LEADING INTO WWII. Germany Faces Economic Despair and Political Instability Post-WWI.
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Transcript of LEADING INTO WWII. Germany Faces Economic Despair and Political Instability Post-WWI.
LEADING INTO WWII
Germany Faces Economic Despair and Political Instability
Post-WWI
Economic and Political Issues
Why? Treaty of Versailles forced them to give up
land, limit its military and pay $32 billion for cost of war
REVENGE!: Many European nations were on the verge of bankruptcy and refused to make the treaty more just
Germany started printing more money- creating terrible inflation
Weimer Republic: post-WWI German government
INFLATIONMoney became worth less and less,
so – by the fall of 1923 one US dollar was worth one BILLION
German marks!
2 millions marks 4 millions marks
WEIMER REPUBLIC
•Unable to deal with post-war problems
•German people were looking for someone to blame! And those Weimer guys had signed the
Treaty!
So how does America respond? ISOLATION! Leave us out of it! But we need our money!
Dawes Act (1924)we give money to Germany Germany pays back England and France
England and France pay us back (essentially we’re paying ourselves back!)
The Rise of Adolf Hitler
Background on Adolf Hitler
Born in 1889 in Austria WWI
Enlisted in German army
Emerged from war an extreme nationalist- giving wildly emotional speeches attacking WR and promoting Nazism
Hitler speaking in 1933
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q-6H4xOUrs&feature=related
Hitler’s Power Increases
1923- Hitler led an uprising and was jailed for a year, he wrote:
Mein Kampf (“My Struggle”) German people are of a
superior “Aryan” race that was meant to control others and rule the world
Blamed Jews for Germany’s economic problems and defeat in WWI
Hitler’s Power Increases
Nazi party grows and gain more seats in the Reichstag (German legislature)
1932- several events occur that quickly increase the power of Hitler and his Nazi party
1934- He becomes FUHRER (“leader”) and creates a fascist state Army takes oath to obey Hitler Took control of all aspects of government-
outlawed opposition and dissent
Hitler’s Policies
Anti-Semitic Policies
Starts with limiting Jewish professions (no teaching, law, medicine…)
Nuremberg Laws, 1935 No citizenship Banned marriages
between Jews and non-Jews
Register with government and wear yellow Stars of David
Symbols
Symbols and colors were used to identify different groups based on race and religion
Anti-Semitic Policies
Kristallnacht “Night of Broken
Glass” 15 hours:
200 synagogues destroyed by fire
7,500 Jewish-owned stores looted
over 100 Jews killed, 30,000 Jews were
arrested and interned in prison camps
Domestic and Foreign Policies
Military buildup (ignoring Treaty of Versailles) is necessary for recovery and national pride
“Aryan master race” means: Germany has the right to expand and win territory!
Increased taxes and controlled wages and prices Built housing, highways and
sports arenas
Our economy will be
awesome! We will gain new territory! We deserve it!!
Domestic and Foreign Policies
So how does the US respond?
FDR and Hitler came into power in the same year (1932)
So we focus on domestic concerns! New Deal!
Americans did not want to get militarily involved, instead we encourage disarmament
What’s going on in the US at that time?
What’s going on in other nations at this time?
Italy, Spain and Japan
Issues In Italy
Severe social and economic problems (much like Germany)
Benito Mussolini and fascism to save the day (so they said) Inspired patriotism, obedience to authority
and militarism Fascists controlled or regulated social,
political and economic aspects of Italy If problems continue- it’s the world’s fault!!
Remind you of anyone?
Issues in Italy
Imperialism! Pursued territorial
expansion Ethiopia fell to
Italian military and the League of Nations did nothing effectively to stop it
Issues in Spain
Spanish Civil War Franco and Nationalist Party vs.
Republicans Franco wins!
Mussolini and Hitler back him up! Rome-Berlin Axis
Military alliance- hey and maybe we’ll interfere in other countries too!
Issues in Japan
Economic problems! Nationalism rising
Militarism Military leaders rose
to power Arrested government
critics, preached total obedience, glorified war and empire
Imperialism Attacked Manchuria
and wanted to continue aggressive policies in Asia
Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis
FearsFears??
US Response
Neutrality Acts- 1935, 1936, 1937 Cannot trade with military aggressive
nations, travel on ships of countries at war or loan them money
“Moral Embargo” with Italy Responding economically to Italy’s
aggression (so instead of selling them munitions, we sold them oil, copper and scrap metal so that Italy could make war materials themselves)
US Response
Trying to maintain neutrality as Franco takes power in Spain
Issued Stimson Doctrine to Japanese “We don’t like what you’re doing Japan! But
we’re staying out of it.” “Quarantine Speech” by FDR
As aggression continued in Asia and Europe, FDR became more concerned- BUT no action accompanied the speech.
““The epidemic of world The epidemic of world lawlessnesslawlessness is is
spreading. When an spreading. When an epidemic of physical epidemic of physical
disease starts to spread, disease starts to spread, the community approves the community approves and joins in a quarantine and joins in a quarantine of the patients in order of the patients in order to protect the health of to protect the health of the the communitycommunity against against
the spread of the the spread of the disease..”disease..”
““The epidemic of world The epidemic of world lawlessnesslawlessness is is
spreading. When an spreading. When an epidemic of physical epidemic of physical
disease starts to spread, disease starts to spread, the community approves the community approves and joins in a quarantine and joins in a quarantine of the patients in order of the patients in order to protect the health of to protect the health of the the communitycommunity against against
the spread of the the spread of the disease..”disease..”
German Aggression
WWII
Territorial Expansion
Reoccupied Rhineland (‘36)
Invaded Austria (’38) Demands Sudetenland
(region within Czechoslovakia)
Munich Agreement, Sept. 28, 1938Hitler and ChamberlainHitler gets to keep
Sudetenland and promises he won’t try to expand anymore
Appeaseme
nt
The US?
Encourages the Munich Agreement Maintains neutrality
More German Aggression
Hitler invades Czechoslovakia
Nazi-Soviet Pact Pledged not to attack
each other world is astonished! But
Soviets felt they had to act independently because France and Britain were hesitant to join forces with Soviet Union!
I was kidding about I was kidding about the Munich the Munich
Agreement! I want Agreement! I want more land! Germany more land! Germany
deserves it!deserves it!
WWII Begins
The Start
September 1, 1939 Hitler invades
Poland Great Britain and
France declare war on Germany
US Actions- Road to War
Debating neutrality at start of war- it’s becoming more complicated
Cash and Carry FDR: If we want to continue neutrality we
need to help Allies or we’ll be in danger! Sell weapons to Allies as long as paid in cash
and the Allies transport them across the Atlantic
American public thinks Hitler needs to be defeated BUT they want to stay out of war
FDR State of the Union January 6,
1941
In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression--everywhere in the world.
The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way--everywhere in the world.
FDR State of the Union January 6,
1941
The third is freedom from want--which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants--everywhere in the world.
FDR State of the Union January 6,
1941
The fourth is freedom from fear--which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor--anywhere in the world.
FDR State of the Union January 6,
1941
Are these worth fighting for?Do we fight?
US Actions- Road to War
Hitler is gaining power and territory Britain was lone power fighting off
Germany Atlantic Charter- August 1941
British PM Churchill meets with FDR Stated no desire for territory and full
support for rights of all peoples to choose their government
US Actions- Road to War
Lend-Lease Act Isolationist feelings
wavering as France fell to Germany
We’ll “loan” you weapons (replace cash and carry)
Oct. 1941- Germany sinks 2 ships killing about 100 Americans as we deliver weapons
US Actions- Road to War
Japan, General Tojo pursuing aggressive expansion in Asia
Tensions increased and US enacted some economic sanctions
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 Over 2,300
Americans killed
Pearl Harbor
“Yesterday, December 7, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy – the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the empire of Japan…No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.”
US Declares War
Allied Powers US Great Britain France
Axis Powers Japan Germany Italy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIyvnrKl1Rk&feature=related