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THE WESTERN DEMOCRACIES

“When the Smoke cleared….”

Setting the stage for WWII

Great Britain -- France

?? What you should know ??

1. What empires were destroyed by the Treaty of Versailles?

2. What was the economic state of Europe after World War I?

3. What did the French do to try and protect their border with Germany?

WWI Recap

10-15 million people killed.(wounded -- +20 million)

Physical destruction.Millions of soldiers are returning

home.Huge Debt for Countries.

New CountriesCarved out of the remnants of empires!

World War I Europe

World War II Europe

Austria and Hungary

Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia

Poland

Finland and Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

Turkey

Syria, Palestine, Transjordan, Iraq, Lebenon, Kuwait

France EconomicallyHigh war debtsRebuilding France would cost

billionsHuge military costsPrices on all items soared to record

highsThe value of the franc dropped

50%

France PoliticallyFrance signs numerous treaties

Help to encircle GermanyRussia, Poland, Romania

French government went through a period of reorganizationSocialism

France SociallyHigh inflation and low wages led to a

general strike.Many businesses destroyed, homes were

lost, and disease and starvation faced many French.

Maginot Line

200 miles of unbroken military protection along the French and German border. Foreshadowing…?

Anti-Tank Defenses

Britain EconomicallyThe money it had used to expand and

finance its massive empire was goneForced to borrow money at high ratesOutdated factories and machinery were

having trouble competing with Japan and America

High tariffs around the world.infrastructure

Britain Politically

With the disarmament movement, many employees lost jobs, strikes and unemployment result.

Government unable to compensate.

Britain SociallyHigh

unemployment, low wages, strikes

A tight budget and protection of British goods by high tariffs, helped the economy recover

Germany Economically

High inflationGovernment

borrowing huge amounts of money to stay afloat

Reparations were impossible to pay

Germany PoliticallyHuge territorial losses.Weimar Republic not trusted due to

signing of the Treaty of Versailles.Labor unrest due to high inflation and

unemployment.

Germany SociallyFeeling of distrust for new system of

governmentRedrawing of Europe has left

many Germans in other countries – Poland, France, Czechoslovakia

Sets the stage for government overthrow

?? What you should know ??

1. What empires were destroyed by the Treaty of Versailles?

2. What was the economic state of Europe after World War I?

3. What did the French do to try and protect their border with Germany?