10/21 Class Notes

Possible Causes of World War II:

• Treaty of Versailles
• Hitler himself?
• Germany as a whole?
  
• World economic crisis 1929-30's
• Appeasement/mistakes of others?
• Rise of dictators?
• Fear of worldwide communist revolution

Many western nations were more afraid of communism than they were of the Nazis. They may have hoped that Germany would help protect them from the Soviet Union.

Activity:

1. Britain did not intervene for various reasons. Some British people believed that Hitler was justified in taking back the territory Germany lost in WWI. Others hoped that Germany would fight Russia, keeping the West safe from communism. Neville Chamberlain seemed to believe that what was happening in Czechoslovakia was none of Britain's business, and that Hitler would not invade any other countries.
2. Source 20.34 shows how Britain realized that it may have appeased Hitler for too long, and that it would have to resist further expansion of Germany, which was clearly an aggressive threat.
3. Sources 20.35-38 suggest that Italy supported Hitler in his annexing of Austria. However, the first of these sources shows Italy as being more important than Hitler, while the last suggests that Hitler was becoming more powerful than Mussolini.
4. A. Sources 20.39-41 show Russia's views of Germany's actions. Russia viewed Germany as a threat, but they suggest that capitalist western nations were protecting and guiding Germany. B. Source 20.42 shows that the Soviet Union has decided to work with Nazi Germany, despite having previously been afraid of being invaded.