Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was the main purpose of the Treaty of Versailles?
What was the main purpose of the Treaty of Versailles?
Which of the following was NOT one of the requirements imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles?
Which of the following was NOT one of the requirements imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles?
What percentage of its iron resources did Germany lose as a result of the Treaty of Versailles?
What percentage of its iron resources did Germany lose as a result of the Treaty of Versailles?
Who were the dominant leaders at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919?
Who were the dominant leaders at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919?
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How did Adolf Hitler use the Treaty of Versailles to his advantage?
How did Adolf Hitler use the Treaty of Versailles to his advantage?
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What was the result of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany's land?
What was the result of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany's land?
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What was the consequence of Germany signing the Treaty of Versailles?
What was the consequence of Germany signing the Treaty of Versailles?
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What was the main reason for Hitler's rise to power in Germany?
What was the main reason for Hitler's rise to power in Germany?
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What was the policy of Britain and France towards Germany in the 1930s?
What was the policy of Britain and France towards Germany in the 1930s?
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Why did the League of Nations fail to prevent the invasion of Ethiopia and China?
Why did the League of Nations fail to prevent the invasion of Ethiopia and China?
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What was Japan's motivation for invading China and Korea?
What was Japan's motivation for invading China and Korea?
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Why did Australia declare war on Germany in 1939?
Why did Australia declare war on Germany in 1939?
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What was a consequence of Japan's invasion of China and Korea?
What was a consequence of Japan's invasion of China and Korea?
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What was the immediate cause of the United States' entry into World War II?
What was the immediate cause of the United States' entry into World War II?
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Study Notes
Causes of World War Two
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The Treaty of Versailles was a negotiated agreement between nations to ensure lasting peace after WWI, signed on June 28, 1919, requiring Germany to pay reparations, disarm, lose territory, and give up colonies.
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The treaty was drafted by the "big four" - David Lloyd George, Georges Clemenceau, Woodrow Wilson, and Vittorio Orlando.
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The treaty led to Germany losing 13% of its land, 12% of its people, 48% of its iron resources, 15% of its agricultural production, and 10% of its coal.
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Hitler used the treaty to gain support by appealing to soldiers who felt conned, and Germany was forced to accept guilt, pay reparations, lose land, and was prohibited from having a large military.
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The treaty's harsh punishment led to German anger and loyalty to Hitler.
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The Great Depression was an economic downturn that led people to look for a strong political leader, with Adolf Hitler promising to return Germany to its former wealth and power in 1933.
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German Militarism saw Hitler secretly build up German soldiers and weapons, with Britain and France thinking it would stop the spread of communism from Russia.
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Hitler created alliances with Japan and Italy, forming the Axis powers.
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In 1936, Hitler ordered German troops to enter German-speaking areas of France, Austria, and Czechoslovakia.
Failure of Appeasement
- Appeasement was the policy of agreeing to demands of another nation to avoid conflict.
- In the 1930s, France and Britain thought the Treaty of Versailles was unfair to Germany and Hitler's actions were understandable.
- In September 1938, Britain and France allowed Germany to invade German-speaking areas in Czechoslovakia.
- Germany broke its promise not to invade the rest of the country in 1939.
- Britain and France weren't prepared to take military action, leading to Germany invading Poland in September 1939 and Britain and France declaring war.
Failure of the League of Nations
- The League of Nations was an international organization set up in 1919 to keep world peace.
- It failed because not all countries joined, and there was no army to prevent military aggression.
- Examples of its failure include Italy invading Ethiopia in Africa and Japan invading China.
Japan's Militarism
- In 1931, Japan was in economic depression, and people turned to the army for a solution.
- Japan invaded China for its natural resources, ignoring the League of Nations' requests to stop.
- Japan invaded other areas of southeast Asia, including Vietnam, and the US became worried about its Asian territories.
- Japan felt threatened by the US and attacked Pearl Harbor and Hawaii in 1941, beginning WWII in Asia.
Australian Involvement
- Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies made a speech on September 3, 1939, declaring Australia at war with Germany, following Britain's declaration.
- Menzies stated that Australia stands with Britain and the entire British world.
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Description
Explore the causes of World War II, including the Treaty of Versailles, and its significance in Australian history. Learn about the role of the Treaty in leading to World War II.
