Basic Causes of WWII Nationalism, Militarism, Imperialism (Sound familiar?)
Basic Causes of WWII Axis Philosophy and Aggression (Germany, Italy, Japan) Fascist totalitarianism Scorned democratic ideals, world peace, and declared their intent to destroy democracies
Basic Causes of WWII Axis Philosophy and Aggression Militarism Prepared their people for the honor and adventure of fighting and dying for their country Developed new weapons, new techniques, and large militaries
Basic Causes of WWII Axis Philosophy and Aggression Nationalism Narrow bigoted nationalism All of them considered themselves superior and destined to rule over lesser people
Basic Causes of WWII
Basic Causes of WWII Axis Philosophy and Aggression Imperialism They claimed to be have not nations and needed land and resources Japan New Order in Asia would be Japanese dominated Italy wanted to enlarge their African Empire and make the Mediterranean Sea an Italian Lake Germany aimed toward European domination and eventually world domination
Other Causes of WWII Failure of appeasement Giving in to avoid confrontation Made concessions hoping the dictators would be satisfied and stop aggression
Other Causes of WWII Failure of Collective Security Democratic nations failed to act together to stop aggression
Other Causes of WWII American Neutrality Laws U.S. still trying to be isolationist Prohibited sales of war implements Favored prepared aggressor nations over ill-prepared victims Laws also implied the US would do nothing to stop Axis aggression in Asia and Europe
Steps to War 1931-1939 Japan, Germany, and Italy form an alliance known as the Axis Did one act of aggression after another with little to no opposition from European nations or the US
Manchuria (1931-1932) Japan conquered Manchuria League of Nations protested and was ignored 1 st show of weakness Steps to War 1931-1939
Ethiopia (1936) Italy invaded League of Nations protested..same old story Steps to War 1931-1939
German remilitarization 1935 Hitler has conscription Violates Versailles Treaty 1936 Hitler moves back into the Rhineland Experienced no real opposition even though Germany now had a limited military strength Violates Versailles Treaty Steps to War 1931-1939
Steps to War 1931-1939 Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) Seen as a prelude to WWII Fascists led by Francisco Franco vs. Loyalists Franco got aid from Hitler and Mussolini Loyalists got limited aid and volunteers from Britain, France, and the US Franco wins
Photograph by Robert Capra; Spanish loyalist at the instant of death Spanish Civil War
Guernica by Pablo Picasso http://library.thinkquest.org/trio/ttq05090/vika/vikasite/meanguer.htm
China (1936-38) Steps to War 1931-1939 Japan invades and takes control of the coastal areas of China Chinese get some aid and support from Britain and the US through Burma and Tibet Rape of Nanking Thousands of Chinese citizens were slaughtered when the Japanese took this city
Austria (1938) Hitler annexed Austria saying all German-speaking people belonged within one German nation Anschluss means union between Austria and Germany Violated the Versailles Treaty but very little was said Steps to War 1931-1939
Czechoslovakia (1938) Hitler demanded possession of the Sudetenland Area of western Czechoslovakia Had German-speaking people there Claimed these people were oppressed and abused by Czech government (untrue) Steps to War 1931-1939
Czechoslovakia said NO! Turns to Britain and France for help Czechoslovakia was one of only 2 remaining democracies in Eastern Europe (Finland was the other), but Britain and France were not willing to go to war to save it Munich Conference (Sept. 1938) Steps to War 1931-1939
Munich Conference Steps to War 1931-1939 Britain and France continue their policy of appeasement Neville Chamberlain (British Prime Minister) and Edouard Daladier (French Premier) gave in to Hitler s demands Hitler promised it would be his last request for territory Czechs felt betrayed
Steps to War 1931-1939 Chamberlain went home to cheering crowds and told everyone I have established peace in our time.
6 months after the Munich Conference, Hitler seized the rest of Czechoslovakia Albania (1939) Annexed by Mussolini Gives control of the Adriatic Sea to Italy Steps to War 1931-1939
Poland (1939) Hitler demands the return of the city of Danzig and the Polish Corridor Taken by the Treaty of Versailles Has German-speaking people living there Steps to War 1931-1939
Steps to War 1931-1939 Finally, Britain and France say ENOUGH! They draw the line if Hitler invades Poland, there will be war. France and Britain also expect their old ally, Russia (now USSR), to back them up Mainly because Fascists and Communists don t like each other HATRED?
SURPRISE!!! Steps to War 1931-1939 Germany and USSR announce a Non-Aggression Pact Divided Poland between Germany and USSR Gave USSR the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) USSR secretly promised to sell supplies to Germany Hitler avoids a 2-front war
Molotov signs the Non-aggression Pact
Sept. 1, 1939 Germany invades Poland Steps to War 1931-1939
Sept. 3, 1939 Britain and France declare war Steps to War 1931-1939 WORLD WAR II BEGINS