The Road to War
Underlying Causes of World War Two

1. The Treaty of Versailles
Harsh terms intended to make
Germany powerless
• accept total blame for WW1
• reduced military
• reparations of $33 billion
• loss of territory

Territorial Disputes After WWI
Many German people were living in new countries such as Poland,
Czechoslovakia, and Austria.
Germany lost territory to several countries, leading to grievances.

2. Rise of Fascism
Fascism
A system of government in which:
• Nationalism is promoted
• Labour and industry are
regulated by a strong national
government
• All opposition is suppressed

Italian Fascism
The political ideology of fascism
originated with Benito Mussolini, who
became dictator of Italy in 1922
1922- “March on Rome”
Mussolini’s blackshirts
destroyed Italy’s
government

Benito Mussolini
• Called “Il Duce”
meaning “The Leader”
• Created a totalitarian
dictatorship by:
– banning opposing
political parties &
unions
– censoring
newspapers
– creating a secret
police force

Rise of Adolph Hitler
• 1923: Hitler, leader
of Nazi party,
conducts an armed
revolt in Munich
– the “Beer Hall
Putsch”
• Hitler thrown in
prison
• Wrote “Mein Kampf”
(my struggle) while
in prison

Rise of Fascism in Germany
• 1933 -Hitler is elected Chancellor of Germany, becoming “Fuhrer” (leader)
• organized opposition was violently suppressed by the “brownshirts”
• Hitler’s policy of “Lebensraum” (living room):
– take over German-speaking territories in neighbouring countries such
as Austria, Poland, Czechoslovakia
– defeat Soviet communism and expand German territory to the east into
the U.S.S.R., expelling non-German people

Anti-Semitism in Germany
Blamed Germany’s problems
on “scapegoats” such as
Jews, blacks, Gypsies,
homosexuals and the
mentally ill.
Nazi party policy very racist
and anti-Semitic
Widespread discrimination
against Jews in Germany

3. Failure of the League of Nations
Non-intervention is when
one does not involve
themselves with foreign
affairs.
Appeasement is the act of
giving into, or satisfying
ones demands.
• Canada and most other
countries followed a
policy of non-intervention
and appeasement
The League of Nations was
established in 1920 to
prevent war, but its decisions
were not legally binding

The Manchurian Crisis
• Sept. 1931: Japan
invaded Chinese
province of Manchuria
on the pretext that
China attacked
Japanese-owned South
Manchurian Railroad

Manchurian Crisis (con’t)
• China applied to the League of
Nations for help
• The League condemned Japan’s
actions, but there was little support
for economic sanctions due to Great
Depression

Limited Membership
•The United States
never joined the
League
•The Soviet Union
joined only in 1934,
and was expelled in
1939
•Germany and
Japan both
withdrew in 1933

Spanish Civil War
In 1936 a Spanish civil war breaks out between:
New Republic government led by communists
vs.
Fascists led by Francisco Franco

Response to Spanish Civil War
• “MacKenzie-Papineau Battalion” made up of Canadian supporters
of communism - over half of volunteers die
• Britain, France and Canada maintain official policy of non-
intervention
• Germany and Italy support the fascists with arms, equipment, and
money

Italian Invasion of Abyssinia
• Border clash between
Abyssinian troops (Africa) and
neighboring Italian Somaliland
• Mussolini launched full-scale
attack against Abyssinia
• League of Nations imposes
boycott against Italy, but little
world enthusiasm for
sanctions
• England and France took no
action against Italy, allowing
Italian ships through the Suez
canal

5. Formation of Axis Powers
In 1937 Germany and Italy
made a pact not to go to
war with each other, later
joined by Japan
They became known as the
“Axis Powers” during
World War Two
Hitler with Mussolini