Learning Objectives
* explain historical forces that shaped Australia
* outline the main causes of WWII
* locate and sequence places Australians fought in WWII.
* explain why Australians enlisted to fight in WWII.
Causes of World War II: the Nazis' rise to power
Hitler and the NAZI Party were the main causes of WWII. The NAZIS were a fascist political party. Fascist ideology was based on:
* racism - this eventually led to the Holocaust
* aggression - use military force to expand
* charismatic leader
* rejection of the Treaty of Versailles from WWII
* one political party
The Treaty of Versailles: The Treaty of Versailles was rejected by many Germans - they were humiliated by the harsh terms of the treaty. Radical German politicians argued Germany had been "stabbed in the back" when the Treaty of Versailles was signed. They called the signatories to the treaty "November Criminals" - the Treaty had been signed in November. This put pressure on the legitimacy of the new form of government in Germany - the Weimar republic. Radical conservative politicians (right wing) argued that the Weimar Republic was illegitimate.
The impact of the 1930s DepressionWhen the economic situation was stable in Germany, radical right wing politicians failed to gain support from voters. From 1924 to 1929 the German government was stable. During this period Germany borrowed heavily to improve its economy. However, in 1929 the Great Depression began and had a massive impact on western nations (eg. Britain, France, Germany, United States, Australia). Foreign loans were limited and as the economy grew worse, Germany found it extremely difficult to pay back loans to overseas banks. This worsened the situation in both Germany and the nations it had borrowed from. The Great Depression led to hyperinflation (the price of goods rose quickly, often in the course of a single day). Source 1 shows the impact this had on the value of money.
* explain historical forces that shaped Australia
* outline the main causes of WWII
* locate and sequence places Australians fought in WWII.
* explain why Australians enlisted to fight in WWII.
Causes of World War II: the Nazis' rise to power
Hitler and the NAZI Party were the main causes of WWII. The NAZIS were a fascist political party. Fascist ideology was based on:
* racism - this eventually led to the Holocaust
* aggression - use military force to expand
* charismatic leader
* rejection of the Treaty of Versailles from WWII
* one political party
The Treaty of Versailles: The Treaty of Versailles was rejected by many Germans - they were humiliated by the harsh terms of the treaty. Radical German politicians argued Germany had been "stabbed in the back" when the Treaty of Versailles was signed. They called the signatories to the treaty "November Criminals" - the Treaty had been signed in November. This put pressure on the legitimacy of the new form of government in Germany - the Weimar republic. Radical conservative politicians (right wing) argued that the Weimar Republic was illegitimate.
The impact of the 1930s DepressionWhen the economic situation was stable in Germany, radical right wing politicians failed to gain support from voters. From 1924 to 1929 the German government was stable. During this period Germany borrowed heavily to improve its economy. However, in 1929 the Great Depression began and had a massive impact on western nations (eg. Britain, France, Germany, United States, Australia). Foreign loans were limited and as the economy grew worse, Germany found it extremely difficult to pay back loans to overseas banks. This worsened the situation in both Germany and the nations it had borrowed from. The Great Depression led to hyperinflation (the price of goods rose quickly, often in the course of a single day). Source 1 shows the impact this had on the value of money.
Source 1 During the hyperinflation of the early 1920s, German Deutschmarks lost so much of their value that, as shown here, they were used as waste paper, insulation and fuel for heating. Middle-class people saw their savings wiped out.
The fall of democratic government
The Depression led to a crisis in Germany - the government headed by the Social Democratic party wanted to raise taxes to maintain welfare payments to poor people. Conservative politicians argued this would have a negative impact on the economy - people would have less money to spend and less jobs might be created. Two political groups benefited from this crisis:
1. The Communist Party - wanted to support the poorer classes.
2. The NAZI Party - a radical right wing group headed by Adolf Hitler.
ACTIVITY
Class discussion:
1. What were the main aims of the Nazi party?
2. Why were these aims considered aggressive?
3. Britain and France were reluctant to fight Hitler during the 1930's. Why do you think this was the case?
Activity questions
Complete the sentence:
a. The Treaty of Versailles was disliked in Germany because .............
b. The Great Depression began in ......................
c. Hyperinflation means ........................
d. The Great Depression helped Hitler gain popularity because ................
Questions
Refer to Source 1.
1. Is this source reliable to a historian investigating the impact of the Depression in Germany?
2. What information does the source provide about hyperinflation in Germany?
THE NAZISThe Nazis increased their support rapidly from 1930 to 1933. They offered simple ideas to a complex crisis. At a time when people were unemployed and Germany was no longer a world power, Hitler's solution of blaming other people for Germany's troubles was highly popular. Hitler was highly aggressive but also very charismatic. Some conservative politicians felt that Hitler could be controlled if he was made chancellor (Chancellor is the German equivalent of Prime Minister. On 30 January 1933 President Hindenburg invited Hitler to become Chancellor - however, Hitler could not be controlled - in two months Germany was a Nazi dictatorship.
The fall of democratic government
The Depression led to a crisis in Germany - the government headed by the Social Democratic party wanted to raise taxes to maintain welfare payments to poor people. Conservative politicians argued this would have a negative impact on the economy - people would have less money to spend and less jobs might be created. Two political groups benefited from this crisis:
1. The Communist Party - wanted to support the poorer classes.
2. The NAZI Party - a radical right wing group headed by Adolf Hitler.
ACTIVITY
Class discussion:
1. What were the main aims of the Nazi party?
2. Why were these aims considered aggressive?
3. Britain and France were reluctant to fight Hitler during the 1930's. Why do you think this was the case?
Activity questions
Complete the sentence:
a. The Treaty of Versailles was disliked in Germany because .............
b. The Great Depression began in ......................
c. Hyperinflation means ........................
d. The Great Depression helped Hitler gain popularity because ................
Questions
Refer to Source 1.
1. Is this source reliable to a historian investigating the impact of the Depression in Germany?
2. What information does the source provide about hyperinflation in Germany?
THE NAZISThe Nazis increased their support rapidly from 1930 to 1933. They offered simple ideas to a complex crisis. At a time when people were unemployed and Germany was no longer a world power, Hitler's solution of blaming other people for Germany's troubles was highly popular. Hitler was highly aggressive but also very charismatic. Some conservative politicians felt that Hitler could be controlled if he was made chancellor (Chancellor is the German equivalent of Prime Minister. On 30 January 1933 President Hindenburg invited Hitler to become Chancellor - however, Hitler could not be controlled - in two months Germany was a Nazi dictatorship.
CLASS DISCUSSION
* How does Hitler begin the speech?
* What methods does he use to manipulate and change the feelings of the audience?
* In what way is Hitler charismatic?
In March 1933 Hitler implemented the Enabling Act - this gave his government dictatorial powers to make laws and change the Constitution.
These powers show the dangers of "dictatorial governments." German life was "Nazified":
* How does Hitler begin the speech?
* What methods does he use to manipulate and change the feelings of the audience?
* In what way is Hitler charismatic?
In March 1933 Hitler implemented the Enabling Act - this gave his government dictatorial powers to make laws and change the Constitution.
These powers show the dangers of "dictatorial governments." German life was "Nazified":
- the Nazis controlled the Law Courts - opponents were sent to concentration camps
- Jews were forced out of government jobs
- trade unions were banned
- "unGerman books were banned"
- other political parties were either dissolved or banned
- education was strictly controlled by the Nazi party
- Jews were systematically attacked - Jewish properties and businesses were attacked. Jews lost their citizenship rights.
SOURCE 2 - Hitler staged massive rallies to increase support for the Nazis. He referred to this as a volksgemeinschaft - a national community where the individual was a small part of a larger community. Why do you think rallies like this would have been so popular with German people?
AGGRESSIVE FOREIGN POLICY
Hitler's foreign policy was highly successful in the 1930's. He started preparing for war from the moment he came to power. He followed a programme of lebernsraum - meaning living space for German people in Eastern Europe. This living space was to be achieved by violence and conquest. Actions taken by Hitler included:
1. ignoring the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and rearming the German army (wehrmacht)
2. Germany took over Alsace and Lorraine - ignoring the Treaty of Versailles again
2. 1938 - an anschluss with Austria (effectively a Nazi takeover of Austria)
3. In 1938 Germany took over the Sudentenland (a region of Czechsolovakia that bordered Germany)
4. In March 1939 Germany took over the rest of Czechoslovakia
5. In September 1939 Germany invaded Poland, thus beginning WWII.
Britain and France were reluctant to fight Germany after the enormous loss of men and economic cost of WWI. Hitler took advantage of this weakness. They tried to appease - that is, reason with Hitler and avoid conflict. After each success Hitler promised this was the end of his ambitions. However, after the German invasion of Poland they were finally forced to act.
REVISION ACTIVITIESComplete both activities from BBC Bitsize History:
INFORMATION - NAZI BELIEFS
QUIZ - NAZI BELIEFS
LONG TERM CAUSES WWII - BITESIZE HISTORY
VIDEO AND ACTIVITIES - BRAINPOP CAUSES OF WWII
PARAGRAPH RESPONSE:
* Outline how Hitler's aggressive actions were a cause of WWII. Refer to:
a. aggressive Nazi beliefs
b. aggressive Nazi actions
AGGRESSIVE FOREIGN POLICY
Hitler's foreign policy was highly successful in the 1930's. He started preparing for war from the moment he came to power. He followed a programme of lebernsraum - meaning living space for German people in Eastern Europe. This living space was to be achieved by violence and conquest. Actions taken by Hitler included:
1. ignoring the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and rearming the German army (wehrmacht)
2. Germany took over Alsace and Lorraine - ignoring the Treaty of Versailles again
2. 1938 - an anschluss with Austria (effectively a Nazi takeover of Austria)
3. In 1938 Germany took over the Sudentenland (a region of Czechsolovakia that bordered Germany)
4. In March 1939 Germany took over the rest of Czechoslovakia
5. In September 1939 Germany invaded Poland, thus beginning WWII.
Britain and France were reluctant to fight Germany after the enormous loss of men and economic cost of WWI. Hitler took advantage of this weakness. They tried to appease - that is, reason with Hitler and avoid conflict. After each success Hitler promised this was the end of his ambitions. However, after the German invasion of Poland they were finally forced to act.
REVISION ACTIVITIESComplete both activities from BBC Bitsize History:
INFORMATION - NAZI BELIEFS
QUIZ - NAZI BELIEFS
LONG TERM CAUSES WWII - BITESIZE HISTORY
VIDEO AND ACTIVITIES - BRAINPOP CAUSES OF WWII
PARAGRAPH RESPONSE:
* Outline how Hitler's aggressive actions were a cause of WWII. Refer to:
a. aggressive Nazi beliefs
b. aggressive Nazi actions