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Section One Remembering the Great War-Over 8m people died fighting in WWI -112K Americans -Lots of people did not think end of WWI left world in peace -Communism in Russia, chaos in Europe -We did not want to be involved in another war -“Isolationism” -Withdraw from world affairs -We didn’t want complete isolation though -US just didn’t want to get tangled up in another European conflict -Developed policy of “unilateralism” -Independent action in world affairs -If something happens, we will go it alone -Not involved in League of Nations, World Court, etc.
Kellogg-Briand Pact-In 1927, France wanted US to enter treaty to outlaw war as a means of resolving differences -Another “Great War” should not happen again -Eventually becomes a worldwide treaty -BriandàFrench Foreign Minister -KelloggàUS Sec. of State -Very weak agreementàNo enforcement power -In 1931, Japan attacks Manchuria (China) -Violated all parts of the treaty -US leaders refused to sanction Japan -Japan gets away with it -Although a failure, it was at least an attempt for world peace
The Rise of Dictators -Dictatoràabsolute ruler -Rose to power after country was devastated -Japan and Italy fought in WWI, but were ignored in peace treaty -Germany lost WWI -Lost land, disarmament, war reparations
-AKA “Il Duce” -Italy -Started “fascism” -Extreme patriotism and nationalism -Felt military should have control -Opposed communism -Became prime minister in 1922 -Had dictatorial powers -Wanted to make Italy an imperial power -Attacks Ethiopia
Francisco Franco -Spain (had lots of internal problems after WWI) -Fascist -1936àCivil War in Spain Franco tries to overthrow gov’t -Becomes leader after civil war
Joseph Stalin -Vladimir Lenin (started communism in Russia) died in 1924 -Stalin takes over -BRUTAL -Crushed any opposition Hitler
-Born April 20, 1889
-Austrian
-Abused by father, coddled by mother
-Psychological problems?
-Went to Vienna to become artist
-Failed entrance exam twice
-Literally becomes a bum selling postcards
-Volunteered in Bavarian army during WWI
-Loved being in armyàwas his life
-Won 2 iron crosses (Medal of Honor)
-Left as a corporal (low rank)àwhy???
-People thought he was “unstable”
-War endsàLife destroyed
-Becomes “educator” for soldiers coming back from war
-Help them “demobilize”
-Great speaker
-Hitler was a spy for German army
-Spied on political parties
-German Workers Party
-Liked it when he was spying on them
-Joins German Workers Party
-Very tiny party
-Had 45 members and about $3 in the bank
-Becomes leader of GWP -Renames it National Socialist Workers Party (Nazi)
-Tries to overthrow Bavarian (German) gov’t in 1923
-Beer Hall Putsch
-Had 15K “bullies” to help him
-Fails
-Gets 6 months in jail (for TREASON!)
-Writes book, Mein Kampf (“My Struggle”)
-Outlines his ideas
-Becomes member of German legislature
-Great politician/speaker/propagandizer
-Appeals to many Germans
-SocialismàHelp
working class
-NationalismàGermany can be great again
-Blames others for loss in WWI
-How did Hitler get into power?
-Never had a majority in the legislature
-Did put together coalition of parties
-His was largest party
-Named Chancellor (“Sec. of State”)
-Hitler in power -Hitler never got more than 44% of the vote
-Nazi propaganda spread like wildfire -Within 6 months of coming to power (legally),
becomes Fuhrer (“supreme leader”)
How Germany let this Happen
-There were several factors that happened to Germany
-If these didn’t happenàno
Hitler
-World War I
-Germany was the loseràGermans angry
-Caused rise in Nationalism (patriotism)
-Jews were scapegoats
-Caused radical parties to emerge
-Civil War (right after WWI)
-“Red Scare”
-Diktat (Peace terms)
-Germany loses land, has to admit full responsibility
-German army limited in number
-Hyperinflation (Value of $ falling very fast)
-Took bus fare at the end of the ride
-Paper became more valuable than money itself
-People added zeros to the billsàdidn’t
matter
-People sold everything they had
-Upper class devastated
-During WWIà4:1 ratios USD: mark
-Height of hyperinflation: 4,200,000,000,000:1
-Stock Market Crash/Depression
-Germany just as hard hit as US Life in Germany under Hitler
-Germany was a totalitarian stateàNazis controlled everything
-Hitler allows a vote on himself
-“Can I be Chancellor and President?”
-Yes (93% to 7%) -When people voted for Hitler, they were NOT voting
for the Holocaust
-Nazi party only party allowed in Germany
-Hitler becoming more popular
-Restores law and order, lower unemployment
-Germany regaining its reputation
-President diesàHitler names himself president (becomes Fuhrer)
-How do you oppose Hitler?
-You don’t
-Hitler has SA (Sturmabteilungà “Storm troopers”)
-Bunch of bullies/mobs
-Had 50K when he became Chancellor -Had
2,000,000 as dictator
-Nuremberg Laws
(1935)
-Defined who a Jew was
-If your grandparents were Jews, you were a Jew
-Tried to create Aryan race (pure German)
-Had to find way to get rid of non-Aryans (Jews)
-Krystallnacht (“Night of Broken Glass”)
-November 1938
-Sanctioned by Hitler
-ALL the synagogues were burned
-Jewish stores lootedàLots of windows broken
-Hence the name Krystallnacht
-Most Germans disagreed with this
-Didn’t say anything (afraid)
-Nazis blamed the Jews for Krystallnacht!
-Forced Jews to pay for the damages
-Forced to wear yellow armband w/star on it
-Could easily be identified
Appeasement at Munich -Hitler took the Rhineland (b/w Germany and France) in 1935 -Violated Versailles Treaty -Hitler and Mussolini formed “Rome-Berlin Axis” in 1936 -Axis powers -Supported Franco’s takeover in Spain -Hitler invades Austria in 1938 -Wanted to take the Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia) -France and Russia both supported Czech. -Britain’s Neville Chamberlain holds meeting with Hitler -Agree to let Hitler take Sudetenland -Hitler won’t take any more -Appeasement
WAR -In March 1939, Hitler conquers Czechoslovakia -Started heading towards Poland -France and Britain warned Hitler: Attack Poland and war will start -Germany and Russia sign “non-aggression” pact -Won’t declare war on each other -August 1939àHitler invades Poland -Russia takes some land as well -Britain and France declare war on Germany -Germany had blitzkrieg (“lightning war”) strategy -Attack fast and hard before enemy can react -Attacks Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands -Moves towards France -June 1940àAttacks France -Crosses Maginot Line (French line of defense) easily -Gets to Paris in 2 weeks; France surrenders -Summer 1940àLuftwaffe bombards Britain -Huge bombings, but Britain not giving up
Germany attacks Soviet Union -USSR invaded Finland in 1939 -Then took some Baltic countries -Hitler invades Russia in 1941 -Devastated Russia -Laid siege to Moscow -Winter sets inàGermany not prepared -Retreats -Millions died (Russians and Germans)
Role of the US -US wanted to stay neutral -But wanted to help the Allies -Lend-Lease Act (1941) -Lent/leased materials to Allies
Pearl Harbor -Dec. 7, 1941 -US had cut off trade with Japan -Embargoed steel and oil -Japan upset/angry -Japan attacks naval base in Hawaii -2,400 died -Dec. 8, Congress declares war on Japan -Dec. 11, Germany and Italy declare war on US
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