World War II

World War II• We will be talking about some very difficult and

emotional events in this unit.

• Please treat your fellow students with respect, kindness and love.

• BE NICE! There’s no reason not to be.

Open your notebook to a clean page.

At the very top of your clean notebook page, write the chapter title:

Ch. 31: World War II & Its Aftermath (1931-1955)

Post-World War I• The end of World War I left a number of nations very

unhappy about how things turned out.

• Germany had been expecting a treaty based on Wilson’s 14 points and were not happy with the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. However, they had no choice but to sign the document.

The Rise of Totalitarianism

• Totalitarianism: government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator. He can do what he wants!

• There is NO constitution, NO laws and NO opposition for the dictator.

Japan• At the end of World War I, Japan was also involved in the Versailles

Peace Conference.

• Despite its small role in World War I, Japan emerged as a major actor in international politics at the close of the war.

Hirohito (1901 – 1989)

• As emperor of Japan and according to Japanese tradition, he was a living God and the nation’s supreme authority.

Japanese Imperialism

• Japan was highly nationalistic and imperialistic.

• Japan wanted a free hand to continue with the conquest of China and Southeast Asia.

Italy• At the end of World War I, Italy was very angry because

as one of the victorious allies they had expected to gain new land from the conquered people.

• Returning war veterans faced unemployment.

• No one had any good ideas about how to run the country and the government split into rival parties.

• Italy needed a strong leader!

Benito Mussolini (1883 – 1945)

• was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism.

• Mussolini became Prime Minister of Italy in 1922 and began using the title Il Duce (the Supreme Leader) by 1925.

Fascism• Fascists promoted violence, war, and militarism.

• Fascism is anti-communist, anti-democratic, anti-individualist, anti-liberal, anti-conservative, anti-bourgeois and anti-proletarian, and in many cases anti-capitalist.

• Fascists believe that a nation requires strong leadership, a unified people, and the will and ability to commit violence and wage war in order to keep the nation strong.

Germany• Germany was forced to accept the blame for starting WWI

(“War Guilt Clause”) and pay 6,600 million pounds for the damage caused by the war.

• Kaiser (emperor) Wilhelm II abdicated in November 1918.

• In 1919 Germany formed a democratic government called the Weimar Republic (a democracy that didn’t end up working!).

Treaty of Versailles Terms• Germany must assume full blame for the war.

• Germany had to pay war reparations.

• Germany had to limit size of army.

• Germany had to give up overseas colonies.

• Polish corridor was created: Germany had to give up territory in Europe.

• Territory of Alsace Lorraine given back to France.

Inflation• Because of the money Germany had to pay other nations after the war,

the German mark (their currency) became worth less and less as the years went by.

• People began losing their jobs.

• The Great Depression hit in the 1930’s and every nation struggled economically.

• Germany needed a strong leader!

Adolf Hitler (1889 – 1945)

• Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party commonly known as the Nazi Party.

• He gained support by promoting nationalism, anti-Semitism (hatred of Jews), anti-capitalism, and anti-communism with oratory (people liked the way he spoke) and propaganda.

• He was appointed chancellor of Germany in 1933, and transformed Germany into the Third Reich, a dictatorship based on the ideology of Nazism. After that he was known as the "Führer” (the Supreme Leader).

• Hitler ultimately wanted absolute control of Europe.

Nazism The beliefs of the Nazi Party:

• The Nazis wanted to take over more land.• Government control of the economy. • Strong military.• Social welfare programs for workers and good

wages. • Racist nationalism.• Supremacy of an Aryan master race (blonde hair,

blue eyes, pale skin).• The Nazis blamed Jews for their problems

What did these three nations have in common?

WWII: The Axis Powers• All three wanted an empire.

• All three were ruled by totalitarian dictators.

• All three were very nationalistic.

Axis Powers Allied Powers• Germany * France• Italy * Great Britain• Japan * United States

* Soviet Union

In your notebook, record the notes that follow:

The Manchurian Incident = pg. 739

Benito Mussolini (Italy) = pg. 757-758

Nazism = pg. 762

Fascism = pg. 758-759

Adolf Hitler (Germany) = pg. 762-763

Emperor Hirohito (Japan) = pg. 738

In your notebook, record these 6 key terms to define for homework:

Hitler’s Speech on the Treaty of Versailles

• Hitler was an instigator of the war in Europe.

• He delivered several speeches making his intentions known very early, before the war even began.

• Hitler’s 1923 Speech on the Treaty of Versailles was given about 15 years before WWII began.