A World in Flames

A World in Flames

Trouble in Europe and Asia1931-1941

Trouble in Europe and Asia1931-1941

The Rise of Dictators

The Rise of Dictators

Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin

Il Duce

Benito Mussolini Il Duce

Benito Mussolini

Mussolini founded Italy’s Fascist Party in 1919

Was a former schoolmaster and journalist

Mussolini founded Italy’s Fascist Party in 1919

Was a former schoolmaster and journalist

Fascist IdeologyFascist IdeologyAggressive Nationalism

Nation more important than individual

Dictator needed to lead country and impose order

A nation became great by expanding its territory and building up its military

Anti-Communist ideology

Aggressive Nationalism

Nation more important than individual

Dictator needed to lead country and impose order

A nation became great by expanding its territory and building up its military

Anti-Communist ideology

Mussolini takes charge

Mussolini takes charge

Appointed premier in 1922

Wanted to return Italy to greatness of Ancient Rome

Destroyed Italian democracy, established

dictatorship

Appointed premier in 1922

Wanted to return Italy to greatness of Ancient Rome

Destroyed Italian democracy, established

dictatorship

Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin

Became dictator of U.S.S.R. in 1926

Strong Communist ruler

Industrialized the U.S.S.R.

Responsible for the murder of 10,000,000 peasants who opposed his

policies

Took whatever steps necessary to hold power

Became dictator of U.S.S.R. in 1926

Strong Communist ruler

Industrialized the U.S.S.R.

Responsible for the murder of 10,000,000 peasants who opposed his

policies

Took whatever steps necessary to hold power

Der FuhrerAdolf HitlerDer FuhrerAdolf Hitler

Served in German army during WWI

Infuriated by German defeat and Treaty of Versailles

Hated victorious Allied countries

Served in German army during WWI

Infuriated by German defeat and Treaty of Versailles

Hated victorious Allied countries

Hitler’s rise to power

Hitler’s rise to power

Arrested in 1923 during attempted coup

Writes Mein Kampf (My Struggle) while in prison

Supporter of Germans as “master race”

Wanted to unify all German speakers under one government

Blamed Jews for world’s problems

Arrested in 1923 during attempted coup

Writes Mein Kampf (My Struggle) while in prison

Supporter of Germans as “master race”

Wanted to unify all German speakers under one government

Blamed Jews for world’s problems

Hitler becomes German dictatorHitler becomes

German dictatorHis Nazi party gains popularity in 1932

due to German economic collapse

Appointed chancellor and given dictatorial powers in 1933

Established secret police and rebuilds German army in violation of Treaty of

Versailles

His Nazi party gains popularity in 1932 due to German economic collapse

Appointed chancellor and given dictatorial powers in 1933

Established secret police and rebuilds German army in violation of Treaty of

Versailles

Japanese Imperialism

Japanese Imperialism

Japanese economy was in ruins in early 1930s

Belief in idea of Japanese domination of East Asia

Japan invades Chinese province of Manchuria in 1931

Military leaders seized power with goal of expanding Japanese empire

Japanese economy was in ruins in early 1930s

Belief in idea of Japanese domination of East Asia

Japan invades Chinese province of Manchuria in 1931

Military leaders seized power with goal of expanding Japanese empire

American NeutralityAmerican Neutrality

The U.S. chose isolationism for two main reasons:

*European countries failure to repay WWI debts

**Accusations that the U.S. had entered WWI in order to enrich defense

contractors

Neutrality Act passed in 1935

The U.S. chose isolationism for two main reasons:

*European countries failure to repay WWI debts

**Accusations that the U.S. had entered WWI in order to enrich defense

contractors

Neutrality Act passed in 1935

Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil War

Communists and Fascists fight Civil War in Spain in 1936

Fascist dictator Franco is victorious

U.S. remains neutral and does not send arms to either side

Communists and Fascists fight Civil War in Spain in 1936

Fascist dictator Franco is victorious

U.S. remains neutral and does not send arms to either side

The Rome-Berlin AxisThe Rome-Berlin Axis

Hitler and Mussolini hook up in 1936

Japan agrees to pact with Germany to fight Communism

Hitler and Mussolini hook up in 1936

Japan agrees to pact with Germany to fight Communism

U.S. Neutrality Act of 1937

U.S. Neutrality Act of 1937

Prevents U.S. from selling weapons to any country at war

Anything purchased by foreign countries from U.S. had to be paid for in cash and

carried away by purchasing country

Why do you think the U.S. insisted on this “cash-carry” policy?

Prevents U.S. from selling weapons to any country at war

Anything purchased by foreign countries from U.S. had to be paid for in cash and

carried away by purchasing country

Why do you think the U.S. insisted on this “cash-carry” policy?

FDR and internationalism

FDR and internationalismFDR believed trade with foreign

countries was vital and that the U.S. should try and create world peace

He feared that neutrality was a dangerous path to travel but gave in to

public sentiment

When Japan invaded China in 1937, FDR agreed to sell weapons to China

FDR suspected more trouble was coming

FDR believed trade with foreign countries was vital and that the U.S. should try and create world peace

He feared that neutrality was a dangerous path to travel but gave in to

public sentiment

When Japan invaded China in 1937, FDR agreed to sell weapons to China

FDR suspected more trouble was coming

Hitler starts making trouble

Hitler starts making troubleHitler is determined to unify all German

speakers under German rule

German army invades Austria in 1938 (Anschluss)

Hitler then demands part of Czechoslovakia inhabited by German

speakers

Hitler is determined to unify all German speakers under German rule

German army invades Austria in 1938 (Anschluss)

Hitler then demands part of Czechoslovakia inhabited by German

speakers

Munich Conference September 1938

Munich Conference September 1938

Britain, France, Italy and Germany meet to discuss Hitler’s demands

Britain and France give in to Hitler and Czechoslovakia must give up the

Sudetenland

Appeasement was the policy of giving in to demands to preserve peace

Why could appeasement be a dangerous policy?

Britain, France, Italy and Germany meet to discuss Hitler’s demands

Britain and France give in to Hitler and Czechoslovakia must give up the

Sudetenland

Appeasement was the policy of giving in to demands to preserve peace

Why could appeasement be a dangerous policy?

Hitler’s next demand? Poland!

Hitler’s next demand? Poland!

Hitler insisted that Poland return the port of Danzig to Germany, which had

been German until WWI

England and France told Hitler that if he invaded Poland they would go to war

against Germany

In May, 1939, the German army prepares to invade Poland

Hitler insisted that Poland return the port of Danzig to Germany, which had

been German until WWI

England and France told Hitler that if he invaded Poland they would go to war

against Germany

In May, 1939, the German army prepares to invade Poland

Nazi-Soviet non-Aggression PactNazi-Soviet non-Aggression Pact

In August 1939, Germany and the U.S.S.R. agree to remain at peace with

each other

Germany and the U.S.S.R. also agree to divide Poland between themselves

Hitler looking to make sure the Soviets do not interfere with his plans for

Poland and the rest of Europe

In August 1939, Germany and the U.S.S.R. agree to remain at peace with

each other

Germany and the U.S.S.R. also agree to divide Poland between themselves

Hitler looking to make sure the Soviets do not interfere with his plans for

Poland and the rest of Europe

WWII beginsWWII beginsOn September 1, 1939, Germany

invades Poland and Britain and France declare war on Germany

German blitzkrieg (“lightning war”) tactics were highly effective

German tanks and airplanes supported German soldiers

Poland fell by October

On September 1, 1939, Germany invades Poland and Britain and France

declare war on Germany

German blitzkrieg (“lightning war”) tactics were highly effective

German tanks and airplanes supported German soldiers

Poland fell by October

Who’s Next?Who’s Next?

While Britain and France waited in France, Hitler made his next move

Norway and Denmark fell to the German army by April 1940

The German army then attacked the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg,

trapping the British and French in Belgium

While Britain and France waited in France, Hitler made his next move

Norway and Denmark fell to the German army by April 1940

The German army then attacked the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg,

trapping the British and French in Belgium

Miracle at Dunkirk

Miracle at Dunkirk

British and French troops were trapped at the port town of Dunkirk, France

For some reason Hitler chose not to attack, allowing the 338,000 British and French troops to escape to England, but

without their equipment

In June 1940, the French surrendered to Germany

British and French troops were trapped at the port town of Dunkirk, France

For some reason Hitler chose not to attack, allowing the 338,000 British and French troops to escape to England, but

without their equipment

In June 1940, the French surrendered to Germany

Winston Churchill inspires the BritishWinston Churchill inspires the British

Churchill refused to consider surrendering to the Nazis and declared that the British would fight to the very

end to defend their country

In mid 1940, the German air force began bombing Britain

British use of radar allowed their pilots to destroy many German planes

In October 1940, Hitler cancelled the invasion of Britain, as the U.S. continued

to stay out of the fighting

Churchill refused to consider surrendering to the Nazis and declared that the British would fight to the very

end to defend their country

In mid 1940, the German air force began bombing Britain

British use of radar allowed their pilots to destroy many German planes

In October 1940, Hitler cancelled the invasion of Britain, as the U.S. continued

to stay out of the fighting