World War II Flashcards
germany during the depression
- Very weak economy: had to pay $32 billion to other countries
- Took from workers paychecks
- Affected even more by the depression than others
japan during the depression
- Only Asian country with an empire after WWI
- Built strong factories during the war, but suffered when they could not get materials from other countries during the depression
- Tried to expand into China, causing much conflict.
russia during the depression
- Revolution in 1917, changed to a communist country
- After a civil war, they joined with other countries to create the Soviet Union (USSR) that created created a bigger, more stable economy
The USSR’s stability during the Great Depression caused many people to believe that communism, not capitalism, was the solution to the depression. Many new leaders came to power at this time because they gave desperate people solutions to their problems, but many of these solutions involved war.
japan’s imperialism
The earliest conflict that continued throughout WWII was between Japan and China.
Japan’s Actions before the Start of WWII:
- 1931: Invasion of Manchuria
- 1933: Leaves the League of Nations after being criticized
- 1937: Invades China
- 1938: At war with China
axis vs allies
Allies: Great Britain, France (while unoccupied), USSR, China, Canada
Axis: Germany, Italy, Japan
hitler’s early life
- Had a very regular childhood playing outside with friends
- As a boy found pictures of war very fascinating and became very interested in war
- As a teenager, he wanted to become an artist but his parents wanted him to learn a trade
- By 21, he was copying postcards and selling them to tourists
- After being rejected by art school for the second time he was out of money and homeless
hitler during ww1
- Hitler fought in WWI in France and Belgium in many famous battles including Ypres where he sustained serious injuries from the gas
- Hitler convinced himself that his task was to save Germany from all attack – those from outside AND those from within
- Hitler was shocked when Germany surrendered in 1918
hitler’s surrender and hatred (after ww1)
- Hitler believed that the German troops had been stabbed in the back by the leaders
- Hitler wanted to change Germany and make it strong again
- He slowly began to build support for himself by giving speeches that attacked Jews, Capitalists, Gypsies and anyone not pure Aryan in beer halls
- He tried to overthrow the government during a riot he started and was put in prison
Mein Kampf / My Struggle
- While in prison, Hitler wrote his autobiography (life story) and talked about his beliefs – hatred against Jews and ‘others’
- By the end of WWII, every German knew what the book was and most had a copy – every newly married couple got one
hitler’s speeches
- Had an ability to capture people’s attention and feed on their anger
- Played with people’s national pride and made them feel angry over the Treaty of Versailles
- Pinned the blame of the failing German government and German Jews for the failure of WWI and the current problems
- Used dramatic props
the nazi party
- The Nazi Party, used violence, intimidation, fear and propaganda to cement their power in Germany
- Report neighbors who didn’t support Hitler → would disappear (die)
- And many Germans loved Hitler and his promises
third reich (third empire-time as Fuhrer)
- Once power was secured, Hitler gained more public support by telling Germans he was their saviour from the Great Depression, the Treaty of Versailles and all ‘undesirables’
- Hitler jump started the economy with huge building projects
- Highway: fast way to travel, created many jobs, useful in war
- Railway: fast way to travel, created many jobs, could send people to camps
- Volkswagen: created many jobs, everyone got an affordable car
who did hitler build alliances with
Hitler built alliances with Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini and the Empire of Japan
timeline of hitler before ww2
1921 - Hitler becomes chairman of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP)
1923 - Nazis stage a coup (Beer Hall Putsch) which fails; Hitler goes to prison; begins writing Mein Kampf
1929 - US Stock Market crash devastates Germany, who is highly reliant on the US economy (loans) to pay back reparations
1932 - NSDAP wins 37.4% of the vote, but not the presidency
January 1933 - Hitler made chancellor
February 1933 - Reichstag Fire (German parliament building); communists banned
March 1933 - Enabling Act passed; made Hitler dictator for four years
July 1933 - The Nazi party is the only party left after all others are banned
1934 - German President dies; Hitler merges positions of President and Chancellor - The Führer
1935 - Nuremberg Laws;
reasons for hitler’s popularity
- Promised to end adherence to Treaty of Versailles - “Stabbed in the Back” theory
- Blamed the Jews for Germany’s hardships
- Promised economic prosperity in the wake of the Great Depression
- Promised to restore Germany’s greatness
- Charismatic, manipulative, passionate public speaker
- Was the German “everyman”
hitlers initiatives (3)
Farmers:
Higher prices for their produce - making up for all their losses during the Depression.
Unemployed Workers:
Jobs building public works such as roads and stadiums
Middle Class:
To restore the profits of small businesses and the value of saving. To end the communist threat.
totalitarianism
Government has total control over all aspects of politics and society. It uses violence and intimidation to gain power, then relies on police force to maintain control. In the 1930s, totalitarian states arose in Germany, Italy, Spain, the USSR, and Japan.
stalin
- Communists took control of Russia by 1917 and Stalin became the leader of the Communist Party in 1924
- Gained total control of the USSR by 1928
- 5 year plan to industrialize and give government complete control of the economy: collectivized agriculture, created industrial projects, controlled media/court, arrested any threats
- Many people were arrested or died in Gulags
mussolini
- Suffered from chaotic economic and political conditions after WWI
- Established the Fascist party → created the Blackshirts (violent gang of fascists)
- Used the USSR as a blueprint to rule Italy
facism in spain
- Democratic government was unable to prevent widespread poverty → people upset
- General Franco (nationalists) tried to overthrow the socialist government in 1936
- Led to a 3 year civil war
- Had military support from Hitler and Mussolini → won and became ruler in 1939
- Imprisoned/executed people
- Ruled until death in 1975
militariasm in japan
Government was loyal to the emperor, Hirohito
the treaty of versailles
- Put all of the blame on Germany, therefore ignoring and not resolving the MAIN reasons WWI started
- Militarism: Decreased German army to only 100 000 soldiers, no submarines or airplanes, just a few boats
- Alliances: Dismantled Germany’s allies (Austria-Hungary)
- Imperialism: Took away colonies, decreasing economic power and political presence, making it less competitive
- Nationalism: War Guilt Clause put ALL of the blame on Germany
oppoistion to hitler
- Attempted Coup d’Etat (take over)
- Underground Resistance and Open Opposition
- Passive Resistance (not cooperating)
- Private Grumbling
appease meaning
Appease: to yield or concede to the belligerent demands of (a nation, group, person etc.) in an effort to keep the peace, sometimes at the expense of justice or other principles.
