Ineffective • Collective security fails – countries refused to help each other • Sanctions ineffective • Did nothing to deter Japanese - Manchuria • Did nothing to deter Italians – Ethiopia • No military force to impose on an aggressive nation • U. S. idea but not a member • isolationist

Failure of Appeasement Huge backfire � No penalties for breaking terms of To. V � � Other nations afraid of war with modern technology (Spanish Civil War) � Appeasement allows for reasonable demands ○ Problem? Hitler was not reasonable – he saw the policy as a weakness and exploited it.