A Prelude to War

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A Prelude to War

• Unit 14
• The Interwar Years
• World War II

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Storm Brewing

• Economic trouble and desperation in Europe
• Some European nations still hadnt recovered
  since World War I ended (1918)
• Many of these nations had to rebuild (factories,
  homes, other structures)
• Many were concerned about survival that they
  didnt think about government and political
  platforms
• Leaders would emerge to take advantage of the
  situation.

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Germany after World War I

• The depression crushes Germany
• The Treaty of Versailles required Germany to
• Military, Territorial, and Economic stipulations
• Reparations of more than 33 billion dollars.
• In order to pay the reparations, Germany began to
  print more money
• This made the currency less valuable (Inflation)
• Germany was also forced to give up important
• economic territories (colonies)
• These reasons led to the rise of dictators
  (rulers who have complete control)

4
The Rise of Fascism

• Widespread economic despair paved the way for the
  rise of dictators
• Strong leaders in Italy and Germany promised
  solutions
• Germany Adolf Hitler
• Italy Benito Mussolini
• Fascism is the rule of a people by dictatorial
  government that is extremely nationalistic,
  imperialistic, and sometimes even racist.

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Censorship and government control of news
Strict discipline
Strong military
Fascism
Extreme Nationalism
Use of violence and terror
Rule by dictator
State control of economy
Blind loyalty to leader
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• Why did people support Hitler?
• Hitler and the Nazi party promised people what
  they wanted
• The Weimar Republic appeared to have no idea how
  to solve the problems of the Depression.
• Hitler used the Jews and others as scapegoats,
  blaming all the problems on them.
• To Germans at the time Hitler made sense, he
  united everyone by providing explanations for
  Germany's problems.
• People in Germany were tired of their poor
  quality of life.
• Hitler promised to make Germany proud againit
  was exactly what people wanted to hear.
• The Third Reich had begun

Handout
The Fuhrer Adolf Hitler
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• THE RISE OF BENITO MUSSOLINI
• When Benito Mussolini's Fascist Party came to
  power in Italy in 1922, he wanted to link his own
  regime's existence with the glories of the past
  Roman Empire.
• What would the appeal be?
• Italy was troubled after WWI
• Mussolini promised to end unemployment and gain
  land for Italy
• To do so, the Fascists used force and terror to
  gain control of Italy
• Censored free elections, free speech, and free
  press.
• They even killed or jailed enemies
• Mussolini was known as Il Duce.

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The Death of Lenin

• Lenin dies in 1924
• Before he dies, he wants Stalin to be removed
  from his post as Secretary General.
• Although he disapproved of Stalin, he didnt
  favor any successor either.
• Joseph Stalin emerges through an immense power
  struggle among Communist Party Leaders
• Stalin ruled through terror and brutality
• Stalin launches The Great Purge
• Stalin accused thousands of people of crimes
  against the government.
• Many of the accused were exiled, sent to prison
  camps, or executed
• The Soviet Union turned into a totalitarian
  regime. (Government that regulates every aspect
  of the lives of its citizens)

Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili A.K.A. Joseph
Stalin
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FIRST LEADERS OF THE SOVIET UNION

• Lenin
• (1917-1924)
• Chief Goal to create a classless society with
  production in the hands of the people
• Allows some private business lets some peasants
  hold land
• Standards of living rises for many workers and
  peasants

• Shared
• Became Communist Party Leader
• Uses secret police to enforce Communist will
• Wants to bring about a world wide Communist
  revolution

• Stalin
• (1924-1953)
• Chief Goal to make the Soviet Union into a
  modern industrial power with all production under
  government control
• Sets up Five-Year Plans
• Forces peasants to live on group farms
• Standard of living falls for most workers and
  peasants

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• Stalins collectivization program called for
  peasants to give up their small farms and live on
  state-owned ones.
• The government controlled prices and farm
  supplies and set production quotas.
• Many peasants resisted by growing just enough to
  eat
• But Stalins policies were devastating
• The government would seize all the grain and mass
  starvation would occur.
• Some reports state about 5 million people
  starving!

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By the time his 62-year reign came to an end,
Japan had risen like a Phoenix out of the postwar
rubble to become one of the world's richest
countries. It was in demonstrating this
remarkable capacity for change that Hirohito
truly became the living symbol of his people.
Emperor Hirohito
Emperor Hirohito was the longest-reigning monarch
in Japan's history, ruling from 1926 until his
death in 1989.
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Japan and Militarism

• Japan had been a democracy during the 1920s
• When the Great Depression hit in 1929, many were
  speculating if capitalism was right for them
• Militarists and extreme nationalists gained power

• Many were unhappy over the loss of traditions,
  were unemployed, poverty stricken, and wanted
  glory
• Therefore, Japan would end many democratic
  feelings, increase honor for Emperor Hirohito,
  and would seek to expand territory.

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Dictators seek to expand territory

• Japan will invade China (1931)
• Italy will attack Ethiopia (1935-1936)
• German Aggression in Europe (1935)

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Japan invades Manchuria

• The militaristic leaders of Japan wanted to build
  a Japanese empire.
• Japan will seize the Chinese territory of
  Manchuria.
• This infuriates the League of Nations since Japan
  is one of the official members.
• So what happens?
• Japan withdrew its membership from the League.
• In 1937, the Japanese army will continue the
  invasion, moving further into the Chinese
  mainland.
• One of the invasion points was the city of
  Nanjing (Nanking).
• The invasion was so brutal it was referred to as
  the rape of Nanjing

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Gendercide
Gendercide gender-selective mass killing

• The total number of civilians and
  prisoners-of-war murdered in Nanking during the
  first six weeks of the Japanese occupation was
  over 200,000.
• These estimates are not exaggerated by the fact
  that burial societies and other organizations
  counted more than 155,000 bodies which they
  buried
• ...these figures do not take into account those
  persons whose bodies were destroyed by burning or
  by throwing them into the Yangtze River or
  otherwise disposed of by the Japanese.

Murdered Chinese women and children are strewn
across the steps of a Nanjing building.
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As the twentieth century dawns, Japan begins to
expand its imperial reach, responding to a
perceived threat from expanding western nations,
such as Russia and Britain.
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In 1931, Japan invades and claims the rest of
Manchuria.
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Japan invades China in 1937, marching into French
Indochina by 1940. In Europe, Adolf Hitler's
armies now occupy much of central Europe,
including France. The world is at war.
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By 1942, at the height of its wartime success,
Japan will have massed over five million troops,
expanding its empire to include the Philippines
and much of the Southwest Pacific.
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Hideki Tojo

• Prime Minister, Chief of Staff of the Army, and
  Minister of War from October 1941 until July
  1944.
• Tojo could almost be described as the dictator of
  Japan.
• He was the principal director of all Japanese war
  operations.

Back Page
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Events in Japan1929 - 1940
1929 The Great Depression hits Japan

• Japan takes control of Manchuria, China

1933 Japan withdraws from League of Nations
1934 Japan announces it will no longer submit
limits on its navy
1936 Japan signs non-aggression pact with
Germany
1937 Japanese troops kill hundreds of thousands
of civilians in Nanjing, China
1940 Japan attempts to expand its power in Asia
by proposing an economic alliance of Asian
nations
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European Advancements
Back Page
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Lebensraum

• In Hitler's book, Mein Kampf, he detailed his
  belief that the German people needed Lebensraum
  ("living space", i.e. land and raw materials),
  and that it should be found in the East.
• It was the stated policy of the Nazis to kill,
  deport, or enslave the Polish, Russian and other
  Slavic populations, whom they considered
  inferior, and to repopulate the land with
  Germanic peoples.
• The entire urban population was to be
  exterminated by starvation, thus creating an
  agricultural surplus to feed Germany and allowing
  their replacement by a German upper class.

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The Road to War

• January 30, 1933 Hitler is appointed Prime
  Minister of Germany
• 1933-5 Hitler violates terms of the Treaty of
  Versailles by increasing the size of the
  German army, navy, and air force. Germany
  also withdrew from the League of Nations.
• 1935 Germany occupies the Rhineland (border of
  France and Belgium). Puts Military there.
  (Nothing Done)
• 1936 Italy invades Ethiopia Ethiopia will
  appeal to League of Nations but, no nation was
  willing to get involved (Risk another World
  War)
• 1937 Japan opens up full scale invasion of
  China. U.S. government does nothing.
  Japanese airplanes sink the U.S. gunboat
  Pane. U.S. protests are met by Japanese
  apologies and compensation for damages.
• 1938 - Spring Germany annexes Austria (makes
  Austria a part of Germany). (Nothing Done)
• Germany threatens a European war if
  Czechoslovakia does not hand over large
  portions of territory to Germany. (The
  Sudetenland) Hitler promises that this is his
  last demand. Allies agree. FDR refuses to
  involve the US in European problems.

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Hitler and Mussolini sign the Rome-Berlin Axis
1936 Japan will soon follow, creating what we
know as the Axis Powers
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German Aggression in Europe and Appeasement

• In 1938, Hitler invades Austria (Austria welcomes
  the unification) and then looks to the
  Sudetenland. (a region of Czechoslovakia-Czechosl
  ovakia does not support annexation, but yet many
  Germans live there)
• Obviously western democracies responded weakly to
  German aggression
• Leaders will gather in Munich, Germany for a
  conference to discuss the happenings in Europe.
• The conference was appropriately named (The
  Munich Conference)
• In an unbelievable decision, western democracies
  led by British Prime Minister, Neville
  Chamberlin, agree to allow Germany to seize
  control of the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia.
• This became better known as the Appeasement at
  Munich.
• Peace in our Time!
• Hmm. Seeing the pattern here, what will happen
  next?

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The Road to War

• 1939 Spring Hitler breaks promise and takes
  over the rest of Czechoslovakia
• 1939 Aug 23 Stalin and Hitler surprise everyone
  by signing a non-aggression pact.
• Hitler and Stalin would not attack each other.
  Why is this important?
• Think back to WWI.
• 1939 Sep 1 Germany invades Poland. Soviet
  Union also invades Poland and the nation is
  divided between Germany and the Soviet Union per
  their pact. (The Nazi-Soviet Pact divided
  Poland between the two.)

Two days later, Britain and France declare war on
Germany.
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The World at War

• Axis Powers
• Germany
• Italy
• Japan

• Allied Powers
• Britain
• France
• Soviet Union
• China
• U.S. (later on)
• 41 other nations

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A View of the World
After WWI
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German Blitzkrieg

• Blitzkrieg lightning warfare
• In less than a month, Poland fell to Germany and
  the Soviet Union
• In 1940, Germany conquered Denmark, Norway,
  Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
• During the same year, France too would fall
  victim.
• It took less than two weeks!
• By June of 1940,Germans had entered Paris.

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• VICHY FRANCE
• Charles De Gaulle managed to escape to England
  just before the armistice was signed by the
  French government handing France to the Nazis.
  From England, he spent the next 4 years
  organizing increasing French resistance and
  calling for support from French colonies.
• He proclaimed himself the leader of the Free
  French (later the Fighting French) forces. De
  Gaulle found himself with a French navy, air
  force, and army, which were under the general
  command of the British.

During World War II (1939-1945), Nazi Germany
defeated France in 1940 and occupied the northern
part of the country.
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• The Battle
• of Britain
• Even though France fell to the Germans, The
  British didnt have intention of quitting.
• We shall defend every village, every town, and
  every city
• This was the quote by new British Prime Minister,
  Winston Churchill
• Hitler was aware that the strength of Britain was
  the RAF (Royal Air Force)
• Hitler focused his attention on defeating the RAF
  with his own air force called the Luftwaffe
• The Luftwaffe unleashed massive bombing attacks
  on Britain (London)
• Despite constant bombing, the British did not
  surrender

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Luftwaffe
Messerschmitt_ME109 A.k.a. - The Butcher
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German Home-front

• Anti Semitism- Hostility toward or prejudice
  against Jews
• Nuremberg Laws created a separate legal status
  for German Jews, eliminating their citizenship
  and many civil an property rights.
• The Nuremberg Laws defined a person as Jewish
  based on ancestry blood rather than religious
  beliefs
• Kristallnacht- Night of the Broken Glass
• Nearly 100 Jews killed, and thousands of Jewish
  businesses and places of worship were destroyed.

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Turning Points in the War

• Entry of the United States (1941)
• Battle of Stalingrad (1942 1943)
• El Alamein (1942)
• Battle of The Coral Sea and Midway (1942)
• Invasion of Italy (1943)
• Invasion of Normandy (1944)

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Entry of the United States (1941)

• Tojo made plans to invade the Dutch East Indies-
  a source of oil-
• Tojo believed one thing stood in their way- The
  United States Navy
• On December 7th, 1941, Japanese warplanes bombed
  the huge American naval base at Pearl Harbor
• Before the day was over, about 2,400
  Americans-both servicemen and civilians died.
  Many of the American warplanes and ships were
  destroyed or damaged
• A date which will live in infamy
• -FDR
• The United States declares war on Japan
• Germany and Italy declare war on the United States

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American Home Front

• Enormous task of mobilization men and women
  volunteered for service
• Factories converted victory gardens planted
  scrap drives and recycling to collect materials
• Some negative effects of patriotism
• Japanese Americans placed in internment camps
  during the war

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Battle of Stalingrad (1942 1943)Turning Point
in Europe

• While Hitler conquered Western Europe, Stalin and
  the Soviet army expanded its territory in Europe
• Hitler feared Soviet ambitions and didnt trust
  Stalins intentions
• Hitler also wanted Soviet wheat and oil fields
• Non-Aggression Pact?
• Broken!
• As a result, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in
  1941
• June 1941, Hitlers invasion of the Soviet Union
  had initial successes
• Major goals of Leningrad and Moscow not reached
  before harsh Soviet winter
• Soviet armies had time to rebuild and would fight
  back
• The Red Army will stand firm at Stalingrad
• Stalingrad was a powerful industrial city for the
  Soviet Union
• Hitler wanted to take the resources and cripple
  the Soviets at the same time

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Battle of Stalingrad (1942 1943)Turning Point
in Europe

• One of the most brutal campaigns of the war
• Stalin refused to have the city named after him
  fall
• Stalin insisted they fight- even without food
• Somehow, the Soviets gained the upper-hand.
• This time Hitler had to make a decision.
• Soon to be surrounded, Hitler orders the troops
  to stay and fight reinforcements will be coming.
  
• The effort fell far short.
• The German commander told Hitler that his troops
  had no ammunition.
• Surrender is Forbidden
• Many of the 90,000 Axis - troops would be
  captured and sent to Soviet prison camps
• Nearly 1 million Soviet soldiers died alone in
  the citys defense.
• But, the seemingly invincible Germany army was
  now retreating to the West

Here was the greatest misery that I have seen in
my whole life. An endless wailing of wounded and
dying menmost of them had received nothing to
eat for days -Alois Dorner, German soldier,
January 1943
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El Alamein (1942)
War in North Africa
Italian and British forces battled for control of
North Africa. The Suez Canal and the oil fields
of the Middle East were essential to the British
war effort. After Italian forces failed against
the British, Hitler was forced to send German
troops to support the Italians.
Nearly 250,000 Axis soldiers taken prisoner with
surrender, all of North Africa in Allied hands
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Pacific Problems

• Japan moves towards the Philippines
• Douglas MacArthur was the American General
  stationed there.
• Japanese forces take the Philippines and
  MacArthur is forced to retreat
• The Japanese will force up to 70,000 prisoners to
  march up the Bataan Peninsula to a distant prison
  camp.
• This became better known as the Bataan Death
  March
• Many Americans and Filipinos will perish during
  the walk and at the prison.

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Battle of The Coral Sea and Midway (1942)
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Invasion of Italy (1943)

• Next Allied goal Italy itself
• July 1943, Allied soldiers landed on the island
  of Sicily
• Weak Italian resistance
• Benito Mussolini forced from power
• Allies capture Sicily
• Made plans to invade the Italian mainland
• Hitler tried to protect against the Allied march
  through Italy
• September 1943
• Allies move into southern Italy
• Strong German resistance as troops moved north
• Bloody fighting continued for months

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In April 1945, Benito Mussolini and Clara
Petacci, Il Duce's mistress, were captured near
Lake Como in northern Italy. They were later
executed and the corpses were taken to Milan and
placed on public display.
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Invasion of Normandy (1944)
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• Soviet advancepushing Hitlers troops backward
• Axis forces with 2 million casualtiesoutnumbered
  and outgunned
• Early 1944, Siege of Leningrad ends more
  victories for Soviets followed
• Axis forces driven back into central Europe
• Soviets within 40 miles of Berlin by February
  1945

• Second front in Western Europe
• Sea assault led by Marshall and Eisenhower
• June 6, 1944, invasion at Normandy
• Victory came with high casualties
• Paris free by end of August

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Soviets Reach the Reichstag
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A fierce opponent

• Battle of Iwo Jima
• February 1945 island invasion 750 miles south of
  Tokyo
• 7,000 Americans died in month of fighting 20,000
  Japanese diedonly 1,000 thousand surrendered
• The Atomic Bomb
• Why drop an atomic bomb?
• Japan would not surrender

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The Holocaust
The Final Solution

• Conquered areas of Europe
• Millions of Jews came under Hitlers power
• Nazi leaders adopted Final Solutionthe
  deliberate mass execution of Jews

During World War II, Germanys Nazi government
deliberately murdered some 6 million Jews and 5
million others in Europe. These actions became
known as the Holocaust.

• Concentration camps
• Slave labor camps set up to hold these enemies
  of the state
• Cruel medical experiments
• Large-scale executions with civilians gunned down

• Killing begins
• Brutal treatment of Jewish civilians
• Forced to live in ghettos within a city
• 400,000 Jews confined to Warsaw ghetto

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The Big Three and the Post War
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Post War Aftermath
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WWII PROPAGANDA POSTERS
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This poster from around 1939 advertises the
Volkswagen. The text "Save 5 marks a week and
you will drive your own car. "
In the deepest need Hindenburg chose Adolf Hitler
for Reich Chancellor. You too should vote for
List 1
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LONG LIVE GERMANY
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