ROAD TO WORLD WAR II

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ROAD TO WORLD WAR II
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CAUSES - The Peace of Paris

• A. The Peace of Paris (collective name for all
  the treaties drawn up). Many countries
  dissatisfied with the agreements either because
  they lost territory or had to pay reparations. In
  Germany, the hated treaty was called the
  Friedensdiktat ("the dictated peace")

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CAUSES -Economic Problems

• B. Economic Problems
• 1. Debt Europeans urged Americans to erase the
  war debt but American leaders insisted on
  repayment. Coolidge said ''They hired the money,
  didn't they?" Nevertheless, the U.S. cut Allied
  war debt in half during the 1920's. In 1931
  Hoover declared a moratorium on payment of war
  debts. Allied debtors defaulted on the remainder
  owed.

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CAUSES - Economic Problems

• 2. Inflation in Germany The mark went from 8.4
  to the dollar in 1919 to 7,000 to the dollar by
  December, 1922. When the Allied Reparations
  Commission declared Germany in default on its
  debt the French and Belgians occupied the Ruhr on
  January 11, 1923. Chancellor Wilhelm Cuno
  encouraged passive resistance and printed
  worthless marks which dropped from 40,000 to the
  dollar in January, 1923 to 4.2 trillion to the
  dollar by December. The Ruhr occupation ended on
  September 26, 1923 but the inflationary spiral
  had severe economic, social, and political
  consequences.

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CAUSES -Economic Problems

• 3. Reparations Germany defaulted on its
  payments. America feared that radicalism would
  grow in Germany so American bankers loaned
  millions of dollars. This was the beginning of
  the Triangular Relationship
• 1) Americans bankers loaned money to Germany
• 2) Germany paid reparations to Allies
• 3) Allies repaid war debts to United States

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CAUSES -Economic Problems

• a. Dawes Plan (1924) reduced Germany's annual
  payments, extended the repayment period, and
  provided more loans.
• b. In 1928-29 American loans to Germany declined
  as investment in the stock market became more
  lucrative.
• c. Young Plan (1929) reduced Germany's
  reparations but ineffective as the international
  economy collapsed. Great Britain rejected
  Hoover's offer to exchange war debt for British
  Honduras, Bermuda, and Trinidad.

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CAUSES -Economic Problems

• 4. Depression High unemployment (Germany's was
  almost equal to that of the other European
  countries combined - 43 in 1932) and economic
  disorder

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CAUSES -Economic Problems

• 5. Economic nationalism- World trade diminished
  1929-1933. Each country worked for its own
  economic welfare rather than trying to find a
  collective solution. This resulted in the raising
  of tariffs worldwide. The London Conference
  (1933) was called to stabilize the international
  monetary situation but it was not effective.

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CAUSES- Nationalism

• C. Nationalism countries placed their own
  interests first some looked for restoration of
  national honor

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CAUSES - . Instability of Democratic Governments

• D. Instability of Democratic Governments-Rise of
  Dictatorships arose in countries with a weak
  history of democracy - Russia, Japan, Italy,
  Germany, Spain

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CAUSES Territorial Expansion

• E. Territorial Expansion

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CAUSES Failure of League of Nations

• F. Failure of the League of Nations to enforce
  its rulings An important instrument of diplomacy
  in the 1920s, the league was unable to fulfill
  its chief aims of disarmament and peace-keeping
  in the 1930s. Its failure to act when
• 1) Japan invaded Manchuria in September, 1931,
• 2) its non-action during the Sino-Japanese War,
• 3) its slow response to German rearmament, and
  finally,

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CAUSES Failure of League of Nations

• 4) its failure to prevent the Italian conquest of
  Ethiopia, resulted in its ultimate demise. It
  lost members and fell into disuse before World
  War II. It revived briefly in December 1939 to
  make the meaningless gesture of expelling the
  USSR for its attack on Finland. Some of its
  technical services continued to function until
  the organization was formally terminated on April
  18, 1946, when it was succeeded by the newly
  organized United Nations

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CAUSES - Pacifism

• G. Pacifism The terrible loss of life,
  destruction of property, and psychological
  devastation engendered by World War I caused
  Britain, France, and other democratic states to
  withdraw into a shell wherein they could avoid
  war. This deep abhorrence made them ignore or
  explain away the actions of Hitler until it was
  too late.

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CAUSES Failure of Appeasement

• H. Failure of the policy of Appeasement Working
  on the premise that they could satisfy Hitler's
  lust for territory, the western powers allowed
  him to take a little bit of territory which only
  convinced him that they would fail to act if he
  took even more.
• Underlying the policy was a feeling that Germany
  really had been shortchanged in the Treaty of
  Versailles.

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1920s PEACE ATTEMPTS

• A. American Relief Administration Europe was a
  mess following World War I. This agency
  delivered food to needy Europeans.

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1920s PEACE ATTEMPTS

• B. Washington Conference (Nov, 1921-Feb. 1922)
  Purpose to reduce the number of naval armaments.
  The U.S., Britain, Japan, France, Italy, China,
  Portugal, Belgium, and the Netherlands discussed
  limits on naval armaments. Problem - No
  enforcement clause.

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1920s PEACE ATTEMPTS

• 1. The Five Power Treaty set a 10 year moratorium
  on the construction of capital ships and
  established a total tonnage ratio among the top
  five nations. (Britain France the U.S., Japan,
  Italy) Also no new fortifications in Pacific
  possessions.
• 2. The Nine Power Treaty reaffirmed the Open
  Door in China and recognized Chinese sovereignty.
• 3. The Four Power Treaty the U.S., Britain,
  Japan, France agreed to respect each other's
  Pacific possessions.

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1920s PEACE ATTEMPTS

• C. Geneva Protocol (1924) Stated that the nation
  that refused to submit to arbitration by the
  World Court, the League Council, or special
  arbitrators would be termed the aggressor.
  British opposition spelled its failure.

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1920s PEACE ATTEMPTS

• D. Locarno Pact (1925) Series of agreements
  among European nations prompted by German Foreign
  Minister, Gustav Stresemann. They dealt with
  boundaries, acceptance of arbitration, frontier
  defenses, and the withdrawal of French and
  Belgian forces from the Rhineland (by 1930). As a
  result, Germany joined the League of Nations on
  September 10, 1926. The ''feel good'' atmosphere
  led to the ''spirit of Locarno'' which inspired
  the Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928) signed by 62
  nations Condemned war but lacked enforcement.

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1920s PEACE ATTEMPTS

• E. London Naval Disarmament Treaty (March, 1930)
  Great Britain and the U.S. wanted to expand the
  naval limitations of the Five Power Treaty. Mild
  reductions in cruiser and destroyer strength were
  made.

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1920s PEACE ATTEMPTS

• F. World Disarmament Conference (February 5,
  1932) Much discussion but nothing settled. Ended
  in failure June, 1934.

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THE RISE OF FASCISM IN EUROPE

• A. Fascism collection of ideas and prejudices
  that included supremacy of the state over the
  individual, authoritarianism, a state-regulated
  economy and militarism. Called Nazism or National
  Socialism in Germany.

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THE RISE OF FASCISM IN EUROPE - ITALY

• B. Italy
• 1. Problems
• a) Disappointment that the 1915 Treaty of London
  which promised the return of ''Italia Irredenta"
  was not honored at Versailles
• b) There were strikes and agrarian unrest

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THE RISE OF FASCISM IN EUROPE - ITALY

• 2. Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) came to power in
  October 1922 with the help of his ''Black
  Shirts'' who marched on Rome in October demanding
  that the king call on Mussolini to form a new
  Cabinet. Mussolini was viewed as one who would
  preserve the law, maintain order, and uphold the
  rights of property-holders. Mussolini
  consolidated his power using censorship,
  abolition of all political parties except
  Fascists, destruction of labor unions. His
  administration is associated with efficiency as
  evidenced by the fact the trains ran on time.

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THE RISE OF FASCISM IN EUROPE - ITALY

• 3. Victor Emmanuel III complied and Mussolini was
  granted dictatorial authority for one year. In
  the 1924 elections Fascists won 3/5 of the seats.
• a. Corporate Organization" business remained in
  private hands but government controls were
  imposed.
• b. Lateran Treaty 1929 the Church recognized
  Mussolini's Italy and Vatican City was given
  autonomy.

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THE RISE OF FASCISM IN EUROPE - ITALY

• 4. Invasion of Ethiopia In 1935 by Italian
  troops. The failure of the League of Nations to
  act spelled its demise

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THE RISE OF FASCISM IN EUROPE - ITALY

• 5. Italians experienced a sense of ''National
  exhilaration.''

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THE RISE OF FASCISM IN EUROPE - GERMANY

• C. Germany Third Reich ''would last a thousand
  years"
• 1. Rise of Hitler (1889-1945) In 1919 he joined
  the German Workers Party in Munich. It became the
  National Socialists German Workers Party in 1920.
  In 1923 he participated in the Munich Putsch or
  Beer Hall Putsch. He was arrested and imprisoned.
  In 1924 there was an economic revival and NAZI
  membership suffered. Fortunately, the depression
  came.

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THE RISE OF FASCISM IN EUROPE - GERMANY

• 2. Hitler in Power The NAZI'S enjoyed victories
  in the 1930 and 1932 elections. The Party line
  denounced the Treaty of Versailles, the Weimar
  Republic. It promoted the concept of the Volk -
  the people. It promoted Anti-semitism. Hitler and
  the NAZI'S were supported by landowners who
  thought they could control him. In 1933 Adolf
  Hitler came to power as chancellor to President
  Hindenburg in the Weimar Republic. He vowed to
  revive German military and economic strength, to
  cripple Communism, and to purify the German race
  by destroying Jews.

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THE RISE OF FASCISM IN EUROPE - GERMANY

• He had described his master race theory in his
  1923 book Mein Kampf. He enforced his wishes
  through the use of Sturmabteilung, Stormtroopers
  (SA), the Schutzstaffel (SS), and the Geheime
  Staatspolizei, Gestapo sporting the Nazi symbol,
  the Swastika.

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THE RISE OF FASCISM IN EUROPE - GERMANY

• 3. Early moves
• a) October 24, 1933 Hitler pulled Germany out of
  the League of Nations and ended reparations
  payments.
• b). January 26. 1934 Germany signs a
  non-aggression pact with Poland (broke France's
  encirclement of Germany via the Little Entente)

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THE RISE OF FASCISM IN EUROPE - GERMANY

• c). June 30, 1934 The Rohm Purge (The Night of
  the Long Knives) Rohm headed the SA. He and it
  posed a threat to Hitler's power. The Gestapo and
  the SS arrested and murdered 84 SA leaders and
  other political opponents.

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THE RISE OF FASCISM IN EUROPE - GERMANY

• 4. August 2, 1934 Death of Hindenburg. Hitler
  combined the offices of Chancellor and President.
  He required all civil servants to take an oath of
  loyalty to him. Nazi Youth movement revival of
  German spirit. Deification of the leader

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THE RISE OF FASCISM IN EUROPE - GERMANY

• 5. March 15, 1935 Announced that Germany would
  no longer obey the military restrictions of the
  Treaty of Versailles. Hitler had already created
  an air force Luftwaffe and was instituting a
  draft. Rearmament ended unemployment.

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THE RISE OF FASCISM IN EUROPE - GERMANY

• 6. June 18, 1935 Naval Pact with Britain
  restricting German naval tonnage (excluding
  submarines) to 35 of that for England.

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THE RISE OF FASCISM IN EUROPE - GERMANY

• 7. September 15, 1935 Nuremburg Laws deprived
  Jews of German citizenship and outlawed sexual or
  marital relations between Jews and other Germans

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THE RISE OF FASCISM IN EUROPE - GERMANY

• 8. March 7, 1936 German troops invaded the
  Rhineland an area the Treaty of Versailles had
  demilitarized. France did not resist because it
  would not move without British support.

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THE RISE OF FASCISM IN EUROPE - GERMANY

• 9. Nazi Leaders Hermann Goring, took over SA
  1922, Gestapo 1933 Rudolf Hess, Hitler's
  Secretary Joseph Goebbels, Berlin Party chief
  and later propaganda chief Heinrich Himmler,
  head of the SS 1929

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THE RISE OF FASCISM IN EUROPE

• D. Anti-Comintern Pact union of Germany and
  Japan against USSR 1936.
• Rome-Berlin Axis (Nov., 1936)

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THE RISE OF FASCISM IN EUROPE SPANISH CIVIL WAR

• E. Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) In 1931 Alfonso
  XII was driven out of power. A republic was
  established.
• 1. Loyalist Republican against the fascist-backed
  insurgents under Francisco Franco.

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THE RISE OF FASCISM IN EUROPE SPANISH CIVIL WAR

• 2. Hitler and Mussolini sent military aid to
  Franco. German air force units bombarded Madrid,
  Barcelona, Guernica (the latter inspired
  Picasso's famous painting which became an
  anti-fascist symbol). Italy sent troops tanks and
  other war materiel. The USSR backed the Loyalists
  with advisers and troops recruited from
  anti-fascists around the world. France, Britain,
  and the U.S. practiced nonintervention. 3000
  American volunteers called the Lincoln Battalion
  joined the side of the Republicans. Franco won in
  1939 and ruled until his death in 1975.

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THE U.S. RESPONSE TO THE RISE OF FASCISM

• A. Isolationism As trouble increased in Europe
  Americans reasserted their isolationist stand.
  Many resented Europeans who expected the U.S. to
  do what they had failed to do - stop Hitler.

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THE U.S. RESPONSE TO THE RISE OF FASCISM

• B. Franklin Roosevelt - emphasized disarmament
  and the horrors of war. In a 1936 Chautauqua
  speech he promised U.S. would stay distant from
  European conflict. He endorsed appeasement during
  the Czech crisis of 1938. FDR did not like the
  behavior of the "three bandit nations". He did
  not like German persecution of Jews or Japanese
  slaughter of Chinese civilians.

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THE U.S. RESPONSE TO THE RISE OF FASCISM

• C. Merchants of Death U.S. businessmen were
  accused of being this by promoting war to make a
  profit. DuPont, Standard Oil, General Motors, and
  Union Carbide all sold to the fascists. The Nye
  Munitions Investigations (1934-1937) lodged this
  accusation in regard to WWI.

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THE U.S. RESPONSE TO THE RISE OF FASCISM

• D. Neutrality Acts (1935,1936,1937) prohibited
  arms shipments to either side in a war once the
  president had declared the existence of
  belligerency forbade loans to belligerents
  introduced the ''cash and carry'' principle
  forbade Americans from traveling on the ships of
  belligerent nations