I N E V I TA B L E M U C H ?

THE CAUSES OF WORLD WAR 2

1920S – THE DENIAL

• 1920s were a time of celebration – war was over!• Everyone was focused on

peace, but all had different ways of going about it• The League of Nations

was quite successful in dealing with minor skirmishes• BUT…

ENTER THE GFC V1.0

• The Great Depression made nations even more reluctant to enter war

• Many countries and their governments couldn’t decide on how to handle the GD, so they formed coalition governments which were unstable’

• SO…

JUSTICE LEAGUE (NOT…)

• The League of Nations includes big powers, but excludes Germany (losers), USSR (Communists, eeeuuuw)

• USA chooses not to join

• Many countries join later, but only briefly

AND THEN…!

• Japan invades Manchuria• Italy invades Abyssina• BUT…

MEANWHILE…BACK IN GERMANY

• Hitler has achieved power• Promises a return to

greatness• Wants to get rid of the

Treaty of Versailles• Starts with the Saar in

1935

AND THEN…

• Conscription – this was directly against the Treaty of Versallles• WHY?• AND?

THE RHINELAND

• In 1936, Hitler re-occupied the Rhineland • This was against the

Treaty of Versailles• BUT…

AUSTRIA (#1 & #2)

• In 1936 Hitler send troops into Austria• BUT…• In 1938 he re-entered

Austria, and this time… ANSCHLUSS• AND…

CZECHOSLOVAKIA #1 & #2

• In 1938 Germany took back the German speaking parts of Czechoslovakia• At the Munich

Conference GB & France did…• In 1939, Germany

takes the rest of Czechoslovakia.

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE!

• In 193.. Italy, Germany and Japan sign the Anti-Comintern Pact – directly opposes the USSR• In 1939 Germany signs

an agreement with USSR not to attack each other (Nazi-Soviet NonAggression Pact)• WHY?• AND NEXT?

ROLLIN’ WITH POLAND

• In April 1939, GB signs an agreement to protect Poland• In August,

Germany invades Poland (who wouldda thought…?)

YOUR TURN

YOUR TURN

YOUR TURN