1. The Road to WW2:
Causes (Part 1)

2. 1. The Treaty of Versailles(1919)
Harsh terms intended In reality the treaty
to make Germany had the opposite
powerless effect.
1. accept total blame It gave Germans
for WW1 grievances that
2. reduced military Hitler would
attempt to solve,
3. reparations of $33 such as restoring
billion national pride
4. loss of territory

3. 2. Europe: The Emergence of
New Countries After WW1
Europe 1914 Europe 1919-1939
•After WW1 German people were living in new countries (Poland,
Czechoslovakia, Austria) that had previously been Germany
•Many Germans felt these countries should “belong” to Germany
Lebensraum

4. 3. Economic Depression 1930’s
 The Great Depression (1930’s) made times
hard for all people
 especially Germans
 Depression + ($33 billion Reparations)
desperation!
a people that will agreed to almost
anything enthusiastically in return for a better life

5. 4. Rise of Extremism - Dictators
(Fascism / Communism)
1. Political democracies Political Spectrum (of sorts!)
were new to many
post WW1 European
nations – voters had Left Right
difficulty judging the Communism Fascism
new politicians USSR NAZI Germany
State Italy
2. Great Depression Individual
caused social,
economic, political
Canada, Britain, France, US
problems – People
were ready to follow Centre
any leader that Democracy
promised to make
things better!

6. 4. Rise of Fascism –Totalitarianism
(Dictators)
Fascism
 A form of government
(dictatorship) backed by
secret police and the army
 Based on nationalistic and
racist theories
 The state (nationalism) is
more important than the
individual
 All opposition is suppressed
(political, labour, religion)

7. Rise of Fascism –Totalitarianism
(Dictators)
Secret police Military
support
No political
opposition
DICTATORS create an
us and
them
Control the citizenship Scapegoat
media (to blame for all the
prison or problems)
death Jews,
Gypsies

8. Rise of Extremism:
Fascism & Communism
Fascism
Hitler
Communism
Stalin
Fascism
Franco Fascism
Mussolini

9. Rise of Adolph Hitler
-Hitler, leader of Nazi party, conducts an
1923
armed revolt in Munich
-Thrown in prison – writes “Mein Kampf” (My
propaganda
Struggle)
-Hitler re-organized the NAZI (National Socialist) party.
1928
-Established NAZI s throughout Germany – wins 12 seats
-NY Stock Market Crash and economic world Depression
1929 -Hindenburg government fails to solve economic problems
-Hitler widespread campaigns – using the airplane – rallies
1932 -Hindenburg president appoints Hitler chancellor to gain support of the
Reichstag (German parliament) – believed Hitler could be controlled.
1933 -Hitler seizes power. Proclaims himself Fuhrer
The establishment of a totalitarian state. State before the Individual.

10. Why Germans
Supported Hitler
1. Glad to see a strong man in
charge
2. Didn’t realize his intentions
even though they were
documented in Mein Kampf
3. Inspiring leader
4. Brilliant and hypnotizing
speaker
5. Inspiring Nazi rallies: songs,
parades
6. People felt they were part of a
new movement
7. Propaganda offered a source
of all problems – the Jews
8. Made being a Nazi exciting –
uniforms, songs, symbols

11. 1933 -Hitler becomes the “Fuhrer”
His policies – What he did!
1. “Lebensraum” (living room)
to take over all German-speaking countries annexed by the Treaty
of Versaille (Austria, Poland, Czechoslovakia)
2. Secret police – Gestapo
Search-out, seize, torture and terrorize all opposition
3. Propaganda – gave people targets to blame for all problems:
The Treaty of Versailles, Jews and communists. Preached “racial
purity” - Germans were a ‘master race’
4. Jobs - Got Germans back to work – poured money into
construction and factories: new roads, weapons (forbidden by T of
Versailles.) men flocked to the army