Germany's economic decline following WWI, due to war reparations and hyperinflation, led to social and political instability. Adolf Hitler rose to power exploiting German citizens' anger over the Treaty of Versailles and promising to restore Germany's economy and international prestige. He established a fascist dictatorship and pursued aggressive militarism and expansionism, violating the treaty. Appeasement by Western nations failed to deter Hitler, and war erupted in Europe in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland.

1. Seeds of World War II

2. Germany’s Economic Decline



Germany spent 37 billion
dollars during World War I and
only collected 1.5 billion in
taxes.
Treaty of Versailles signed by
Germany in 1919 made them
accept complete responsibility
for World War I.
Germany had to pay 32 billion
dollars in war reparations to
France and England.

4. Fix the German Economy
 Germany tries to fix problem by printing more
money, which causes inflation.
 Value of German mark ($) to the U.S. dollar
 1914 $1 US Dollar = 4.2 German Marks
 1923 $1 US Dollar = 1 Billion German Marks
 Price
 Inflation
of bread 4 billion marks & glass of beer 2 million marks
left the currency and life savings of
Germans almost worthless

5. “Not my problem”
 Many
nations in Europe had ongoing
economic problems due to WWI. Several
were on the verge of bankruptcy
 Allied countries that won from WWI still
had a spirit of revenge. Therefore, they
say no reason to revise Treaty of
Versailles.
 Germans grew angry at the current
government they had (the Weimar
Republic)

6. A Failing Government
 German’s
did not support the Weimar
Republic because its representatives
signed the Treaty of Versailles.
 Office of Chancellor and President were
the 2 highest positions of Germany
 German’s wanted change!

7. U.S. Response
 Even
though the U.S. policy shifted to
isolationism, we provided assistance (500 million
in food to Europe, including Germany)
 The Dawes Plan-U.S. loaned Germany funds to
pay reparations to Allies.
 U.S. needed European economy to survive so
U.S. could receive payment from loans to allies
during WWII.
 Result of Dawes Plan-FAILED. Only 1
European Nation paid U.S. war loan/debts back.

8. The Dawes Plan

9. The Rise of Adolph Hitler
 Born in Austria – 1889
 High school dropout
 Enlisted in the German Army in WWI
 Became an extreme nationalist
 Believed Germany was sold out by
Weimar Republic from signing of Treaty of
Versailles.

10. Hitler and the Nazi Party
 Joined the Nazi Party in 1921
 Attacked the Weimar Republic
(rulers of Germany) in speeches.
 Denounced the Treaty of Versailles
 1923 - led an uprising in Munich,
Germany
 Put in jail and wrote Mein Kampf
(My Struggle)
 Germans were a superior “Aryan”
race
 Jews were an inferior race
 Blamed Jews for Germans defeat in

11. Hitler’s Climb to Power
 Once released from jail, he
rebuilt the Nazi Party.
Promised benefits to peasants,
workers, and the middle class.
Membership grew dramatically.
 In 1932, the Nazis are he
largest political party in
German politics.
 Hitler becomes Chancellor, at
request of German President
Hindenburg.

12. Hitler becomes Dictator
 President Hindenburg of Germany dies on
August 2, 1934
 Hitler combines offices of chancellor and
president.
 Declares himself Fuhrer (leader).
 Third Reich (German Empire) created.

13. Hitler in Control
first day as Fuhrer , requires all
members of army to take an oath to obey.
 Outlaws political opposition (which he
created), censors dissent from German
media.
 Germany is now a Fascist government
 On

14. Anti-Semitic Policies (Anti-Jew)
 German Jews began to experience
discrimination.
 Jews were expelled from government jobs
and teaching positions.
 Forbidden to practice law and medicine.
 Jews and non-Jews could not marry.
 All Jews had to register with the
government and wear yellow Stars of
David on their clothes.

15. Two young brothers, seated for a family photograph in the
Kovno ghetto. One month later, they were deported to the
Majdanek camp. Kovno, Lithuania, February 1944.

17. Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass)

Supposedly in retaliation for the assassination of a
German embassy official in Paris, France by a Jewish
student.

S.S. storm troopers (Hitler’s Army) went on an antiJewish rampage throughout Germany.

In 15 hours, over 200 synagogues were destroyed,
7,500 Jewish owned stores were looted and 100 Jews
killed.

30,000 were arrested and sent to prison camps.

18. Storefronts of Jewish Owned businesses were damaged during the
Kristallnacht ("Night of Broken Glass") pogrom. Berlin,
Germany, November 10, 1938.

19. Jewish-owned shop destroyed during
Kristallnacht (the "Night of Broken Glass").
Berlin, Germany, November 1938 .

20. As the synagogue in Oberramstadt burns during Kristallnacht
(the "Night of Broken Glass"), firefighters instead save a
nearby house. Local residents watch as the synagogue is
destroyed. Oberramstadt, Germany, November 9-10, 1938.

21. Jews arrested after Kristallnacht (the "Night of Broken
Glass") await deportation to Dachau concentration camp.
Baden-Baden, Germany, November 10, 1938.

22. Herzog Rudolfstrasse synagogue after it was
destroyed during Kristallnacht (the "Night of
Broken Glass").

23. Fascism in Italy
 Italy suffered from economic hardships
after WWI after helping the Allies fight.
 Italians were upset because they did not
gain the land they wanted from Treaty of
Versailles.
 Fascism (aggressive nationalism and
honor of military sacrifice) appealed to
many Italians, especially war veterans
from WWI.
 Benito Mussolini becomes Prime Minister
in 1922.

24. The Spanish Civil War






Francisco Franco and the Spanish Nationalist Party take
over Spain’s government in 1939.
Mussolini and Hitler helped Franco overthrow the
Spanish government.
Germany and Italy use the war as a testing ground for
the new tanks, planes, and weapons created.
Rome-Berlin Axis formed (Italy and Germany create an
alliance).
U.S. and League of Nations did little to stop them. They
worried if they became involved it would lead to a larger
conflict.
U.S. and European countries were using appeasement.

25. The Rise of Militarism in Japan

Japanese Expansion in the Far East
Militarists control the gov’t. Build up military
to expand control in Asia. Censorship begins, Liberal
teachers and gov’t critics arrested.


Secret police created to punish people speaking out against gov’t.
Schools taught “total obedience” to the emperor.

Needed raw materials because they did not have much land. As a
result, Japan has a desire to expand and conquer other lands.

1931 -- Occupied Manchuria part of Northeast China that was rich in
coal and oil.

26. The Seeds of WWII planted
 In 1936, Japan signs a treaty with
Italy and Germany, forming the
Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis
 General Hideki Tojo – became dictator
in 1941
 US Response: President FDR gives
speech. Declares U.S. isolationism, but
cuts off economic activities with Japan,
Germany and Italy.

27. Violation of Treaty
 Hitler violates the
Treaty of Versailles
 Hitler wants to take over the Sudetenland
(in Czechoslovakia) because 3 million
Germans lived there.
Rearmed Germany
Occupied the Rhineland
Declared Austria part of Germany

28. Appeasement of Hitler
 Munich Conference called (Sept. 1938).
 The Munich Conference was
a meeting
with the leaders of Great Britain, France,
and Germany (Hitler)
Britain decides to
appease Hitler
Appeasement-satisfy the demands of a potential
enemy in order avoid conflict
Germany is given part of Czechoslovakia to
avoid war, without discussing with the leaders
of Czechoslovakia

30. Invasion of Czechoslovakia
 Hitler makes more demands to Britain and
France believing they were weak.
 March 1939 – German troops decide to
invade and take over all of
Czechoslovakia
 August 1939 – Nazi-Soviet Pact signed,
Soviet Union & Germany pledging not to
attack each other.

31. World War II Begins
 Hitler invaded Poland in Sept. 1939.
 Britain and
France had pledged to help
Poland and declared war on Germany.
 World War II begins!

32. U.S. Neutrality
 Presdident Roosevelt argued that due to
Neutrality Acts passed by Congress the U.S.
couldn’t send war goods to Europe
(Britain/France).
 Congress passes “Cash and Carry” legislation
that says that Britain and France could pay for
U.S. goods in “cash” and “carry” them across the
Atlantic Ocean.
 Sept. 1941 – 80% of Americans opposed going
to war.
 Why?