World War II
World History
Where did we leave off?



Mussolini is head of
the Fascist Party in
Italy. He is an
absolute dictator.
Hitler is the “Fuhrer” of
Germany.
Germany is rearming,
creating anti-Semitic
policies, and looking to
expand.
Aggression in the 1930’s



War was supposedly outlawed by the
Kellogg-Briand Treaty of 1928.
In the 1930’s dictators who attacked other
countries faced only verbal protests and
requests for peace.
This made militaristic powers like Italy,
Germany, and Japan seek to expand
further.
Japan Invades Manchuria in 1931



Japan’s leaders thought
that they should have an
empire.
They invaded Manchuria
in 1931. The League of
Nations did nothing to stop
them.
Japan would overrun
much of China in 1937
with no consequence.
Italy Invades Ethiopia




In 1935, Italy invades
Ethiopia.
Mussolini was trying to
build an empire for Italy.
The Ethiopians are killed
in huge numbers and the
Italians brutally kill
civilians and soldiers.
The League of Nations
does nothing.
Hitler Breaks the Treaty of
Versailles



Hitler rebuilds the German
Army.
He sends troops to the
border with France, a
violation of the Treaty of
Versailles.
The rest of the world
practices appeasement, or
giving in to demands to
keep the peace.
The Axis Powers Form an Alliance




Germany, Italy, and Japan make an alliance
called the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis.
The three nations agree to fight Communism
but more importantly they will not interfere if any
of the other countries try to expand.
This agreement made it easier for these
countries to continue to attack others.
After a civil war in Spain, Spain joins the Axis
under General Franco.
German Aggression Continues




Hitler wanted to bring all German speaking people
into the Reich.
“Nature is cruel, therefore we too may be cruel… I
have the right to remove millions of an inferior
race that breeds like vermin.”
Hitler looks for more “Lebensraum” for his people.
He believes Germans are the master race and
deserve land over others.
Anschluss with Austria



In 1938, Hitler creates
an Anschluss, or
union, between
Germany and Austria.
Many Austrians
favored annexation
and no one stopped
Hitler.
Hitler easily had his
way.
Hitler Announces the Anschluss
with Austria
Hitler Annexes the Sudetenland



Hitler demands the
German speaking
region of
Czechoslovakia.
It was also an
industrial region Hitler
could use to build his
war machine.
No one wants to go to
war over it.
Peace For Our Time



The British and French
leaders meet with Hitler in
Munich in 1938.
These leaders choose
appeasement.
Neville Chamberlain, the
leader of England
announced they had
achieved “Peace for our
Time”
War Approaches




Hitler had promised only to take the Sudetenland.
He soon takes all of Czechoslovakia.
The Allies finally realize appeasement will not
work and Poland must be protected.
In 1939, Hitler makes a Non-Aggression Pact with
Russia.
On September 1, 1939, Hitler invades Poland and
starts World War II.