Dictators and World War II
After WWI, both the countries of Italy and Germany faced many problems. There were food shortages and unemployment. The economies and governments of both countries were very weak.
The citizens were looking for strong leaders who could solve their problems and make their nations strong.
Benito Mussolini was a leader that the people wanted. He promised jobs and to make Italy a great nation. In 1924, he became dictator. The people lost their freedom. There was censorship and Mussolini’s opponents were killed or jailed. He built up the army, factory production of weapons and prepared the country for war.
In Germany there was a great economic depression. By 1933, more than half the people were unemployed. People were hungry and needed a strong leader. Their democratic government was weak and ineffective. Adolph Hitler became Germany’s dictator who promised jobs and prosperity. He also appealed to nationalism and Germans became proud again. Hitler said he would help Germany conquer and rule the world.
Hitler became a dictator with total power. His party, The Nazis worked to keep him in control. Hitler wanted to kill all the Jews of Europe. He began with killing German Jews in 1933. Their homes and businesses were destroyed. Jews were sent to concentration camps where they were killed. This systematic killing was called the Holocaust. Hitler had written a book called
Mein Kampf which outlined his plan.
Hitler knew that Germans were angry with the Treaty of
Versailles that punished Germany after WWI. He built up the army and would not obey the treaty. He also had factories produce war weapons. Soon they began to conquer Europe. They took over
Austria and then Czechoslovakia.

Italy and Germany both were nations lead by dictators and had strong armies and wanted to rule the world. Japan wanted to rule
Asia and made an alliance with Germany and Italy. They were called the Axis Powers.
Great Britain and France were called the Allies and had fought together in WWI. They promised to help each other in future wars. They were not ready for another war and did not have strong armies. The Allies allowed Hitler to conquer Austria and then Czechoslovokia. When he invaded Poland in 1939, the Allies declared war on the Axis powers and world War II had begun.
The Germans won their battles in France and by 1940, the Axis nations had conquered most of Europe, and parts of Asia and
Africa.
Hitler decided to attack Great Britain and German planes bombed England for months. The British lead by Prime Minister
Winston Churchill would not surrender and were able to shoot down more than 2000 German planes. They defeated Germany in the Battle of Britain and England remained free.
Hitler then attacked the Soviet Union in 1941 to acquire oil and wheat. The Soviet Union joined the Allies and fought against the
Germans. The Russians fought the Germans as they had the
French and Napoleon. They burned everything the Germans could use like buildings, factories and food. When the winter came the
Germans were not prepared and many soldiers could not survive due to a lack of food and proper clothing. By 1943 the Germans were defeated in Russia.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt of the US sent food and weapons to the Allies but did not want to fight another war. On December
7, 1941 Japan attacked Pearl arbor in Hawaii. They destroyed
American navy ships and killed over 2,000 Americans. The next day the US declared war against Japan. The US would fight with the Allies against the Axis Powers in Europe, Africa and Asia.

The Allies defeated the Axis powers in Africa and Italy. In 1943,
Italy surrendered to the Allies. American General Dwight
Eisenhower became the leader of Allied Forces. On June 6, 1944, called D-Day the Allies attacked Normandy Beach and fought against the Germans to free France. They were able to defeat the
Germans and free Paris. The Germans were losing the war. The
Allies then started a bombing campaign against Germany and destroyed many German cities. On may 8, 1945, Germany surrendered and the war in Europe was over.
Hitler killed himself before being captured. After the war, the world learned about his evil deeds. Six million Jews were killed in concentration camps during the Holocaust.
War continued against Japan in Asia. The Japanese had captured
American colonies in Guam and the Philippines. American forces under General Douglas MacArthur were able to free these islands. In 1945, the United States were winning the war against
Japan. Japan would not surrender. President Harry Truman of the
US ordered an atomic bomb strike on Hiroshima a Japanese city on August 6, 1945 destroying it and killing thousands. Japan would not surrender and a second atomic bomb was dropped on another city Nagasaki. Japan then surrendered.
After the war, the US helped to rebuild cities in Italy, West
Germany and Japan. They also helped to rebuild Allied cities. The nations of Western Europe and Japan became strong democracies.
Summary
Hitler’s rise to power:
 Germany’s poor economic situation caused them to look for a strong leader
 Hitler made promises to the people:
- Jobs (1. in the Army 2. in the factories making military supplies)  against the Versailles Treaty!

- Get their Pride back (1. get Germany’s land back 2. build up the Army again)
Hitler’s Germany:
 Totalitarian Government – a type of government with total control of all parts of life (learning, art, literature, etc.)
People have no rights … such freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of religion etc. It is the opposite of a democracy.
 Fascism: a type of government that is totalitarian – and – very nationalistic ( a lot of national pride)
 Nazi Ideas – Nazi’s were the political party that Hitler controlled and helped him control Germany
- wanted to develop the Aryan race
- wanted to expand German territory throughout
Europe
- used extensive propaganda to spread their ideas and control the people
 The Holocaust – an event taking place during WWII – Jews and other minorities were concentrated and many killed
- Genocide – the mass killing of a race or culture of people
- Hitler’s plan:
1. Harass and torment the Jews – maybe they would leave on their own
2. Concentrate them – placed in concentration camps – separated them from
“Germans”
3. The “Final Solution” – extermination in mass numbers
WORLD WAR II
In Europe: The focus of the European part of WWII was Allies against Germany
 Causes
- German Aggression: Germany kept reclaiming lands lost after WWI (Rhineland, Austria, Sudetenland, Poland)

- Appeasement: Britain and France kept allowing Hitler to take lands – because they did not want another war
 The War
- Mobil Warfare: blitzkrieg (lightning war), air war, naval war
- Modern Technology: effective use of airplanes and tanks, rockets introduced, development of atomic bomb
- Key Events: Battle of Britain, German invasion of USSR,
Involvement of US, D-Day
 Results
- Germany: was divided up by the Allies – German officials tried at Nuremberg Trials
- End of the system of European colonies around the world
(Europeans did not want to fight to defend them)
- United Nations was created (to replace the ineffective
League of Nations)
- The Cold War began – U.S. and the U.S.S.R., former allies, turned on one another
In Asia: The focus of the Asian part of WWII was Allies against
Japan
 Causes
- Japanese Imperialism: Japan needed more raw materials
- Korea, China, S.E. Asia --> Pearl Harbor attack
 The War
- Japanese abuses: Nanking and Korea – abuse against citizens Bataan – “Bataan Death March” abused prisoners of war
- “Island Hopping”: How the Allies approached Japan -
Taking an island and forcing Japan to withdraw towards
Japan
- The Atomic Bomb was used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Japan – ending WWII
 Results
- The U.S. occupied Japan for 7 years - helped them rebuild - made them create a democratic style of government

POSITIVE EFFECTS ON NATIVE PEOPLE
 New technologies were introduced
 Health and medical care improved
 Western educational ideas spread