ROAD TO WORLD WAR II
CAUSES - The Peace of Paris
• A. The Peace of Paris:
(collective name for all the
treaties drawn up). Many
countries dissatisfied with the
agreements either because
they lost territory or had to
pay reparations. In Germany,
the hated treaty was called
the Friedensdiktat ("the
dictated peace")
CAUSES -Economic Problems
• B. Economic Problems
• 1. Debt: Europeans urged
Americans to erase the war debt
but American leaders insisted on
repayment. Coolidge said ''They
hired the money, didn't they?"
Nevertheless, the U.S. cut Allied
war debt in half during the
1920's. In 1931 Hoover declared
a moratorium on payment of war
debts. Allied debtors defaulted
on the remainder owed.
CAUSES - Economic Problems
• 2. Inflation in Germany: The mark
went from 8.4 to the dollar in 1919
to 7,000 to the dollar by
December, 1922. When the Allied
Reparations Commission declared
Germany in default on its debt the
French and Belgians occupied the
Ruhr on January 11, 1923.
Chancellor Wilhelm Cuno
encouraged passive resistance
and printed worthless marks which
dropped from 40,000 to the dollar
in January, 1923 to 4.2 trillion to
the dollar by December. The Ruhr
occupation ended on September
26, 1923 but the inflationary spiral
had severe economic, social, and
political consequences.
CAUSES -Economic Problems
• 3. Reparations: Germany defaulted on its
payments. America feared that radicalism would
grow in Germany so American bankers loaned
millions of dollars. This was the beginning of the
Triangular Relationship:
• 1) Americans bankers loaned money to
Germany;
• 2) Germany paid reparations to Allies;
• 3) Allies repaid war debts to United States
CAUSES -Economic Problems
• a. Dawes Plan (1924): reduced Germany's
annual payments, extended the repayment
period, and provided more loans.
• b. In 1928-29 American loans to Germany
declined as investment in the stock market
became more lucrative.
• c. Young Plan (1929): reduced Germany's
reparations but ineffective as the international
economy collapsed. Great Britain rejected
Hoover's offer to exchange war debt for
British Honduras, Bermuda, and Trinidad.
CAUSES -Economic Problems
• 4. Depression: High unemployment
(Germany's was almost equal to that of the
other European countries combined - 43% in
1932) and economic disorder
CAUSES -Economic Problems
• 5. Economic nationalismWorld trade diminished
1929-1933. Each country
worked for its own economic
welfare rather than trying to
find a collective solution.
This resulted in the raising of
tariffs worldwide. The
London Conference (1933)
was called to stabilize the
international monetary
situation but it was not
effective.
CAUSES- Nationalism
• C. Nationalism:
countries placed
their own interests
first; some looked
for restoration of
national honor
CAUSES - . Instability of
Democratic Governments
• D. Instability of Democratic
Governments-Rise of Dictatorships:
arose in countries with a weak history of
democracy - Russia, Japan, Italy,
Germany, Spain
CAUSES – Territorial Expansion
• E. Territorial Expansion
CAUSES – Failure of League of
Nations
• F. Failure of the League of
Nations to enforce its rulings: An
important instrument of diplomacy
in the 1920s, the league was unable
to fulfill its chief aims of
disarmament and peace-keeping in
the 1930s. Its failure to act when
• 1) Japan invaded Manchuria in
September, 1931,
• 2) its non-action during the SinoJapanese War,
• 3) its slow response to German
rearmament, and finally,
CAUSES – Failure of League of
Nations
• 4) its failure to prevent the Italian
conquest of Ethiopia, resulted in its
ultimate demise. It lost members
and fell into disuse before World
War II. It revived briefly in
December 1939 to make the
meaningless gesture of expelling the
USSR for its attack on Finland.
Some of its technical services
continued to function until the
organization was formally
terminated on April 18, 1946, when it
was succeeded by the newly
organized United Nations
CAUSES - Pacifism
• G. Pacifism: The terrible loss of life,
destruction of property, and psychological
devastation engendered by World War I
caused Britain, France, and other
democratic states to withdraw into a shell
wherein they could avoid war. This deep
abhorrence made them ignore or explain
away the actions of Hitler until it was too
late.
CAUSES – Failure of
Appeasement
• H. Failure of the policy of
Appeasement: Working on the
premise that they could satisfy
Hitler's lust for territory, the
western powers allowed him to
take a little bit of territory which
only convinced him that they
would fail to act if he took even
more.
• Underlying the policy was a feeling
that Germany really had been
shortchanged in the Treaty of
Versailles.
1920s PEACE ATTEMPTS
• A. American Relief
Administration:
Europe was a mess
following World War
I. This agency
delivered food to
needy Europeans.
1920s PEACE ATTEMPTS
• B. Washington Conference
(Nov, 1921-Feb. 1922):
Purpose to reduce the
number of naval armaments.
The U.S., Britain, Japan,
France, Italy, China,
Portugal, Belgium, and the
Netherlands discussed limits
on naval armaments.
Problem - No enforcement
clause.
1920s PEACE ATTEMPTS
• 1. The Five Power Treaty set a 10 year
moratorium on the construction of capital ships
and established a total tonnage ratio among the
top five nations. (Britain France the U.S., Japan,
Italy) Also no new fortifications in Pacific
possessions.
• 2. The Nine Power Treaty: reaffirmed the Open
Door in China and recognized Chinese
sovereignty.
• 3. The Four Power Treaty the U.S., Britain,
Japan, France agreed to respect each other's
Pacific possessions.
1920s PEACE ATTEMPTS
• C. Geneva Protocol (1924):
Stated that the nation that
refused to submit to
arbitration by the World
Court, the League Council, or
special arbitrators would be
termed the aggressor. British
opposition spelled its failure.
1920s PEACE ATTEMPTS
• D. Locarno Pact (1925): Series of
agreements among European nations
prompted by German Foreign Minister,
Gustav Stresemann. They dealt with
boundaries, acceptance of arbitration,
frontier defenses, and the withdrawal of
French and Belgian forces from the
Rhineland (by 1930). As a result,
Germany joined the League of Nations on
September 10, 1926. The ''feel good''
atmosphere led to the ''spirit of Locarno''
which inspired the Kellogg-Briand Pact
(1928): signed by 62 nations; Condemned
war but lacked enforcement.
1920s PEACE ATTEMPTS
• E. London Naval
Disarmament Treaty
(March, 1930): Great
Britain and the U.S.
wanted to expand the
naval limitations of the
Five Power Treaty. Mild
reductions in cruiser
and destroyer strength
were made.
1920s PEACE ATTEMPTS
• F. World
Disarmament
Conference
(February 5,
1932): Much
discussion but
nothing settled.
Ended in failure
June, 1934.
THE RISE OF FASCISM IN
EUROPE
• A. Fascism: collection
of ideas and prejudices
that included supremacy
of the state over the
individual,
authoritarianism, a
state-regulated
economy and militarism.
Called Nazism or
National Socialism in
Germany.
THE RISE OF FASCISM IN
EUROPE - ITALY
• B. Italy
• 1. Problems:
• a) Disappointment that the
1915 Treaty of London
which promised the return
of ''Italia Irredenta" was
not honored at Versailles;
• b) There were strikes and
agrarian unrest
THE RISE OF FASCISM IN
EUROPE - ITALY
• 2. Benito Mussolini (1883-1945)
came to power in October 1922
with the help of his ''Black Shirts''
who marched on Rome in
October demanding that the king
call on Mussolini to form a new
Cabinet. Mussolini was viewed as
one who would preserve the law,
maintain order, and uphold the
rights of property-holders.
Mussolini consolidated his power
using censorship, abolition of all
political parties except Fascists,
destruction of labor unions. His
administration is associated with
efficiency as evidenced by the
fact the trains ran on time.
THE RISE OF FASCISM IN
EUROPE - ITALY
• 3. Victor Emmanuel III complied
and Mussolini was granted
dictatorial authority for one year.
In the 1924 elections Fascists
won 3/5 of the seats.
• a. “Corporate Organization":
business remained in private
hands but government controls
were imposed.
• b. Lateran Treaty: 1929; the
Church recognized Mussolini's
Italy and Vatican City was given
autonomy.
THE RISE OF FASCISM IN
EUROPE - ITALY
• 4. Invasion of
Ethiopia: In 1935
by Italian troops.
The failure of the
League of
Nations to act
spelled its
demise
THE RISE OF FASCISM IN
EUROPE - ITALY
• 5. Italians experienced a sense of
''National exhilaration.''
THE RISE OF FASCISM IN
EUROPE - GERMANY
• C. Germany: Third Reich ''would
last a thousand years"
• 1. Rise of Hitler (1889-1945): In
1919 he joined the German
Workers Party in Munich. It
became the National Socialists
German Workers Party in 1920. In
1923 he participated in the Munich
Putsch or Beer Hall Putsch. He
was arrested and imprisoned. In
1924 there was an economic
revival and NAZI membership
suffered. Fortunately, the
depression came.
THE RISE OF FASCISM IN
EUROPE - GERMANY
• 2. Hitler in Power: The NAZI'S enjoyed
victories in the 1930 and 1932 elections.
The Party line denounced the Treaty of
Versailles, the Weimar Republic. It
promoted the concept of the Volk - the
people. It promoted Anti-semitism. Hitler
and the NAZI'S were supported by
landowners who thought they could
control him. In 1933 Adolf Hitler came to
power as chancellor to President
Hindenburg in the Weimar Republic. He
vowed to revive German military and
economic strength, to cripple
Communism, and to purify the German
race by destroying Jews.
THE RISE OF FASCISM IN
EUROPE - GERMANY
• He had described his
master race theory in his
1923 book Mein Kampf. He
enforced his wishes through
the use of Sturmabteilung,
Stormtroopers (SA), the
Schutzstaffel (SS), and the
Geheime Staatspolizei,
Gestapo sporting the Nazi
symbol, the Swastika.
THE RISE OF FASCISM IN
EUROPE - GERMANY
• 3. Early moves
• a) October 24, 1933: Hitler
pulled Germany out of the
League of Nations and ended
reparations payments.
• b). January 26. 1934:
Germany signs a nonaggression pact with Poland
(broke France's encirclement
of Germany via the Little
Entente)
THE RISE OF FASCISM IN
EUROPE - GERMANY
• c). June 30, 1934:
The Rohm Purge
(The Night of the
Long Knives);
Rohm headed the
SA. He and it posed
a threat to Hitler's
power. The Gestapo
and the SS arrested
and murdered 84
SA leaders and
other political
opponents.
THE RISE OF FASCISM IN
EUROPE - GERMANY
• 4. August 2, 1934:
Death of
Hindenburg. Hitler
combined the
offices of
Chancellor and
President. He
required all civil
servants to take an
oath of loyalty to
him. Nazi Youth
movement: revival
of German spirit.
Deification of the
leader
THE RISE OF FASCISM IN
EUROPE - GERMANY
• 5. March 15, 1935:
Announced that
Germany would no
longer obey the military
restrictions of the Treaty
of Versailles. Hitler had
already created an air
force Luftwaffe and was
instituting a draft.
Rearmament ended
unemployment.
THE RISE OF FASCISM IN
EUROPE - GERMANY
• 6. June 18,
1935: Naval Pact
with Britain
restricting
German naval
tonnage
(excluding
submarines) to
35% of that for
England.
THE RISE OF FASCISM IN
EUROPE - GERMANY
• 7. September
15, 1935:
Nuremburg
Laws deprived
Jews of German
citizenship and
outlawed sexual
or marital
relations
between Jews
and other
Germans
THE RISE OF FASCISM IN
EUROPE - GERMANY
• 8. March 7, 1936
German troops
invaded the
Rhineland an area
the Treaty of
Versailles had
demilitarized. France
did not resist
because it would not
move without British
support.
THE RISE OF FASCISM IN
EUROPE - GERMANY
• 9. Nazi Leaders:
Hermann Goring,
took over SA 1922,
Gestapo 1933;
Rudolf Hess,
Hitler's Secretary;
Joseph Goebbels,
Berlin Party chief
and later
propaganda chief;
Heinrich Himmler,
head of the SS
1929
THE RISE OF FASCISM IN
EUROPE
• D. Anti-Comintern
Pact: union of
Germany and Japan
against USSR 1936.
• Rome-Berlin Axis
(Nov., 1936)
THE RISE OF FASCISM IN
EUROPE – SPANISH CIVIL WAR
• E. Spanish Civil War
(1936-1939): In 1931
Alfonso XII was driven
out of power. A republic
was established.
• 1. Loyalist Republican
against the fascistbacked insurgents under
Francisco Franco.
THE RISE OF FASCISM IN
EUROPE – SPANISH CIVIL WAR
• 2. Hitler and Mussolini sent military aid to Franco. German air force
units bombarded Madrid, Barcelona, & Guernica (the latter inspired
Picasso's famous painting which became an anti-fascist symbol).
Italy sent troops tanks and other war materiel. The USSR backed the
Loyalists with advisers and troops recruited from anti-fascists around
the world. France, Britain, and the U.S. practiced nonintervention.
3000 American volunteers called the Lincoln Battalion joined the side
of the Republicans. Franco won in 1939 and ruled until his death in
1975.
THE U.S. RESPONSE TO THE
RISE OF FASCISM
• A. Isolationism: As
trouble increased in
Europe Americans
reasserted their
isolationist stand. Many
resented Europeans who
expected the U.S. to do
what they had failed to
do - stop Hitler.
THE U.S. RESPONSE TO THE
RISE OF FASCISM
• B. Franklin Roosevelt emphasized disarmament and
the horrors of war. In a 1936
Chautauqua speech he
promised U.S. would stay
distant from European conflict.
He endorsed appeasement
during the Czech crisis of 1938.
FDR did not like the behavior of
the "three bandit nations". He
did not like German persecution
of Jews or Japanese slaughter
of Chinese civilians.
THE U.S. RESPONSE TO THE
RISE OF FASCISM
• C. Merchants of Death:
U.S. businessmen were
accused of being this by
promoting war to make a
profit. DuPont, Standard Oil,
General Motors, and Union
Carbide all sold to the
fascists. The Nye Munitions
Investigations (1934-1937)
lodged this accusation in
regard to WWI.
THE U.S. RESPONSE TO THE
RISE OF FASCISM
• D. Neutrality Acts
(1935,1936,1937):
prohibited arms
shipments to either side
in a war once the
president had declared
the existence of
belligerency; forbade
loans to belligerents;
introduced the ''cash
and carry'' principle;
forbade Americans from
traveling on the ships of
belligerent nations