The Road to War Underlying Causes of World War Two
Jan 12, 2015
The Road to WarUnderlying Causes of World War Two
1. The Treaty of VersaillesHarsh terms intended to make
Germany powerless• accept total blame for WW1• reduced military• reparations of $33 billion• loss of territory
Territorial Disputes After WWI
Many German people were living in new countries such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Austria.
Germany lost territory to several countries, leading to grievances.
2. Rise of FascismFascism
A system of government in which:• Nationalism is promoted• Labour and industry are
regulated by a strong national government
• All opposition is suppressed
Italian Fascism
The political ideology of fascism originated with Benito Mussolini, who became dictator of Italy in 1922
1922- “March on Rome” Mussolini’s blackshirts destroyed Italy’s government
Benito Mussolini
• Called “Il Duce” meaning “The Leader”
• Created a totalitarian dictatorship by:
– banning opposing political parties & unions
– censoring newspapers
– creating a secret police force
Rise of Adolph Hitler
• 1923: Hitler, leader of Nazi party, conducts an armed revolt in Munich– the “Beer Hall
Putsch”
• Hitler thrown in prison
• Wrote “Mein Kampf” (my struggle) while in prison
Rise of Fascism in Germany• 1933 -Hitler is elected Chancellor of Germany, becoming “Fuhrer” (leader)• organized opposition was violently suppressed by the “brownshirts”
• Hitler’s policy of “Lebensraum” (living room):– take over German-speaking territories in neighbouring countries such as
Austria, Poland, Czechoslovakia– defeat Soviet communism and expand German territory to the east into
the U.S.S.R., expelling non-German people
Anti-Semitism in Germany
Blamed Germany’s problems on “scapegoats” such as Jews, blacks, Gypsies, homosexuals and the mentally ill.
Nazi party policy very racist and anti-Semitic
Widespread discrimination against Jews in Germany
3. Failure of the League of Nations
Non-intervention is when one does not involve themselves with foreign affairs.
Appeasement is the act of giving into, or satisfying ones demands.
• Canada and most other countries followed a policy of non-intervention and appeasement
The League of Nations was established in 1920 to prevent war, but its decisions were not legally binding
The Manchurian Crisis
• Sept. 1931: Japan invaded Chinese province of Manchuria on the pretext that China attacked Japanese-owned South Manchurian Railroad
Manchurian Crisis (con’t)• China applied to the League of
Nations for help• The League condemned Japan’s
actions, but there was little support for economic sanctions due to Great Depression
Limited Membership
•The United States never joined the League
•The Soviet Union joined only in 1934, and was expelled in 1939
•Germany and Japan both withdrew in 1933
Spanish Civil War
In 1936 a Spanish civil war breaks out between:
New Republic government led by communists
vs.
Fascists led by Francisco Franco
Response to Spanish Civil War• “MacKenzie-Papineau Battalion” made up of Canadian supporters
of communism - over half of volunteers die• Britain, France and Canada maintain official policy of non-
intervention• Germany and Italy support the fascists with arms, equipment, and
money
Italian Invasion of Abyssinia
• Border clash between Abyssinian troops (Africa) and neighboring Italian Somaliland
• Mussolini launched full-scale attack against Abyssinia
• League of Nations imposes boycott against Italy, but little world enthusiasm for sanctions
• England and France took no action against Italy, allowing Italian ships through the Suez canal
5. Formation of Axis Powers
In 1937 Germany and Italy made a pact not to go to war with each other, later joined by Japan
They became known as the “Axis Powers” during World War Two
Hitler with Mussolini