January 3—How were the causes of WWI and WWII similar? Different?

January 3—How were the January 3—How were the causes of WWI and WWII causes of WWI and WWII similar? Different?similar? Different?

European Causes of European Causes of World War IIWorld War II

I. German aggressionI. German aggression II. Italian aggressionII. Italian aggression III. Anti-Comintern PactIII. Anti-Comintern Pact IV. AustriaIV. Austria V. Munich PactV. Munich Pact VI.Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression PactVI.Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact

IB ObjectivesIB Objectives

Long-term, short-term and immediate Long-term, short-term and immediate causescauses

Economic, ideological, political, religious Economic, ideological, political, religious causescauses

IB Paper 2 Sample IB Paper 2 Sample QuestionsQuestions

Compare and contrast the reasons for Compare and contrast the reasons for Germany’s involvement in the First and Germany’s involvement in the First and Second World Wars.Second World Wars.

Analyse (a) the long-term causes and (b) Analyse (a) the long-term causes and (b) the short-term causes, of the Second World the short-term causes, of the Second World War.War.

Compare and contrast the causes of the Compare and contrast the causes of the First World War and the Second World War.First World War and the Second World War.

IB Paper 2 Sample IB Paper 2 Sample QuestionsQuestions

Assess the social and economic causes Assess the social and economic causes of of one twentieth-century war.one twentieth-century war.

Key TermsKey Terms

AppeasementAppeasement Axis PowersAxis Powers Anti-Comintern PactAnti-Comintern Pact Munich PactMunich Pact Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression PactNazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact

World Wars: Causes and World Wars: Causes and EffectsEffects

•Economic Competition

•Nationalism

•Militarism

•Alliances

World War I

•End of Old Order

•Political instability

•Disillusionment

•Resentment

•Economic Suffering

•Social Chaos

•Nationalism

•Rise of dictatorships

•Aggressive Expansion

World War II

•Shift in balance of power•Emergence of superpowers•Creation of new nations•Founding of United Nations

German aggressionGerman aggression

In March 1935 Hitler violated the In March 1935 Hitler violated the disarmament clause of the Treaty of disarmament clause of the Treaty of Versailles and introduced compulsory Versailles and introduced compulsory military trainingmilitary training

In 1936 German troops occupied the In 1936 German troops occupied the demilitarized zone of the Rhineland.demilitarized zone of the Rhineland.

France’s ResponseFrance’s Response

France refused to respond to Hitler’s France refused to respond to Hitler’s aggression in large part because the aggression in large part because the Great Depression had caused political Great Depression had caused political instability in France.instability in France.

When Hitler invaded the Rhineland the When Hitler invaded the Rhineland the French were so divided politically that French were so divided politically that they could not agree on how to deal with they could not agree on how to deal with Germany.Germany.

AppeasementAppeasement France and Britain followed a policy of France and Britain followed a policy of

appeasement which means that they appeasement which means that they were willing to yield to the demands of were willing to yield to the demands of dictators in the belief that once these dictators in the belief that once these demands were satisfied the dictators demands were satisfied the dictators would become good members of the would become good members of the family of nations.family of nations.

As late a 1938 Britain only spent ¼ as As late a 1938 Britain only spent ¼ as much on armaments as Germany.much on armaments as Germany.

Italian aggressionItalian aggression

In October 1935 Italy attacked Ethiopia In October 1935 Italy attacked Ethiopia from Italian Somalia.from Italian Somalia.

The League of Nations imposed The League of Nations imposed sanctions on Italy but the economic sanctions on Italy but the economic sanctions were never enforced and Italy sanctions were never enforced and Italy soon occupied Ethiopia.soon occupied Ethiopia.

Axis PowersAxis Powers

The sanctions angered Mussolini so he The sanctions angered Mussolini so he made an alliance with Hitler.made an alliance with Hitler.

Mussolini spoke of Rome and Berlin as Mussolini spoke of Rome and Berlin as forming a political “Axis.” The term was forming a political “Axis.” The term was subsequently applied to the German-subsequently applied to the German-Italian-Japanese alliance.Italian-Japanese alliance.

Anti-Comintern PactAnti-Comintern Pact

In November 1936, Germany and Japan In November 1936, Germany and Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact, signed the Anti-Comintern Pact, supposedly directed against international supposedly directed against international Communism, but in reality a treaty of Communism, but in reality a treaty of friendship.friendship.

Italy signed a year later.Italy signed a year later.

German StrategyGerman Strategy Germany would attain its peak military Germany would attain its peak military

strength in 1943-1945, and this would be strength in 1943-1945, and this would be the latest date for launching war, but it the latest date for launching war, but it could begin earlier.could begin earlier.

Hitler’s goal in 1938 was to neutralize Hitler’s goal in 1938 was to neutralize Austria and Czechoslovakia in order to Austria and Czechoslovakia in order to protect Germany’s southern flank for protect Germany’s southern flank for future military actions against France and future military actions against France and the USSR.the USSR.

AustriaAustria

In March 1938 the Austrians voted to In March 1938 the Austrians voted to join Germany.join Germany.

This action violated the Versailles Treaty This action violated the Versailles Treaty but since Austria had voluntarily joined but since Austria had voluntarily joined Germany they did nothing.Germany they did nothing.

Munich PactMunich Pact

The ultimate example of appeasementThe ultimate example of appeasement Occurred in 1938Occurred in 1938 Hitler’s goal was to neutralize Austria and Hitler’s goal was to neutralize Austria and

Czechoslovakia to protect Germany’s Czechoslovakia to protect Germany’s southern flank for future military southern flank for future military operations against France and the Soviet operations against France and the Soviet Union.Union.

Munich PactMunich Pact

According to Hitler all he wanted was to According to Hitler all he wanted was to bring the Germans who against their will bring the Germans who against their will had been separated from Germany into had been separated from Germany into it, especially the Austrians and the it, especially the Austrians and the German minority in the Sudeten region of German minority in the Sudeten region of Czechoslovakia.Czechoslovakia.

Munich PactMunich Pact

Hitler invited the British Prime Minister Hitler invited the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, the French Premier Neville Chamberlain, the French Premier Edouard Daladier, and Mussolini to a Edouard Daladier, and Mussolini to a meeting in Munich.meeting in Munich.

Chamberlain and Daladier accepted Chamberlain and Daladier accepted Hitler’s terms and then put enormous Hitler’s terms and then put enormous pressure on Czechoslovakia to annex the pressure on Czechoslovakia to annex the territory.territory.

Munich PactMunich Pact

This area contained Czechoslovakia's This area contained Czechoslovakia's mountainous fortifications and its loss left mountainous fortifications and its loss left Czechoslovakia militarily defenseless.Czechoslovakia militarily defenseless.

Hitler promised to guarantee the integrity Hitler promised to guarantee the integrity of what remained of Czechoslovakia, but of what remained of Czechoslovakia, but in March the German army occupied the in March the German army occupied the remainder of Czechoslovakia.remainder of Czechoslovakia.

Nazi-Soviet Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression PactNonaggression Pact August 23, 1939, the Soviet Union and Germany August 23, 1939, the Soviet Union and Germany

signed a treaty of nonaggression and friendship. signed a treaty of nonaggression and friendship. The secret agreement stated that in case of war The secret agreement stated that in case of war

they would divide Poland between them, that the they would divide Poland between them, that the Soviet Union would have a “sphere of influence” Soviet Union would have a “sphere of influence” over Finland , the Baltic States, and Bessarabia. over Finland , the Baltic States, and Bessarabia. In return the Soviets pledged to stay out of any In return the Soviets pledged to stay out of any war between Germany and Poland and any war between Germany and Poland and any countries that came to Poland’s aid.countries that came to Poland’s aid.