Causes of WWII 1 Great Depression Worldwide economic

Causes of WWII • 1) Great Depression: Worldwide economic crisis puts too much stress on many countries • 2) Treaty of Versailles: Unfair treaty after WWI punished Germany too severely • 3) Failure of the League of Nations: League was too weak to stop Japanese, Italian, & German aggression • 4) Japanese Aggression(Imperialism): Japanese military takes over Manchuria to gain raw materials (part of China; 1931)

Causes of WWII • 5) Italian Aggression (fascism): Italy attacks Ethiopia; 1935 • 5 B) German Aggression (fascism): After taking Austria and Czechoslovakia, Hitler invades Poland

The World in the 1930’s • The Soviet Union • Ruled by dictator Joseph Stalin • Totalitarian government: the government and every aspect of the peoples’ lives is controlled by one party • 5 year plans forced USSR to modernize • Execution & torture of political enemies

Germany • Germany kept taking more and more land from its neighbors while the League of Nations did nothing. Rhineland, Sudetenland, Austria • Adolph Hitler & Nazi Party came to power by blaming Jews for Treaty of Versailles along with most of Germany's problems • Fascist Government • German invasion of Poland caused WWII in Europe

Japan ▪ Depression hurt ▪ ▪ Japanese economy Military took over Emperor Hirohito Superior Japanese would conquer all of Asia Invaded Manchuria, China; 1931

Pacific Campaign: After this attack, it took the US Navy almost 6 months to recover. Meanwhile, Japanese Imperial Army and Navy invaded and occupied all of the major Pacific Islands except Australia and NZ. They conquered the last of the Philippines and forced American Soldiers to march up the island of Bataan in what was known as the Bataan Death March.

Rationing • Most factories were producing military goods, so consumer goods became scarce. • The government limited amount of goods people could buy. Americans had to use coupons to buy many products. No coupons = no products • Victory Gardens: Americans encouraged to grow their own food • Government paid for the war by raising taxes and selling bonds

Sugar Rations for children • All schoolchildren had to have a weekly dose of VIROL, a sweet and sticky extract of malt, in order to make sure they got the proper ration of vitamins; (and you weren't allowed much time to suck the spoon to get all the sticky off it!)

Battle of El Alamein • British defeat Germans in Africa • Beat German General Erwin Rommel • Saved supply route • Cut Nazis off from oil Allied Supplies

Island Hopping • Navajo codetalkers help US forces communicate without Japanese interception