World War II
Warm Up
 Using a DICTIONARY or your PHONE
Define the following words:
– Appeasement
– Fascism
– Hyperinflation
– Depression
– Blitzkrieg
 What countries do you think are Allies?
 What countries do you think are Axis?
Axis vs. Allies
 Axis Powers
– Germany, Italy, Japan, Bulgaria, Romania,
Hungary
– 6 other countries fought with the Axis powers
 Allies
– Britain, France, US and Australia (Pacific),
Canada
– About 50 other countries also fought with the
Allies
Causes of WWII
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Treaty of Versailles
Economic Problems
Nationalism
The Rise of Dictatorship
Aggression on the March
The Failure of Appeasement
Causes of WWII
 Treaty of Versailles
– Germans felt humiliated
and their economy was
destroyed by the treaty.
– Overall the treaty
angered Germans and
caused them to seek
revenge.
– Hitler gained support for
saying he would rip up
the treaty of Versailles
Economic Problems
 World War I damaged the economies of
European countries
– Defeated had problems paying reparations
– Winners could not pay back loans
– Economic shift left millions unemployed
– German hyperinflation:
 Hyperinflation caused by the government printing too
much money to pay debts.
The Rise of Dictatorships
 Political Unrest enabled radical dictatorships
to come to power
– Soviet Union, Italy, Germany, and Japan
– Total power, ruled without law
– Reign of terror crushed all opposition
Hitler
 Rise of Fascism and Hitler
– Totalitarian rule where all loyalty lies with the state
– Hitler spoke out again the Treaty of Versailles and promised
to restore Germany to greatness.
– He called the German’s a master race.
– He intended to create a German empire and greatly expand
Germany’s territory.
– These promises led many people to support the NAZI party
(National Socialist Party), which was led by Hitler.
– The NAZI party gained a majority of the seats in the
Reichstag, and Hitler was named Chancellor of Germany in
1933.
– Hitler soon began to rebuild Germany’s military and take
other steps that would lead to war.
Aggression on the March
 Japan, Italy, and
Germany
– Policies of aggressive
territorial expansion
during the 1930’s
– They invaded weak
lands that could easily
be conquered
– Germany and other
violated the Treaty of
Versailles
The Failure of Appeasement
 Appeasement
– to yield or concede to the hostile
demands of a nation, group, person, etc.
in order to keep peace
– Britain and France believed they should
give in to Germany’s demands in order to
keep peace.
– They had already stood by as Hitler built
up Germany’s military, took over the
Rhineland and Austria. Now they met
with Hitler in Munich and signed the
Munich Pact in which they allowed Hitler
to annex the Sudetenland (region of
Czechoslovakia with German-speaking
peoples).
– This let Hitler grow stronger and led him
to think he could do whatever he wanted.
Taking the Sudetenland
Munich pact broken
 In may of 1937 the Munich pact was signed
by the leaders of Germany, Britain, France
and Italy.
 Hitler promised not to invade the rest of
Czechoslovakia if he could control the
Sudetenland.
 March 1939 Hitler invaded the rest of
Czechoslovakia
 Appeasement had failed
Failure of the League of Nations
 Not all countries joined the League
– U.S. did not join, Germany was not allowed, Russia was
not allowed because of fear of Communism
 The League had no power
– Best weapon was to ask for economic sanctions, but
after the depression no one wanted to loss any trading
partners
 The League had no Army
– They could only ask member to step in
 Unable to act quickly
– Only met 4 times per year and all countries had to agree
Assessment
 In a group you will fill out the information from one
of the seven boxes about WWII
 On a separate sheep of paper EXPLAIN WHAT
EACH EVENT IS AND STATE THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF EACH EVENT
 As a group turn in one sheet of paper that shows
you expertise of the events you have been given
and the significance of each.
 Be prepared to put your groups information on the
board
 GRADED ON CRITERION C