WORLD WAR IIU. S. History

THE RISE OF DICTATORS

Europe after World War I:Conditions: millions of deaths, destruction of cities and farms, economy in ruins

Treaty of Versailles: left many European nations dissatisfied (France wanted Germany punished; Germany severely weakened with economic ruin and political turmoil)

Totalitarian Leaders AriseBENITO MUSSOLINI

-member of Socialist party in Italy early 1900’s

-founded new political party in 1920’s, National Fascist Party (glory of the state)

-1922 became leader of government

ADOLF HITLER

Early life

National Socialist Party (“Nazi”)

Tried seizure of power – put in prison (1923) – wrote Mein Kampf

Became Chancellor of Germany, 1933

Adolf Hitler (1889-1945)

Other regimes…

SPAIN: Francisco Franco

SOVIET UNION: Joseph Stalin, came to power in communist country mid-1920’s

JAPAN: 1930’s leaders wanted to expand territory – 1931 army invadedChinese province of Manchuria

TURMOIL

ITALY INVADES ETHIOPIA: 1935 Mussolini invaded East African nation of Ethiopia

Haile Selassie (Ethiopian Emperor) asked League of Nations for help – international community unwilling to help

SPANISH CIVIL WAR: 1936 conflict between Communists & Nationalists – by 1939 Franco’s nationalists in charge

HITLER TAKES ACTION

Hitler began rebuilding German military

1936 Hitler sent German troops into the Rhineland

1938 Hitler gains control of Austria through the Anschluss, and gained control of German-speaking part of Czechoslovakia, called the Sudentenland

EUROPE ON VERGE OF WAR

British Prime Minister NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN wanted appeasement toward Hitler (to maintain peace)

March 1939 Hitler’s troops marched into the rest of Czechoslovakia

Hitler made non-aggression pact with Soviet Union

HITLER ATTACKS POLAND

September 1, 1939, Hitler invaded Poland

“Blitzkrieg” = “lightning war” – combination of air attack and fast-moving armored strikes

Sept. 3, 1939: BRITAIN & FRANCE (“Allies”) declare war on Germany

SEE MAP page 397

German Forces Turn West

April 1940, Hitler sent forces into Denmark and Norway

May 1940, Hitler sent forces into Netherlands & Belgium

June: German troops trapped Allied soldiers at Dunkirk – these were able to escape

FRANCE FALLS

By end of June 1940, German troops overrunning France, headed toward capitol, Paris

France surrendered to Germany

Hitler visits Paris

BATTLE OF BRITAIN

Great Britain now led by Winston Churchill

Hitler prepared invasion – Luftwaffe (German air force) began bombing London

By late 1940 Battle of Britain over – British had stopped the Luftwaffe – Hitler had to call off invasion

TENSIONS IN EAST ASIA

1934 Japan began expanding Navy

1936 Japan signed agreement with Germany

1937 Japan began brutal war against China

1940 Japan formed military alliance with Germany and Italy: AXIS