All Flashcards
What were the main causes of WW2?
Treaty of Versailles* Hitler's actions Failure of appeasement* The Great Depression* Failure of the League of Nations* Rise of fascism Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact Japanese expansion Japanese and German alliance*
In what ways did Hitler violate the treaty of Versailles?
He built up Germany’s army and weapons. He built warships and created an airforce. He entered the Rhineland. He took back land that was taken away from Germany and formed a union with Austria.
Why did Australia go to war?
Part of British empire
Supporting democracy/defeating communism
Duty to serve
Germany was the aggressor and needed to be stopped
It was a right and it was a natural part of war to defend other people
To honour international obligations
What were the conditions of ghettos?
Overcrowding, hunger, disease, summary execution
What was the impact of the treaty of Versailles and the Great Depression?
Germany could not afford to pay the money and people in Germany became very poor during the 1920s. There weren’t many jobs and the price of food and goods rose enormously and at a very fast rate (hyperinflation). Standard of living fell and money became worthless. In their desperation, people’s dissatisfaction with the government lead to the giving of power to Adolf Hitler, who promised to destroy the treaty.
What were selections?
A process slave labourers went through to see whether they were fit to work. If they were not, they’d be sent straight to gas chambers.
Why were mass shootings deemed not good enough for the final solution?
Too crude and inefficient. Took too long, left a lot of evidence and had psychological effect on the murderers.
What were the main terms of the treaty of Versailles?
- War guilt clause: Germany should accept the blame for starting WW1
- Reparations: Germany had to pay £6600 million for the damage caused by the war
- Disarmament: Germany was only allowed to have a small army and six naval ships. No tanks, no airforce and no submarines were allowed. The Rhineland area (between Germany and France) was to be demilitarised.
- Territorial clauses: land was taken away from Germany (13.5% of its land and 7 million people) and given to other countries. Union with Austria was forbidden.
Where did Australians fight?
Libya and Egypt Syria and Lebanon Greece and Crete Singapore and Borneo Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands
What was the purpose of the different camps?
Extermination: mass murder
Concentration: imprisonment of political opponents
Labour: forced labour
When were the Nuremberg laws passed?
1935 and 1937
What are the most significant experience of Australians during the war?
Kokoda track and women and indigenous Australians at war
Why do historian believe the League of Nations failed?
Not all countries joined; USA refused and Germany and Russia were excluded due to fear of communism.
The league had no power over non-member countries. Their main weapon was to boycott trade with aggressive countries and in the 1920s people were reluctant to lose trading partners because of the depression.
The league had no army and member countries were reluctant to provide troops because they didn’t want to provoke aggressive armies into attacking them.
They weren’t able to act quickly; they only met 4 times a year and decisions had to be agreed on by all Nations.
Name 3 social/economic changes from WW2.
Introduction of US culture, farming ceased to be the major area of economic activity, machinery like washing machines, refrigerators and cars increased, food processing and canning, expansion of steel production, income taxation became centrally controlled, banking regulated to government, hundreds of thousands of immigrants, foundation of the UN.
Why is the Great Depression considered a main cause of WW2?
It led to a large economical decline, which left people turning to world leaders who promised a better future, including Hitler. It also distracted the democratic powers, making them pay more attention to their own countries rather than international developments.
