Axis and Allies: What were the key events that led to WWII? (p. 174 - 177)

• Humanities
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

What were the key events that led to WWII? 

This week you will learn about how the peace negotiations after WWI did not satisfy the allied or the axis powers, how economic recession affects society and how new ideologies and alliances arose in the 1930's Europe. 

What were the key events that led to WWII? 

On the next slide, type down at least 3 key-words or events that you already know of which took place during period between the First and Second World War, also known as the 

Interwar period.

The Interwar period:
1918 - 1939

What were the key events that led to WWII? 

The four main long term causes of WWII are:

1.  The League of Nations
2.  The Great Depression
3. Expansionist Ideologies
4. New Alliances

The League of Nations

• One part of the Treaty of Versailles was the establishment of The League of Nations. 

• The League of Nations was set up in 1920, and at its height had 60 member states. 

• The purpose of the League was to prevent war trough negotiation and diplomacy. 

• The League had its successes, but also many limitations.

What were the key events that led to WWII? 

• Read p. 204 
• Check out Figure 9. 17 and 9. 18

• Watch video about the League of Nations and answer the questions. 

• On the slides after that, answer the questions. 

00:45

Can you notice one limitation of the League of Nations in this first part of the video?

01:52

What was the role of Jennifer Hart in the League of Nations?

02:30

Can you notice another limitation of the League of Nations in this part of the video?

02:59

How does The League of Nations tried to accomplish this 'self-determination'?

In 75 - 100 words, explain with the use of examples how The League of Nations operated as an international cooperation.

List six limitations of The League of Nations.

The Great Depression

• In the USA, the 1920's were known as the 'Roaring Twenties'
• People bought shares untill in October 1929 the stock market crashed. 

• The crash resulted in bankrupting companies and mass unemployment.  
• International trade depended on the USA, so it became a global economic recession. 

• Economic sanctions by the League of Nations were now very difficult to enforce. 

What were the key events that led to WWII? 

• Read p. 174 - 175 
• check out Figure 8.21 and 8. 22 
• watch the 5 minute-explanation video: 
• The Great Depression - 5 minute history lesson

• On the next slides, answer the questions. 

Jobs decrease

Supply increases

Burst

Demand Increases

Demand decreases

Jobs Increase

Supply decreases

Boom

How do you call the time period in the US before the Wall Street stock market crash?

1. The Towering Twenties
2. The Roaring Twenties
3. The Boring Twenties
4. The Great Depression

How is the 24th of October 1929 notoriously called?

1. Black Friday
2. Blue Monday
3. Pink Tuesday
4. Black Thursday

What did US citizens do with their money after they have bought a vacuum cleaner, washing machine or new T-model Ford?

1. They saved it in a bank account
2. They borrowed it to other companies
3. They bought a bigger house from it
4. They invested it in shares/stocks

True or False: "The Great Depression resulted in more international cooperation, so that countries could support each other financially in times of economic recession"

1. True
2. False

What happens to the price of shares when stakeholders sell their shares?

1. They rise
2. They fall

What did governments do to protect their own industries?

1. loaned their national banks emergency funds
2. closed factories down
3. introduced import tariffs
4. increased international trade of goods

A political response to the global economic recession was that...

1. ...extreme political parties became popular
2. ...liberal democratic parties became popular

Germany and Japan were quite jealous of France and Britain during the Great Depression. Why?

1. They traded supplies with each other more easy
2. The effects of the economic recession came later to them
3. The economic recession did not affect them at all
4. They traded supplies with their respective colonies

True or False: "The League of Nations could not help governments in economic recession, since its tool to bring peace was to enfore economic sanctions"

1. True
2. False

Expansionist Ideologies in Europe

• In 1933 Adolf Hitler came to power as leader of the national socialist Nazi party. 
• The Nazi's aims were to revise the Treaty of Versaille, rearm Germany, unify all Germans (Anschluss) and re-take lost terretories (Lebensraum). 
• The Nazi's believed that all human races should subjugate to the superior Aryan race
• Hitler opposed both communist Russia and capitalist Allied powers. 

Expansionist Ideologies in Europe

• In 1935, Germany started rearmament plans and reintroduced consciption.

• In 1936, a German army entered the demilitarised Rhineland.

• On both occasions France and Britain did not respond according to the Treaty of Versailles. 

New Alliances

• In 1937 Hitler made alliances with Italy and Japan, thus forming the Axis powers. 
• During the Spanish Civil War, both Germany and Italy supported Spanish general Franco by sending troops and air support. 
• During this civil war, Hitler could practice his Blitzkrieg strategy used in WWII.
• In 1938, German forces entered Austria and both countries unified, without any resitance form France and Britain. 

What were the key events that led to WWII? 

• Read p. 176 - 177 
• Watch the two instructional video's (total of +/- 20 minutes) from the Khan Academy about nazism and fascism

• On the next slides, answer the questions. 

01:25

What does the 'stab in the back theory' refers to in the context of peace negotiations after WWI?

02:23

Why is the Weimar Republic a strange form of parliamentary democracy?

04:13

List 4 characteristics of the German Workers Party (DAP).

05:16

Where does the term 'Nazi' originates from?

06:57

What does the swastika symbol represent according to the Nazis?

07:44

How did Hitler became chairman of the NSDAP?

10:17

Which events in 1923 contributed to inceasing upset of the Germans?

01:25

Where does the word Fascism originates from? What is the meaning of the original term?

02:39

Even though the majority of Italians wanted to remain neutral in WWI, what was the reason Italy joined sides with the Entente in 1917?

04:02

What is the core idea of fascism?

05:16

Why didn't the fascists want to be seen as either a right-wing or left-wing party?

06:37

List three other notable charachteristics of fascism

07:33

What is the main difference between fascism and the ideology of the Nazis.

08:33

Hitler and Mussolini became close allies during the course of the 1920's and 1930's. What did the ideology of both leaders have in common?

Answer the question in 75 - 100 words: Why would the ideas of the Nazis and the fascists foster an expansionist foreign policy and make war more likely?