WORLD WAR II 1939 1945 Causes of WWII

WORLD WAR II 1939 - 1945

Causes of WWII � Dictators come to power � Disputes over territory � Differences in social and political values

Rise of the Dictators

Benito Mussolini (Italy) Born: 1883 Occupations: Teacher, journalist, editor, Italian Army corporal Political Beliefs: � Resigned from the Socialist party in 1915 when it advocated support for the Allies (Entente Powers) in World War I. � Did not feel Italy was given what it deserved from the Treaty of Versailles � Organized right-wing, Fascist groups

Benito Mussolini (Italy) • Founded Italy’s Fascist Party in 1919 • Considered the nation more important than the individual • Believed order in society would only come through a dictator who led a strong government • Strongly anti-Communist • Pledged to return Italy to the glories of the Roman Empire

March on Rome 1922 • Claimed he was coming to defend Italy against a communist revolution • Backed by over 40, 000 members of the Fascist militia, known as the Blackshirts • Over 14, 000 men with 30 miles Rome ready to march • King Emmanuel III appoints Mussolini prime minister • With the support of industrialists, landowners, and the Catholic Church, Mussolini takes the title of Il Duce, or “The Leader” “Either the government will be given to us or we shall seize it by marching on Rome” -Benito Mussolini

Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union) Born: 1879 � Studied theological seminary � Influenced by Marxist literature � Devoted his time to the revolutionary movement against the Russian monarchy � Political beliefs: Communist

Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union) • After the Russian Revolution the Communist Party established throughout the Russian Empire • In 1922 they renamed these territories the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) • The Communists instituted one-party rule, suppressed individual liberties, and punished opponents • After Lenin died in 1924, Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin competed for power over the Soviet Union • By 1926, Stalin was dictator • Changed his last name for Dzuhgashvili to Stalin, meaning “steel”

Stalin’s Five-Year Plans • Using Five-Year Plans, Stalin began a massive effort in industrialize his country • From 1928 to 1937, steel production increased from 4 million to 18 million tons • Industrial wages decrease by 43 percent between 1928 and 1940 • Family farms were combined and turned into government owned farms, known as collectives • Peasants who resisted faced show trials or death from starvation • As many as 10 million peasants died in famines during 1932 and 1933 • The Soviet Union was a nation of internal terrorism, with public trials that forced confessions • Stalin targeted political enemies, intellectuals, and artists • Many people were put in forced labor camps called gulags • In 1936, a new constitution was passed that promised many freedoms but was never enforced

Adolf Hitler (Germany) Born: 1889 Occupation: Artist • Studied under speaker Karl Lueger -Anti-Semitic -Preached “purity of the blood” • Served in World War I • Badly gassed and temporarily blinded • Sent to spy on political parties

Adolf Hitler (Germany) • Member of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi Party) - Nationalist -Anticommunist -Anti-Semitic - Called for Germany to expand its territory • Admirer of Mussolini • November 1923, the Nazis tried to seize power by marching in Munich, Germany • The Nazi party was banned, Hitler was imprisoned • While in prisoner Hitler wrote Mein Kampf

Hitler’s Rise to Power • Focused on getting elected to the Reichstag • By 1932, the Nazis were the largest party in the Reichstag • In 1933, Hitler was appointed chancellor • He ordered the police to crack down on Socialist and Communist Parties • Nazis paramilitary units, called Storm troopers, began intimidating voters • The Reichstag voted to give Hitler dictatorial powers • In 1934, Hitler became president • He gave himself the title of Der Fuhrer, or “The Leader”

Militarists Control Japan • Extreme nationalism fostered by the Meiji and Showa Imperial governments • Extreme militarists in Japan’s army and government pointed to samurai traditions • Militarists used intimidation and assassination to achieve their goals • Believed in military spending and territorial expansion

Disputes Over Territories

Japan Invades Manchuria, 1931 � Many Japanese military officers believed Japan was destined to dominate East Asia. � Saw seizing territory as the only way Japan could get resources they needed � Invaded Manchuria September 1931 � Converted Manchuria into a Japanese puppet state called Manchukuo � Japanese Prime Minister assassinated when he tried to stop the war

Italy Invades Ethiopia, 1935 • Mussolini wanted to build a new Roman Empire in Africa • In 1935, the Italian army invades Ethiopia, then known as Abyssinia • Haille Selassie goes into exile May 1936 • He does not return to Ethiopia until 1941

The Spanish Civil War 1936 -1939 • In 1936, Fascist General, Francisco Franco attempts a military coup -The military coup fails -Civil war begins • The Nationalists, as the rebels were called, received aid from Hitler and Mussolini -Tested new military ideas, such as air strikes • The Republicans received aid from the Soviet Union • On April 26, 1937 planes released 100, 000 pounds of bombs, destroying 70% of Guernica • 15 days after the bombing, Pablo Picasso began painting Guernica

The Austrian Anschluss • In 1937, Hitler called for the unification of all German speaking people. • In February 1938, the Austrian Chancellor agreed to greater Nazi police presence in Austria, appointed a Nazi minister of police, and announce amnesty for all Nazi prisoners. • Austria’s chancellor tried to put the unification of Germany and Austria to a vote. • Fearing the outcome of the vote, German foreign minister, Hermann Goering faked a crisis and plea for help from inside the Austrian government. • Hitler sent troops to Austria in March 1938. • The vote was held April 10, resulting in a 99. 7% approval rating for the unification of Germany and Austria.

The Munich Agreement • Hitler announces German claims to the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia due to its large German speaking population. • The Czechs strongly resist Hitler’s demands. • France and the Soviet Union promise Czechoslovakia aid if Germany attacks. • Britain pledges support of its ally, France. • Representatives from France, Britain, Italy, and Germany meet in Munich to decide Czechoslovakia’s fate. • On September 29, 1938, Britain and France agree to Hitler’s demands. This policy is known as appeasement.

Hitler Demands Danzig • One month after the Munich Agreement, Hitler demands the city of Danzig. • Although Danzig was over 90% German, it had been part of Poland since WWI. • Hitler demands a highway and railroad build across the Polish Corridor. • Britain and France promise attack to Poland if it chooses to defend its territory against Germany. • In May 1939, Hitler orders the German army to prepare to invade Poland • Hitler orders his prime minister to begin negotiations with the USSR.

The Nazi-Soviet Pact • Stalin agrees to a non-aggression treaty with Germany • He believed the best way to protect the Soviet Union was to turn capitalist nations against each other. • The Nazi-Soviet Pact was signed August 23, 1939. • The world was shocked since Communism and Nazism were supposed to be opposed to each other. • The pact included a secret deal to divide Poland between Germany and the Soviet Union.

American Values • FDR supported internationalism, the idea that trade between nations creates prosperity and preserves peace. • Most Americans supported isolationism and tried to avoid international conflicts. • Many Americans believed arms manufacturers tricked the United States into entering World War I. • The Nye Committee documented huge profits made by arms dealers during World War I.

The Neutrality Acts, 1935 1937 Nye Committee report shows huge profits made by arms dealers during WWI Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia Spanish Civil War Agreements creating the Axis alliance • mandatory embargo on selling/ exporting arms, ammunition, or implements of war to nations at war • travel restrictions • set to expire after 6 months • arms embargo with countries at war • ban on loans to nations fighting, short-term credits exempt • republics in the Americas exempt • travel restrictions • arms embargo against nations at war • trade with countries at war on a cash-and-carry basis, as long as goods were not contraband or sent to foreign ships • travel ban on warring nations’ ships