Causes of WWII€¦ · Causes of WWII 1919-1938. Treaty of Versailles Forced Germany to give up land, disarm, and pay Reparations to the Allies at the end of WWI Rhineland. Reparations

Causes of WWII

1919-1938

Treaty of VersaillesForced Germany to

give up land, disarm, and pay Reparations to the Allies at the end of WWI

Rhineland

ReparationsGermany had to pay

the Allies $33 Billion in damages causing Hyperinflation and Depression in Germany

DateGerman Mark US$

1919 4.2 1

1921 75 1

1922 400 1

Jan. 1923 7,000 1

Jul. 1923 160,000 1

Aug. 1923 1,000,000 1

Nov. 1, 1923 1,300,000,000 1

Nov. 15, 1923 1,300,000,000,000 1

Nov. 16, 1923 4,200,000,000,000 1

Nazi Party Adolf Hitler took control of the Nazi Party in Germany in 1923

The Nazis tried to start a revolution against the Weimar government in 1923, but the leaders were captured and thrown in jail

While in jail, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf

which described how he planned to make Germany powerful again

By 1933, Hitler’s party won a majority in the German Parliament

Hitler was elected Chancellor in 1933

Lebensraum

In Mein Kampf, Hitler said the German people needed Lebensraum or “living space”

Hitler wanted to unite the German speaking people of Europe under the Third Reich

Rearming

In 1933, Hitler broke the Treaty of

Versailles

He stopped paying reparations and rearmed Germany, boosting the economy

Rhineland

In 1936 Hitler sent German troops into the Rhineland

Sudetenland

In March, 1938, Hitler invaded Austria

In September, the Germans occupied the Sudetenland

Czechoslovakia begged the Allies for help

Munich PactAs Hitler took Lebensraum, the Allies tried to appease him

September 30, 1938 the Allies signed the Munich Pact w/ Hitler

This gave Germany control over Czechoslovakia with Hitler’s promise that he would not try to take any more land

Appeasement

Non-Aggression Pact

Signed in August

1939

Public: Hitler and Stalin promised not to attack each other

Secret: Agreed to split Poland between them

Operation: HimmlerSeptember 1, 1939:

“Polish” units attack German radio station/border positions

Germany invades Poland in “self-defense”

Two weeks later Soviet Army invades Poland from the East and Poland surrenders

"I shall give a propaganda reason for starting the war. The victor will not be asked whether he told the truth."

-Adolf Hitler

BlitzkriegGerman battle

strategy

Coordinated attacks by Tanks, Infantry, and StukaDive bombers

Blitzkrieg

SUPPLIES

Poland Split

Germany took Western Poland and the USSR took Eastern Poland

England and France declare war on Germany