WW2

WW2 (1939-1945)


Rise of dictators in Europe (Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini)


Adof Hitler (Germany) Nazi Party : had become chancellor in 1933, declared himself Fuhrer in 1913. He promised to fix Germany's economy, rebuild its military and make the country strong again. Took power because he's not getting popular. In 1933 he became a Chancellor and he used laws to make himself a dictator. He blamed the Jews and others for Germany's problems which led to WW2 and the Holocaust. 


Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union)Communist Regime :  Stalin wanted to make the soviet Union modern and powerful through industry and farming. After Vladimir Lenin died (a Former Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Soviet Union). Stalin got rid of rivals and became a dictator. He had controlled every part of life, punished enemies, and caused millions of deaths through the famine and purges. 


Benito Mussolini (Italy) Fascist Party : He promised to fix Italy's greatness and fix the economy. In 1922 his father was marched to Rome forcing the king to make him Leader by 1925 he became a dictator.  He created a fascist government, controlled the media and partnered with Hitler during World War II . 


These dictators used fear ,propaganda and military power to take control of the actions and alliances that caused World War II. 


  1. Legacy of the Treaty of Versailles 

What are the conditions and sections placed on Germany?

Territorial losses:  Germany lost territory such as alsace-lorriaine (to France) and colonies overseas.

Military restriction : The German Army was limited to 100,000 troops, no Air Force and a reduced Navy. 

War Guilt Clause: Germany had to accept responsibility for starting the war

Reparations: Germany had to pay huge reparations to Allied Nations.


  1. How did Hitler take over all of Germany :  used propaganda (Misleading information to promote a particular political cause. )   During World War II propaganda was used to encourage people to join the Army, make the  enemies look bad, and to get support for the war effort like saving food or working in factories. 


  1. 4 main causes of WW2 - The Treaty of Versailles,  failure of appeasement,  expansionism of Axis powers ( Germany, Japan, Italy), and German invasion of Poland in 1939. 

  2. What was the result of the invasion of Poland? Germany had invaded Poland on September 1st 1929 using Blitzkrieg tactic (a fast coordinated attack with tanks,planes, and troops). The Soviet Union invaded Poland from the east on September 17,1919, as a part of the Molotov- Ribbentrop Pact. The invasion had led Britain and France to declare War on Germany September 3, 1939 which marked the start of WW2.


  1. Allies vs. Axis Powers- What countries belong to each alliance. - Allies: Britain,France,Soviet Union,United States (1941), Axis: Germany, Italy and Japan


  1. When and why did Canada enter the war? Why is it different from WW1? They  joined World War II on September 10th 1929 because Britain declared war on Germany and Canada chose to support their Ally.  It is different from World War II because Canada automatically joined when Britain did  because they were a part of the British Empire.

  2. Major key battles apart from WW2:  Fall of France (1940): Germany defeated France Through Blitzkrieg tactics. 

Dunkirk (1940) Evacuation of Allied troops

Battle of Britain (1940). Air battle: Britain had successfully resisted German attacks 

Operation Barbarossa (1941) 


  1. War on the home front

Total War: Everyone worked together to support the war ,factories made weapons, and people helped in any way they could. 

Rationing: The Government limited how much food,gasoline, and other goods people could buy to make sure enough went to soldiers.

Role of Women: Women worked in factories, made weapons, were medics in the war,joined the military in non-combat roles, and had helped with the war effort at home.

Conscription Crisis- There was a debate over whether to force men to fight in the war where many Canadians had disagreed. 

Enemy Aliens- People from countries like Japan,Germany and Italy were treated unfairly because they were from the enemy's side and they were sent to camps, especially Japanese canadians. 


  1. Holocaust - when the Nazi government in Germany, led by Adof Hitler,tried to kill as many Jews as possible during WW2. it had happened between 1941 to 1945. They believed the Jews were bad and different from others, so they forced them to live in bad conditions and later took them to camps and many of them were killed there. Around 6 million Jews had died. 


  1.  War in the pacific VJ Day - In 1941 Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor which had led to the U.S  involvement in the war. In 1945 they attacked them back by dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagaski.