Causes of World War Two

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Causes of World War Two

• Short Term Causes

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The Nazi-Soviet Pact

• Hitler realized he would not be able to fight a
  war on two fronts
• Hitler hated communism
• Stalin hated fascism
• Agreed to not go to war against each other and
  secretly agreed to divide Poland among them
• Hitler knew this truce would be temporary

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Germany Makes Demands

• Headline from Monday, August 28, 1939

Hitler rejects peace offer and makes clear
demand I MUST HAVE DANZIG AND THE CORRIDOR
Tells France I know the consequences IF FATE
FORCES US TO FIGHT Declares Poland would
suffer most
Britains NO! Any peace must be permanent
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Germany Invades Poland

• Policy of Appeasement
• Failed
• Britain and France had redrawn the line at
  Poland
• Germany crosses the line
• Invades Poland
• Britain and France realize there is no other way
  to stop Hitler
• Europe must go to war again

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Video Germany Invades Poland

• http//www.5min.com/Video/World-War-II-Invasion-of
  -Poland-1354517

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September 1, 1939

• Occurred at the crack of dawn
• There was no official declaration of war
• The uneasy peace ended
• German Wehrmacht rolled across the border

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Britain and France

• Within two days both these countries declared war

Europe was now at WAR
But what would Canada do?
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Canada

• Unlike WW1, where Canadas participation was
  based on Britain involvement, this time Canada
  must make the choice
• Mackenzie King recalled Parliament for urgent
  debate and vote
• The decision of was almost unanimous
• Canada would go to war

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September 10, 1939

• Canada officials declares war on Germany
• The population of Canada is made aware of this
  decision over the radio
• The Canadian population did not greet this news
  with enthusiasm
• The memory of WW1 was still lingering
• Almost everyone had lost some one in the first
  great war

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Why did Canada wait to declare war?

• Did they really need the time to debate the
  vote?

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Attitude Towards the War

• Disagreement about the war
• Those who disagree about using force to settle
  disputes
• Canadians were supremely confident the war would
  be over quickly
• Reluctantly most Canadians agreed to go to war
• By the end of the first month seventy thousand
  people had signed up

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