Causes of World War II

W.W.I – “the war to end all wars?”

Treaty of Versailles

• Used instead of Wilson’s 14 points
• Too punishing
• Allies believed that they had won but gained little, while Germany and its allies believed they had been treated too harshly

Great Depression

• Poverty and despair caused people in countries such as Italy, Spain and Germany to turn to dictators to solve their problems

League of Nations

• U.S did not join
• Proved powerless

New Map of Europe

• Treaty of Versailles changes the borders of many European countries and caused much tension
• The plan had been to give national groups their own countries but it was impossible to please everybody
• Some Germans in Czechoslovakia and Poland

Rise of Dictators

• Adolph Hitler – capitalized on terrible economic problems in Germany caused by Depression and reparations – 1918 loaf of bread in Germany = 2 marks, 1924 = 6 million marks
• Elected 1933, immediately dissolved parliament and created Nazi Reich , or Empire
• Once in power, Hitler
  • Built a large and powerful military
  • Stopped reparation payments
  • Took control of Austria and some of Czechoslovakia