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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?
