History-Road+to+WWII

Road to WWII

1. Totalitarianism forms of government: Fascism, Nazism, Communism **Fascism**: A type of government that glorifies the nation at the expense of the individual. Fascist nations have aggressive military policies and believe in an authoritarian leader who embodies the ideals of the nation. Fascists promise to insure “law and order” for powerful elites and protect capitalists and landowners. In fact, a fascist state is characterized by an alliance between the government, the military, and corporations. **Nazism**: a type of fascism. It attracted the bankers and industrialists by its anti-Communism and by its promise to rebuild the German economy. Among the principles of the party were the superiority of the Aryan master race led by an infallible Führer (leader); the establishment of a pan-Germanic Third Reich, which would last a thousand years; and the destruction of Germany's greatest enemies, the Jews and Communists.

**Communism**:  The system of social organization in which **property is held in common and social classes are eliminated.** The modern Communist political movement began when the Russian Social Democratic Labor party split (1903) into two factions. The Bolsheviks, led by V.I. Lenin, called for armed revolution. After their triumph in the 1917 Russian Revolution, the Bolsheviks formed the Communist party (1918) and established a party dictatorship.

2. The rise of Hitler and the Nazis- During a great depression in Germany, Hitler and the Nazi Party promised work to the unemployed, prosperity to failed business people, profits to industry, expansion to the Army, social harmony and an end of class distinctions to idealistic young students, and restoration of German glory to those in despair. The Nazis received 6,371,000 votes, over 18% of the total, and were thus entitled to 107 seats in the German Reichstag. They became the second largest party in Germany overnight.

3. The historical roots of anti-Semitism: The Jews were blamed for the murder of Christ. In Roman/Greek times, Christians were not allowed to have certain jobs that pertained to dealing with money. Jobs such as tax collectors or bankers were left for the Jews. This is how Jews became affiliated with money and greed. The Jewish population was considered a race instead of a religious group.

4. Japanese imperialism in the 1930s- Japan had grown overpopulated and looked into invading china to expand territory.

5. Mussolini’s attempts to build a new Roman Empire- The fear of revolution and the desire for national glory were manipulated to the advantage of a new political group, the Fascists, led by Benito Mussolini. The dictator and citizens united in an effort to make Italy completely self sufficient and return the region to “Roman” control. In 1936, Fascist Italy invaded Ethiopia in the first concrete attempt to reestablish the Roman Empire. (mussolini was the prime minister of italy. he had a pact with hitler that hitler disregarded later and invaded italy.

6. Spanish Civil War- The Spanish Civil War broke out the same year Italy invaded Ethiopia. Mussolini and German dictator Adolf Hitler both decided the conflict represented an opportunity to provide training to officers and soldiers. Both dictators sent aid to their fellow fascist Francisco Franco. The civil war brought Hitler and Mussolini closer as they shared similar goals. It also estranged Italy from France and Britain. Italy fought in the Spanish Civil War until Franco achieved victory. Mussolini’s forces fought for the victors and the dictator claimed the Italians helped provide the margin of victory. By 1939, the Roman Empire seemed to be on the verge of resurrection.Due to the Neutrality Act, they received no help from U.S.

7. Policies and actions directed at German Jews from 1933 on; Kristallnacht- In 1933, persecution of the Jews became active Nazi policy. On April 1, 1933, the Nazi boycott of Jewish businesses was observed throughout Germany. Only six days later, the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service was passed, banning Jews from government jobs. Also, the Nuremberg Laws were passed. These laws deprived Jews of their rights as citizens. They were forbidden to Marry.

8. Austria and the Anschluss- Austria was annexed to Germany. No fighting ever took place and even the strongest voices against the annexation remained at peace.

9. Neville Chamberlain, Hitler, and the Munich Conference, appeasement- was an agreement permitting Nazi German annexation of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland. The agreement was negotiated at a conference held in Munich, Germany, among the major powers of Europe WITHOUT the presence of Czechoslovakia. Today, it is widely regarded as a failed act of appeasement toward Nazi Germany.

10. Hitler’s invasion of Czechoslovakia, Poland, beginning of WWII: an invasion of Poland by Germany that marked the start of World War II in Europe. The invasion began on 1 September 1939 and ended 6 October 1939 with Germany and the Soviet Union dividing and annexing the whole of Poland.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">11. Tripartite Pact, Axis and Allied nations - a pact formed to unite three nations and form the Axis Powers of WWII (Japan, Italy, Germany). The three nations agreed that for the next ten years they would "stand by and co-operate with one another in... their prime purpose to establish and maintain a new order of things... to promote the mutual prosperity and welfare of the peoples concerned." They recognized each other's spheres of interest and undertook "to assist one another with all political, economic and military means when one of the three contracting powers is attacked"

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">12. The Nazi attack (Blitzkrieg) on western Europe; France- Germany pushed through the French and Poland defenses with tanks and soldiers, and just kept on pushing through every wave of soldiers going deeper into the countries.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">13. The Battle of Britain and Winston Churchill- The first major air force battle in history. Germany attempted to eliminate the British air force, only to be defeated. Winston Churchill was the prime minister of Great Britain at the time of World War II.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">14. American isolationism and anti-war sentiment; America First Committee, Charles Lindbergh, German American Bund; Neutrality Acts- America wanted to stay out of the war for as long as possible.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">15. FDR’s methods for preparing for war and rearming at a time of isolationism; Destroyers for bases deal, Selective Service Act, Lend Lease Act