The Road to War
Underlying Causes of World War Two
1. The Treaty of Versailles
Harsh terms intended to
make Germany powerless
• accept total blame for
WW1
• reduced military
• reparations of $33
billion
• loss of territory
In reality the treaty had
the opposite effect. It gave
German’s grievances that
Hitler would attempt to
solve, such as restoring
national pride
2. Emergence of New Countries
After WW1
After World War One Many Germans felt
German people were these countries should
living in new
“belong” to Germany
countries such as
Poland,
Czechoslovakia, and
Austria
3. Rise of Fascism
• Facism: “A system of
government in which
nationalism is
promoted, labour and
industry are regulated
by a strong national
government, and all
opposition is
suppressed
March on Rome
• 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
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 book “Mein
Kampf” (my struggle)
while in prison
Rise of Fascism in Germany
• 1933 -Hitler becomes
leader “Fuhrer”
• Hitler’s policy of
“Lebensraum” - he
wanted to take over
German speaking
countries such as
Austria, Poland,
Czechoslovakia
Nazi Party Rules Germany
• Hitler elected as
Chancellor of
Germany
• Created a fascist state
by using secret police
to ban opposition
Anti-Semitism in Germany
• Blamed Germany’s
problems on
“scapegoats” such as
Jews
• Nazi party policy very
racist and anti-Semitic
• widespread
discrimination against
Jews in Germany
Nazi’s burn Synagogue
4. Failure of the League of
Nations
League of Nations
established to prevent
war
Problems:
1) Non-intervention is
when one does not
involve themselves
with foreign affairs.
2) Appeasement is the
act of giving into, or
satisfying ones
demands.
• Canada and most other
countries followed a
policy of nonintervention and
appeasement
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 nonintervention
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
• League condemned
Japan’s actions, but
there was little support
for economic
sanctions due to Great
Depression
Invasion of Abyssinia
• Border clash between
Abyssinian troops
(Africa) and
neighboring Italian
Somaliland
• Mussolini launched
full-scale attack
against Abyssinia
• Italy(tanks, aircraft)
vs. Abyssinia (spears)
• League of Nations
imposes boycott against
Italy, but little world
enthusiasm for sanctions
5. Formation of Axis Powers
In 1937 Germany, Italy,
and Japan made a pact
not to go to war with
each other.
They became known as
the “Axis Powers”
during World War Two
Hitler with Mussolini
6. Soviet-Nazi Non-Aggression
Pact
• August 1939: Stalin
and Hitler agreed to
divide Poland between
them
• March 1939: Germany
took over
Czechoslovakia
German ambassador Von
Ribbentrop laughs with Stalin
as Molotov signs pact
7. World War Two Begins
• Sept. 1, 1939:
Germany invaded
Poland
• Britain and France
declare war on
Germany
• Canada declared war
on Germany on Sept.
10, 1939
German troops march into Poland