Steps to warSteps to war

The League of NationsThe League of Nations

Purpose to make the First World War Purpose to make the First World War truly the “War to End All Wars”truly the “War to End All Wars”

Inability to prevent another war can Inability to prevent another war can be traced to the failure of the Leaguebe traced to the failure of the League

Idea to maintain collective security Idea to maintain collective security through discussion and diplomacythrough discussion and diplomacy

No chance of success: US refused to No chance of success: US refused to join and other nations gave little join and other nations gave little supportsupport

The Manchurian Crisis - 1931The Manchurian Crisis - 1931

Japan invaded the Chinese province Japan invaded the Chinese province of Manchuriaof Manchuria

China appealed to the League for China appealed to the League for help – no one was prepared to acthelp – no one was prepared to act

Most nations firmly in grip of Great Most nations firmly in grip of Great DepressionDepression

Invasion of Abyssinia - 1935Invasion of Abyssinia - 1935

Mussolini of Italy had noted the Mussolini of Italy had noted the League’s unwillingness to actLeague’s unwillingness to act

War involved Italian tanks against War involved Italian tanks against Abyssinian spearsAbyssinian spears

World-wide public outrage, but no World-wide public outrage, but no interventionintervention

Boycott on some goods, not oilBoycott on some goods, not oil

Formation of the Axis Powers - Formation of the Axis Powers - 19371937

For protection against Soviet forces For protection against Soviet forces in Manchuria, Japan signed the anti-in Manchuria, Japan signed the anti-Comintern (world-wide Communist Comintern (world-wide Communist movement lead by the USSR) Pact movement lead by the USSR) Pact with Germanywith Germany

In 1937, Italy joined creating the In 1937, Italy joined creating the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo AxisRome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis

LebensraumLebensraum

Living space for the German peopleLiving space for the German people Hitler demanded Hitler demanded AnschlussAnschluss

(unification of Austria and other (unification of Austria and other German speaking territories with German speaking territories with Germany)Germany)

Occupation of the Saar Valley, Occupation of the Saar Valley, Remilitarization of the Rhineland, Remilitarization of the Rhineland, annexation of Austriaannexation of Austria

Neither of the Allies respondedNeither of the Allies responded

Munich Pact and Appeasement -Munich Pact and Appeasement -19381938

Appeasement – policy of satisfying Hitler’s Appeasement – policy of satisfying Hitler’s demandsdemands

Favoured by British prime minister Neville Favoured by British prime minister Neville Chamberlain and Canadian prime minister Chamberlain and Canadian prime minister KingKing

At the Munich Conference, Chamberlain At the Munich Conference, Chamberlain agreed to German occupation of the agreed to German occupation of the Sudetenland if Hitler promised to leave the Sudetenland if Hitler promised to leave the rest of Czechoslovakiarest of Czechoslovakia

Neville ChamberlainNeville Chamberlain

““I Believe it is Peace for Our Time”I Believe it is Peace for Our Time”

William Lyon Mackenzie KingWilliam Lyon Mackenzie King "He smiled very pleasantly, and indeed "He smiled very pleasantly, and indeed

had a sort of appealing and affectionate had a sort of appealing and affectionate look in his eyes. My sizing up of the man look in his eyes. My sizing up of the man as I sat and talked with him was that he is as I sat and talked with him was that he is really one who truly loves his fellow man really one who truly loves his fellow man and his country ... his eyes impressed me and his country ... his eyes impressed me most of all. There was a liquid quality most of all. There was a liquid quality about them which indicated keen about them which indicated keen perception and profound sympathy (calm, perception and profound sympathy (calm, composed) - and one could see how composed) - and one could see how particularly humble folk would come to particularly humble folk would come to have a profound love for the man." have a profound love for the man."

Munich Pact and Appeasement Munich Pact and Appeasement 19381938

Chamberlain was later strongly Chamberlain was later strongly criticized as being weakcriticized as being weak

Optimism was short livedOptimism was short lived Hitler invaded the rest of Hitler invaded the rest of

Czechoslovakia by March 1939Czechoslovakia by March 1939

Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact 19391939

Removed the threat of war for Removed the threat of war for Germany in the EastGermany in the East

Included an agreement to partition Included an agreement to partition (split-up) Poland(split-up) Poland

Allowed Hitler to fight in the West Allowed Hitler to fight in the West without having to worry about an without having to worry about an Eastern FrontEastern Front

Four General Causes of the WarFour General Causes of the War

1.1. The Treaty of VersaillesThe Treaty of Versailles

2.2. The Great Depression The Great Depression

3.3. Appeasement: The failure of the League Appeasement: The failure of the League of Nations to Actof Nations to Act

4.4. Adolf Hitler’s racial theories and Adolf Hitler’s racial theories and territorial ambitionsterritorial ambitions