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
German people
were living in new
countries such as
Poland,
Czechoslovakia,
and Austria
Many Germans felt
these countries
should “belong” to
Germany
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
and 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
League of Nations Background
*founded in 1919 by the victors in WWI
*had many aims, including the improvement of world health and of
living and working conditions
*main purpose was to help make WWI “the war to end all wars” by
bringing about permanent world peace
idea of “collective security” – if one member was threatened with armed
conflict, the others were committed to coming to its aid, preferably through
discussion and diplomacy
League members agreed to submit their disputes to arbitration, or to the
International Court of Justice
Agreed that if a member went to war with another, would face trade sanctions
had little chance of success – had no power of its own; the U.S.
never joined, France and Britain gave little support to the League
– they wanted to pursue their place in world leadership
Canada had joined the League as a separate nation, but its support
was also weak
4. Failure of the League of
Nations
League of Nations
established to prevent
war
Problems:
2) Appeasement is the
act of giving into, or
satisfying ones
demands.
1) Non-intervention is
when one does not
involve themselves
with foreign affairs.
• 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 Japaneseowned South
Manchurian Rail
Road
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
Manchurian Crisis (con’t)
Japan withdrew from the League, but neither
the U.S. or Britain were prepared to use
naval forces to blockade Japan, nor were
they prepared to refuse to trade with Japan
The League realized it had no real control
over countries that would not recognize its
authority.
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
Italian Invasion of Abyssinia 1935
Background (aka do not write)
He attacked in October 1935, and even though world-wide opinion
opposed Italy, there was little enthusiasm for economic sanctions
The boycott also did not include vital supplies such as oil
The Canadian Proposal
Canadian representative Dr. Riddell felt the boycott needed to be more
severe in order to work – should include oil
Known as the “Canadian proposal”, it gained little support, especially in
Canada – Mussolini said that sanctions on oil would lead to war
Roman Catholics in Quebec supported the Roman Catholic state of Italy
PM King said that Canada would support any decision the League made,
but would not allow Canada to take a leadership role in the resolution
of the crisis
Failure of the League
by May 1936, Italian troops had captured Addis Ababa, the Abyssinian
capital, and the country was annexed to Italy
Germany was the first country to recognize Italy’s conquest
The League had failed again
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 also on
Sept. 10, 1939
German troops march into Poland