1. Causes of World War II

2. The Versailles
Treaty

3. The “Stab-In-The-Back” Theory
German soldiers are dissatisfied.German soldiers are dissatisfied.

4. Decadence of the Weimar Republic

5. Countries were in economic crisis and had no tradition of self-government before WWI
New democratic self-government was forced upon nations not ready for it.
Hyperinflation

6. The Great Depression

7. ACTS OF AGGRESSION
1931 - Japan Invades Manchuria
The Japanese army ignored the
Japanese government and
launched a full-scale invasion of
Manchuria. Soon, it had
occupied the whole province.
1. Need for natural
resources.
2. Nationalism
3. Militarism
1. Need for natural
resources.
2. Nationalism
3. Militarism
Sabotaged Railroad in
ManchuriaImperialismImperialism

8. The Manchurian Crisis, 1931

9. Japan Invades Manchuria, 1931

10. Ineffectiveness of the League of Nations
 No control of major conflicts.No control of major conflicts.
 The League could not enforce its authorityThe League could not enforce its authority
 No progress in disarmament.No progress in disarmament.
 No effective military force.No effective military force.
A major power could get away with using force!A major power could get away with using force!
League of Nations
condemned the action but
did nothing.
Japan ended membership in
League of Nations!
League of Nations
condemned the action but
did nothing.
Japan ended membership in
League of Nations!

11. Italy Attacks Ethiopia, 1935
EmperorEmperor
HaileHaile
SelassieSelassie

12. Benito Mussolini
“I refuse to believe that the real
people of Great Britain and
France, who have never had
discords with Italy, are prepared
to run the risk of hurling Europe
along the road to catastrophe for
the sake of defending an African
country universally branded as a
country without the slightest
shadow of civilization.”
“I refuse to believe that the real
people of Great Britain and
France, who have never had
discords with Italy, are prepared
to run the risk of hurling Europe
along the road to catastrophe for
the sake of defending an African
country universally branded as a
country without the slightest
shadow of civilization.”
How does Mussolini justify
the attack of Ethiopia?
League of Nations did nothing.
Other nations concerned with
their own problems.
League of Nations did nothing.
Other nations concerned with
their own problems.
NationalismNationalism

13. Germany Invades the Rhineland
March 7, 1936
Although Germany had
been steadily building up
her army since 1933 it was
not strong enough to hold
the Rhineland if France or
Britain counter-attacked.
Although Germany had
been steadily building up
her army since 1933 it was
not strong enough to hold
the Rhineland if France or
Britain counter-attacked.
"The forty-eight hours after the
march into the Rhineland were
the most nerve-racking in my
life. If the French had then
marched into the Rhineland we
would have had to withdraw.."
- Adolf Hitler

14. The Austrian Anschluss, 1938
1. German territory occupied by France
2. Unite the German people and reclaim their
empire: A Third Reich!
1. German territory occupied by France
2. Unite the German people and reclaim their
empire: A Third Reich!

15. The Japanese Invasion
of China, 1937

16. The “Problem” of the
Sudetenland
1. None even though it was a direct violation of the treaty
2. Hitler promised he was finished. Britain & France appease
Hitler at Munich Conference 1938
1. None even though it was a direct violation of the treaty
2. Hitler promised he was finished. Britain & France appease
Hitler at Munich Conference 1938

17. Acts of Aggression Lead to WWII
Country Area Attacked Reason Allies Reaction
Japan
1931 - Manchuria
1937 - China
1. Need for natural
resources.
League of Nations
condemned the action
but did nothing.
Italy Ethiopia - Africa
1. Distract Italians from
depression.
2. Promised to build the
new Roman
Empire
League of Nations did
nothing. Other nations
concerned with their
own problems.
1. Austria (1938)
1. German people lived
there.
1. None even though it was a
direct violation of the
treaty of Versailles
Germany
2.Czechoslovakia/Su
deten-land
(1938)
2. German people lived
there.
2. Hitler promised he was
finished. Britain & France
appeased and didn't fight.
3. Poland (1939)
3. Desire for land. 3. Britain and France declare
war.
1. What do these incidents tell us about the effectiveness of the League of Nations?1. What do these incidents tell us about the effectiveness of the League of Nations?

18. What does this incident tell us
about the League of Nations?
•The League also lost its most powerful member in the Far East
and ultimately Japan was to unite with the two other nations that
broke League rules - Germany and Italy.
•The League could not enforce its authority.
•A major power could get away with using force
•An issue so far from Europe was not likely to attract the whole-
hearted support of the major European powers in the League.
•Other powers would almost certainly see this
episode as a sign that they too could get away with
the use of force

19. AXIS POWER
Adolf Hitler (right) is
considered one of the most
brutal dictators in history.
After purging possible rivals
for leadership, Hitler
rearmed Germany into a
modern war machine. He
and Italian dictator Benito
Mussolini (left), both
__________, became allies
in 1936. They are shown
here in Munich, Germany, in
1937.
fascists
AlliancesAlliances

20. GERMAN AGGRESSION
Adolf Hitler preached to the
Nazi party faithful that they
were a superior race that
deserved more than they had,
including additional
___________, or living space,
and a higher standard of
living. Hitler was an
emotional speaker who had a
mesmerizing effect on those
who listened. By 1938 he had
amassed the best-equipped,
best-trained army in the world.
Lebensraum
MilitarismMilitarism

21. GERMAN AGGRESSION

22. APPEASEMENT
After Germany invaded the
Sudetenland, the British and
French met with Hitler in
Munich on September 30, 1938.
They agreed to allow the Nazi
leader to seize the Sudeten
districts of Czechoslovakia in
return for an assurance from
him that he had no further
territorial claims in Europe.
Their appeasement policy once
again gave in to the
_____________________.aggressor

23. The Policy Of Appeasement
2. Based on what you have learned, and these Dr. Seuss
cartoons, what does ‘appeasement’ mean?
2. Based on what you have learned, and these Dr. Seuss
cartoons, what does ‘appeasement’ mean?

24. Appeasement:
The Munich
Agreement,
1938
Now we have
“Peace in our Time!”
Herr Hitler is a man we can do
business with.
Neville Chamberlain, EdouardNeville Chamberlain, Edouard Daladier,
Adolph Hitler, and Benito Mussolini.Adolph Hitler, and Benito Mussolini.
Film Clip Film ClipFilm Clip
3. Describe the tone of Chamberlain’s speech,
how do you think he felt after signing the
Munich agreement?
3. Describe the tone of Chamberlain’s speech,
how do you think he felt after signing the
Munich agreement?

25. PEACE FOR OUR TIME!
“An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile,
hoping it will eat him last.”
- Winston Churchill
“An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile,
hoping it will eat him last.”
- Winston Churchill
On 15 March 1939, the German army
occupied the remainder of Czechoslovakia.
“My good friends… I have
returned from Germany
bringing peace with honor.
I believe it is peace for our
time… Go home and get a
nice quiet sleep.”

26. Czechoslovakia Becomes Part of
the Third Reich: 1939
Hitler breaks promises signed at the Munich Conference…
still, noting is done to stop him!
Hitler breaks promises signed at the Munich Conference…
still, noting is done to stop him!

27. Rome-Berlin Axis, 1939
The “Pact of Steel”

28. The Nazi-Soviet
Non-Aggression Pact, 1939
Foreign MinistersForeign Ministers
von Ribbentrop & Molotovvon Ribbentrop & Molotov
Plan to invade and split PolandPlan to invade and split Poland
Foreign MinistersForeign Ministers
von Ribbentrop & Molotovvon Ribbentrop & Molotov
4. Why did Hitler and Stalin decide to work together? Will this
friendship last? Why?
4. Why did Hitler and Stalin decide to work together? Will this
friendship last? Why?

29. Nazi-Soviet Pact
On August 23, 1939, the world was shocked when, suddenly,
Russia and Germany signed a non-aggression pact. In
addition, the two countries had a secret agreement to invade
and divide ______________ between them.Poland

30. GERMANY INVADES POLAND
On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. Hitler
introduced a new kind of war called a _______________,
which means “lightning war.”
Blitzkrieg

31. GERMANY INVADES POLAND
German bombers targeted railroads, shown here, which crippled Polish
military mobilization. Hundreds of tanks smashed through Polish
defenses and rolled deep into the country. The Poles fought hard, but
on September 17, the _________________invaded their country from
the east. By the end of the month, Poland had fallen.
Soviet Union

32. German Troops March into Warsaw

33. Video Clip: Blitzkrieg

34. Chamberlain Declares War
Listen to the speech by British
Prime Minister Neville
Chamberlain.
1. What is the tone of the speech?
2. Is there anything Chamberlain could have done to prevent
war?
Speech

35. Recap of Major Causes of WWII
1. Which do you think is the greatest reason for WWII? Why?