WW2 (New) PDF

World
War II
DSE History
WWI was contemporarily
regarded as ‘the war to end
all wars’. Still, WWII broke
out inevitably in 1939.
Some historians describe
the two World Wars as ‘the
two halves of a football
match’ and the inter-war
period (1919-1939) as ‘an
armistice for 20 years’.
Belgium city destroyed
during the war
1
After WWI, the victorious powers convened the Paris
Peace Conference. It was indeed closely associated with the
outbreak of WWII. The Paris Peace Conference greatly
affected the post-war international order. It was favourable
to the foreign expansion of the aggressors and led to WWII.
The victorious powers

attending the Paris
Peace Conference
2
Ideal and reality time 理想與現實時間
Ideal Reality
Paris Peace Settlements
• 1. Treaties with defeated nations, such as the Treaty of Versailles
• 2. Formation of the League of Nations
• 3. Self-determination
• 4. Italian territorial arrangement
In January 1919, representatives of the victorious powers
held a peace conference at the Palace of Versailles in
Paris to discuss the post-war settlements. This was known
as the Paris Peace Conference.
Paris Peace Conference

3
The four defeated powers,
namely Germany, Austria-
Hungary, the Ottoman
Empire and Bulgaria, were
not invited.
The victorious nations did
not consult the defeated
nations on the terms of the
peace treaties. The defeated
nations were only asked to
sign the treaties in the final
stage. They could not change
the terms. The defeated nations could
only wait outside the
conference room
4
In addition, Russia withdrew from WWI earlier and
negotiated with Germany individually. The Western
countries did not trust the newly-established communist
regime in Russia. Therefore, Russia was not invited to
the Paris Peace Conference.
The communist
party took over
Russia and founded
the USSR in 1917.
5
The major aim of the Paris
Peace Conference was to
draft and sign a peace
treaty with Germany. The
treaty terms were mainly
decided by the Big Three:
Woodrow Wilson
(President of the US),
David Lloyd George
(Prime Minister of Britain)
and Georges Clemenceau
(Premier of France).
The Big Three held
different views on how to
treat the defeated nations.
The ‘Big Three’ at the Paris Peace Conference
6
Jigsaw grouping discussion
• 1. You will be divided into 6 groups. There are four students in each
group. Each student will be given different tasks, namely A, B, C and D.
• 2. Then you can leave your group and go to the Specific Task Group.
For example, if you have Task A, you should gather all students with
Task A and do the discussion task.
• 3. After the discussion in specific group, please go back to your
original group of 4 members and make a conclusion chart.
Also called the ‘Tiger’, the
Premier of France
Clemenceau was known for
his strong stance. At the
conference, Clemenceau
was determined to seize
huge reparations and
reclaim Alsace-Lorraine
that France lost to
Germany after the Franco-
Prussian War.
Clemenceau
7
On top of that, since Clemenceau had personally
witnessed two German attacks on France, he had deep
hatred of Germany and was determined to weaken
Germany in order that its future revenge on France
would be impossible.
French soldiers in the Rhineland

8
Attempted Assassination of Clemenceau
• On 19 February 1919, during the Paris
Peace Conference, a man jumped out and
fired several shots at the car. One bullet
hit Clemenceau between the ribs, just
missing his vital organs.
• Clemenceau's assailant, anarchist Émile
Cottin, was seized by the crowd following
the leader's procession and nearly
lynched. "They shot me in the back,"
Clemenceau told him. "They didn't even
dare to attack me from the front."
Judgment of attempted assassination
• Clemenceau often joked about the "assassin's" bad marksmanship –
"We have just won the most terrible war in history, yet here is a
Frenchman who misses his target 6 out of 7 times at point-blank
range. Of course this fellow must be punished for the careless use of a
dangerous weapon and for poor marksmanship. I suggest that he be
locked up for eight years, with intensive training in a shooting gallery."
• 克列孟梭:「我們剛剛贏得這場歷史上最可怕的戰爭，祈盼著永久
的和平，可是這位法國同胞使我們大失顏面——對著靶子開8槍，
只中一次。當然由於他使用了危險武器，應受到制裁。但我建議：
判他8年監禁，好讓他集中精力，在靶場上再好好練練槍法。」
• àWon sympathy!
He insisted on punishing
Germany severely and
demanded Germany to
pay for all the damages
France had suffered. He
believed that the goal of
the US President
Woodrow Wilson to
build a just peace was
too idealistic.
A French cartoon showing the

merciless approach adopted by
Clemenceau against Germany
9
Wilson, however, held an
opposite view to
Clemenceau. The US
entered the War in 1917.
Relatively, it suffered
fewer casualties.
Therefore, Wilson tended
to be more lenient
towards Germany.
Wilson returning to
the US after the Paris
Peace Conference
10
He thought that the victorious powers should not
punish Germany too harshly in order to prevent it from
taking revenge. He believed that world peace could be
maintained through international co-operation.
Wilson
11
He introduced the
‘Fourteen Points’ as the
guiding principles of the
peace conference, which
included the following
three ideas:
• Establishment of the
League of Nations (an
international
peacekeeping
organisation);
Wilson’s ‘Fourteen
Points’ on newspaper’s
headline
12
• Promotion of national self-determination in order to further the
rights of the people to choose their country’s political stance, such as
autonomy(自治) and independence; and Encouragement of
disarmament.
13
Lloyd George mediated(調
停) the conflicts between
Wilson and Clemenceau.
A cartoon published after the Paris

Peace Conference showing Lloyd George
contributed to the draft peace terms
14
Since Britain had longed to remove the German threats
due to its tremendous loss during the War, Lloyd George
agreed with Clemenceau to punish Germany. He suggested
depriving Germany of all its colonies and weakening
Germany’s naval power. He deemed it unwise to impose
harsh punishments on Germany for fear of future revenge.
The German Fleet

in Scapa Flow
15
Besides, Britain hoped to
maintain the balance of
power in the European
continent. It did not want
France to replace Germany
as the dominating power.
In addition, Germany was
the main market of British
products. Therefore, George
did not want to weaken
Germany severely.
London came under attack from the air
during WWI as German air ships
dropped bombs on the city's streets
16
Paris Peace Conference after the
First World War and its impact
I. The Paris Peace Conference
Different attitudes of the peacemakers

towards Germany
agree most
u
Who do yo
?
with? Why
25
Ⅱ. The peace settlements

A. The Treaty of Versailles with Germany
• Germany was harshly punished by the Treaty of Versailles
Original copy of the

Treaty of Versailles 26
At the Paris Peace
Conference, Wilson failed to
persuade Lloyd George and
Clemenceau to fully accept
the ‘Fourteen Points’. Since
Britain and France had
been strong colonial powers,
they were sceptical towards
national self-determination
proposed by Wilson.
Moreover, they hoped to
gain reparations from
Germany to clear their Wilson’s ‘Fourteen Points’ met
national debts. opposition from the European nations.
18
Anti-German sentiments ran high in both countries. People
hoped to punish Germany harshly.
In addition, Wilson was not good at making diplomacy. He
did not know the difficulties in practicing national self-
determination in Europe.
Anti-German protests
broke out in 1919 in
London, Britain
19
Finally, Wilson
conceded(讓步) in order to
gain support for
establishing the League of
Nations from other
representatives.
Between 1919 and 1923,
the Allied Powers and the
defeated powers signed a
number of treaties. The
‘Fourteen Points’ Wilson compromised under the
proposed by Wilson were pressure of the European nations.
only partially
implemented.
20
The Paris Peace Settlements included the Treaty of
Versailles for Germany (1919), the Treaty of Saint-
Germain for Austria (1919), the Treaty of Neuilly for
Bulgaria (1919), the Treaty of Trianon for Hungary
(1920) as well as the Treaty of Sèvres (1920) and the
Treaty of Lausanne (1923) for Turkey.
Signing of the Treaty of Trianon

in 1920
21
After five months of negotiations, Britain, France and
the US reached consensus on the treaty terms. In June
1919, Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles. The main
terms of the treaty were as follows:
Signing of the
Treaty of
Versailles
22
Germany had to return
Alsace-Lorraine to France.
Germany ceded Posen and
West Prussia to Poland to
build the Polish Corridor.
This arrangement
separated East Prussia
from Germany.
Germany returned
northern Schleswig to
Denmark, Eupen-
Malmedy to Belgium and
Memel to Lithuania.
23
Danzig became a free
city mandated by the
League of Nations.
Passport of
Danzig
24
The Saar was to be governed by the League of Nations
for 15 years, and its coalfields were to be ceded to
France. After 15 years, a referendum would be held to
determine which country the Saar should join.
Saar
25
Saar Coalfield
Territories gained from Russia were to be returned.
Some of these would be made independent states:
Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Latvia declared
independence.
26
All overseas colonies were to be surrendered and
they would be administered by the victorious
powers under the mandate of the League of Nations.
The independence of Austria should be recognised
and respected. No union with Austria was allowed.
The founding of the Republic of

Austria
27
Germany was disarmed.
It had to reduce its army
to 100,000 men and
abolish conscription. It
also had to downsize its
navy to fewer than 15,000
men. It could only possess
six small battleships and a
few ships. It was banned
from having an air force,
military aircrafts, tanks
or submarines. A German tank dismantled after WWI
28
The Rhineland was made a demilitarised zone. No
German soldier or weapon was allowed into the west
bank of the River Rhine and the territories 50 kilometres
east to the river.
US soldiers entering
the Rhineland
29
Demilitarized Rhineland
In addition, the west bank had to be occupied by the
Allied troops for fifteen years.
French soldiers in
the Rhineland
30
Germany lost:
• 13% of her land
• 12% of her people
• 10% of her coal
• 48% of her iron
• 15% of her
agricultural
production
German territorial
losses after the First
World War
47
Germany had to bear the sole responsibility for having
caused WWI.
German soldiers
returning to
Germany after
WWI
31
Germany had to pay a huge sum of reparations of
£6.6 billion to compensate the losses of the Allies
during wartime.
Protests in
Germany against
the Treaty of
Versailles
32
Apart from some indemnity that would be paid on a
yearly basis, the rest would be paid in gold and goods
(e.g. coals, chemicals and poultry).
Trains loaded with

machinery as reparation
payment in kind. 33
Britain, France and the US signed the Treaty of St.
Germain with Austria in September 1919 after signing
the peace treaty with Germany. According to this treaty:
Austrian delegation
to the Paris Peace
Conference
34
Austria-Hungary was divided into two independent
states of Austria and Hungary.
The First
Republic of
Austria was
founded in
1919
35
Based on the principle of
national self-
determination, two
independent nation states,
Czechoslovakia and
Yugoslavia, were created
out of the former empire
of Austria-Hungary. Their
independence was
recognised by Austria.
Czechoslovakia declared independence in

1918.
36
Austria ceded territories to Czechoslovakia, Poland,
Italy, Romania and Yugoslavia.
Union with Germany was forbidden to prevent a
strong Germany.
Austria had to pay reparations and reduce its army
and navy.
Signing of the Treaty of St Germain

37
Bulgaria had to cede
territories to Greece
and Yugoslavia.
Bulgaria had to
reduce its army size
and pay reparations.
Treaty of Neuilly
38
Hungary had to cede territories to Romania,
Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia.
Hungary had to reduce its army size and pay reparations.
Under the Treaty of Trianon, Transylvania of

Austria-Hungary was ceded to Romania.
39
The Ottoman Empire
had to cede territories
to Greece and Italy.
The Ottoman Empire
gave Iraq, Palestine
and Transjordan to
Britain, as well as
Syria and Lebanon to
France as mandates.
40
France, Britain and Italy sent troops to station in the
Ottoman Empire.
The Turkish Straits were controlled by the League of
Nations.
Allied troops
entering the
Ottoman Empire
faced
demonstration in
Constantinople
in 1919.
41
In 1923, a revolution broke out in the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey was founded. The new government did not
recognise the Treaty of Sèvres and signed the Treaty of
Lausanne with the Allies. Turkey regained part of the
ceded territories and resumed sovereignty.
Turkish delegation
signing the Treaty
of Lausanne
42
Lausanne
WWI caused huge
casualties and
destruction. To
prevent another world
war from happening,
many believed that
international co-
operation should
replace confrontations
among the countries. France in ruins after WWI
1
In his ‘Fourteen Points’,
President Wilson of the US
proposed the setting up of
the League of Nations. He
attempted to establish
collective security and
avoid diplomatic tensions
due to secret diplomacy
among the countries.
A cartoon depicting the establishment of

the League of Nations
2
At the Paris Peace Conference, the participating
countries agreed to establish the League of Nations and
set up a specialised commission to draft the Covenant
of the League of Nations.
Covenant of the
League of Nations
3
In 1920, the League of Nations was formally established.
Its headquarters was in Geneva, Switzerland. It was
the first international peacekeeping organisation in the
20th century. Through the League of Nations, the
countries hoped to maintain world peace and solve
their disputes by means of co-operation.
Palace of Nations, the

headquarters of the
League of Nations
4
However, the League of Nations had its own limitations.
It failed to restrain the ambitions of the aggressors.
Eventually, another world war broke out.
A cartoon
satirising the
League of Nations
5
Before WWI, there was a
balance of power in Europe:
Britain and France were in
Western Europe, while the
Austro-Hungarian Empire,
Russian Empire and
Ottoman Empire were in
Eastern Europe. However,
the territorial arrangements
made at the Paris Peace
Conference led to the
collapse of the traditional Kaiser Nicholas II of Russia and
empires in Eastern Europe. King George V. of Britain before WWI
7
The Treaty of St. Germain
divided the Austro-
Hungarian Empire into
Austria and Hungary. The
ethnic minorities of the
former empire established
two nation states, namely
Czechoslovakia and
Yugoslavia.
The Treaty of Sèvres was
signed in 1920, leading to
the fall of the Ottoman
Empire.
Europe in 1914
8
The Treaty of Versailles gave Germany’s land to
Poland, Belgium, Denmark, France and Lithuania. The
former German Empire became a divided country.
A poster depicting Germany

being divided and
surrounded by its
neighbouring countries after
the Paris Peace Conference
9
The traditional empires
were replaced by some
new nation states. Under
the principle of national
self-determination, the
ethnic minorities in the
former empires were
allowed to create their
own nation states.
Europe after the Paris

Peace Conference
10
As a result, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland,
Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Yugoslavia were founded.
The founding ceremony of Yugoslavia
11
However, these newly founded nations were too weak in
terms of economic and military power to defend
themselves. As a result, Nazi Germany invaded Eastern
Europe in the 1930s.
In March 1939, Nazi troops

occupied Prague,
Czechoslovakia.
12
(Theme B, pp.87-88)
Study Sources A and B.
The following is a
cartoon published
in 1919. The Treaty
of Versailles was
signed on June 28
of the same year.
Provenance: http://www.tracesofevil.com/p/window.html/
The following is a British
cartoon published in 1921.
Provenance: http://www.punch.co.uk/
Questions
(a) What was the attitude of the Allies towards Germany as
reflected in Source A? Explain your answer with reference to
Source A. (3 marks)
(b) According to Source B, did Britain and France hold the attitude
you identified in (a) towards Germany? Explain your answer
with reference to Source B. (4 marks)
(c) In your opinion, did the Allies treat Germany fairly after the
First World War? Explain your answer with reference to Sources A
and B, and using your own knowledge. (8 marks)
(a) What was the attitude of the Allies towards Germany as reflected in
Source A? Explain your answer with reference to Source A. (3 marks)
One mark for valid answer and two marks for valid explanation.
Attitude:
e.g. - Contemptuous/indifferent/unfriendly/negative
Explanation:
e.g. - The Allies pointed a sword to Germany. (showing their hostility
towards Germany)
- The Allies emphasised on their status of victorious countries
and did not allow Germany to participate in establishing the
provisions of the Treaty of Versailles.
(b) According to Source B, did Britain and France hold the attitude you
identified in (a) towards Germany? Explain your answer with
reference to Source B. (4 marks)
Answers should be affirmative, or else it would be difficult to raise

justifications.
L1 Vague argument with ineffective use of the Source. [max. 1]

L2 Clear argument with effective use of the Source. [max. 3]
e.g.
- Britain and France, despite witnessing Germany drowning, were
still reluctant to throw the ‘loan’ life-belt to Germany.
- Britain and France were gloating over Germany that they told
him to stand up on his feet.
(c) In your opinion, did the Allies treat Germany fairly after the First
World War? Explain your answer with reference to Sources A and B,
and using your own knowledge. . (8 marks)
L1 Vague answer, ineffective in using both Sources and own

knowledge; or
Clear yet unbalanced answer, able to use both Sources and own
knowledge to point out how the Allies treated Germany.
[max. 2]
L2 Clear answer, effective in using relevant historical facts to explain
whether Allies treated Germany fairly. [max. 4]
L3 Clear and balanced answer, able to point out how the Allies treat
Germany with effective use of relevant historical facts to explain
whether it was fair. [max. 8]
How they treated Germany?
e.g.
- Indifferent to Germany. (Source A)
- Ignoring its sufferings. (Source B)
- Demanding Germany to disarm, cede territories and bear
reparations. (own knowledge)
Fair (own knowledge):
e.g.
- Germany offered Austria-Hungary ‘blank cheque’. In such case,
compared to other European powers, it was essential for it to bear
greater responsibility for escalating the war.
- The war behaviour of Germany violated the international law at
that time. For example, the ‘unrestricted submarine warfare’
caused casualty among civilians. On the other hand, Germany also
invaded the neutral Belgium.
Not fair (own knowledge):
e.g.
- The demilitarised zone in the Rhineland deprived Germany of its
autonomy of stationing troops in its own territory.
- Germany needed to cede the Sudetenland to Czechoslovakia,
violating the principle of ‘national self-determination’.
- The German army was reduced to 100,000 men only and Germany
was prohibited from establishing navy. The national pride and
security were thus harmed.
- Only Germany had to bear the sole responsibility for having caused
the First World War, which did not suit the principle of fairness.
- The amount of reparations was too much for the Germans to bear,
as well as bringing about severe economic and social problems.
WWI memes
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtRmiSGGNx0&t=46s
Before WWI, the
European powers had
always played a leading
role in international
politics, but the table was
turned. Germany and
Austria were greatly
weakened after the Paris
Peace Conference.
A German cartoon about the

Treaty of Versailles. Clemenceau is
depicted as a vampire sucking the
blood of the woman representing
Germany.
13
The political and economic strengths of Britain and
France were damaged by WWI. They were also
heavily indebted to the US.
The ability of the European democracies to maintain
peace was greatly reduced as a whole.
Britain was in economic hardship after

WWI. The photo shows unemployed men
in front of a workhouse.
14
Steel industry in the 1920s in Ohio, US
Contrarily, when the European powers were in wars,

the US monopolised most of their overseas markets.
Its industries and agriculture developed rapidly.
Besides, the US entered WWI at a later stage. The
War did not cause destruction in its own territory so
it could preserve its economic power.
15
After the US had taken side with the Allies, it broke the
stalemate. Later, the US served as one of the Big Three
decision-makers at the Paris Peace Conference. It put
forward the principle of national self-determination and
suggested establishing the League of Nations.
President Wilson of
the US was one of
the ‘Big Three’ in the
Paris Conference.
16
These clearly indicated that the international status of
the US continued to rise. It successfully became one of
the great powers in the world.
The US facilitated
the signing of the
peace treaties.
17
In addition, Japan gained the rights of Shandong in China
and part of the German colonies in the Pacific region.
The news of Japan

taking over the
German interests
in China at the
Paris Peace
Conference incited
the May Fourth
Movement.
18
Japan’s industry
developed rapidly in
the 1920s. The photo
shows a Japan
automobile factory in
the 1920s.
Although the US attempted to restrain the ambition of

Japan and its economic invasion in China in the 1920s,
wars had already brought about the development of the
heavy industry in Japan, turning it from a deficit country
into a surplus country.
19
Following its post-war industrial development, Japan had
gradually become an industrial power. It even threatened
Europe’s supremacy in Asia.
Japan invited foreign

experts to improve its
military technology
20
After WWI, there was a
power vacuum that
favoured the rise of
aggressors, such as
Germany, Italy and
Japan. Even though the
US rose as a world power,
it did not restrain the
aggressors due to its
isolationist policy.
Japan promoted ‘Great Asianism’

to assume supremacy in Asia.
21
At the Paris Peace
Conference, the victorious
powers mainly discussed
the payment of reparations
by the defeated nations.
They ignored the damages
and debts caused by the
War. European countries
had to face severe economic
hardship afterwards.
Belgium’s Ypres before and after WWI
22
Italy also faced serious shortage in daily necessities and
inflation after WWI. More than 2 million returning
soldiers were unemployed. Agriculture and industry
were devastated. People led a very difficult life.
A mourning
ritual held in
Rome after WWI
23
Under these
circumstances, many
labour unions rapidly
developed and the
Italian Socialist Party
grew in strength.
Since they had
organised many strikes
and caused social
instability, the
landlords, industrialists
and businessmen in
Italy were very The National Congress of the
discontented. Italian Socialist Party in 1921
24
To protect their interests, they began to support the Fascist
Party, which was strongly anticommunist. They hoped its
leader Benito Mussolini could restore political stability
and economic development in Italy.
Mussolini and his

supporters after the
‘March on Rome’
25
Photos of Destruction During World War 1 (1914-
1917)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAY6FneqYNI
Due to the serious damage of infrastructure caused by
the War, Britain and France faced great post-war
economic difficulties, including disrupted production,
declining foreign trade and soaring unemployment rates.
East London was

severely damaged
during the war
26
Their large-scale procurement of war materials from
the US left them heavily indebted. As the US refused to
write off(取消)their debts, France and Britain slid into
severe economic hardship.
British labourers
carrying war goods
shipped from the US
27
In order to repay the debts
and rebuild their
economies, Britain and
France had to rely on the
reparations from Germany.
A French soldier overseeing the

transfer of reparation payments.
28
Germany’s economic conditions were even more
vulnerable. By the end of WWI, the value of the
German Mark had already dropped 50%.
Paper money stacked

in a Berlin Bank in
1922. The government
had to print money to
pay the veterans and
deal with the
economic recession.
29
The huge reparation burden and colonial loss brought
by the Treaty of Versailles led to the continuous decline
of industrial production and a rising unemployment
rate. The German people led an extremely hard life.
Unemployed people
standing in line in
front of an
employment exchange
in Hanover in 1930.
30
Impact on Germany after World War 1 and The
Weimar Republic
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_2O_7-2AnQ&t=97s
In 1923, since Germany was unable to pay the
reparations, France occupied the Ruhr, an
industrial region in Germany. The miners
organised strikes to show their discontent.
French troops
occupying Ruhr
in 1923
31
The French Occupation of the Ruhr (Short
Animated Documentary)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0upgqMmbUy8
A cartoon about French occupation of Ruhr
1.What is the cartoonist’s attitude

towards France? Cite clues from the
cartoon to support your answer.
Negative/critical. The French

soldier in the cartoon was vilified
(especially targeted at African
French soldiers); the soldier is
imprisoning Lady Justice.
2.How does the cartoon reflect the

cause of the Nazi’s rise in Germany?
The aggressive behaviour of France incited vengeful feelings among the

Germans; the Germans wanted a strong government, leading to the rise of
Nazi.
32
The government in
Germany printed the
German Mark in huge
amounts to support the
living of the workers
who went on strike, and
this prompted a sharp
fall of the Mark within
a short period of time.
A German woman feeding a

stove with currency notes.
33
A 1922 German cartoon. Gutenberg was
1. What were the machine printing? acknowledged as the first to invent a metal
movable type printing system in Europe.
Paper currencies
2. Identify the economic problems

faced by Germany after the
First World War, as reflected in
the cartoon.
The German government issued
a large amount of paper
currencies, leading to serious
inflation in Germany.
3. Explain the meaning of

Gutenberg’s words.
Gutenberg had not intended
that his invention would cause
serious economic problems to
the German people.
Gutenberg: “This I had not intended.”
34
It invested in Britain and
France while promoting
Germanyʼs economic
recovery with the Dawes
Plan in 1924, which offered
loans to Germany, in order
that Britain and France
might receive part of the
reparations.
Charles Dawes
35
From 1924-1929, Germany had been improving its
relationship with Western democratic countries. The
Nazi Party lacked public support at that time.
Gustav Stresemann,
the German
Chancellor addresses
after Germany’s
acceptance into the
organisation in 1926.
36
• 國殤紀念日一般會佩戴一種紅色的虞美人花，佩戴的原因是一個
加拿大軍醫John McCrae的一首詩《在法蘭德斯戰場》（In
Flanders Fields）而來的，虞美人花被選擇是因為第一次世界大戰
最慘烈的戰場法蘭德斯盛開著虞美人花，而且虞美人花的紅色正
代表了壕溝中的鮮血
Remembrance Sunday Ceremony, Hong Kong
和平紀念日儀式 2021 #LestWeForget
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMZD2q5OYV0
Consequence of World War I
Dissolution of four European

empires:
• the German Empire
• the Austro-Hungarian Empire
• the Russian Empire
• the Ottoman Empire
Lenin(列寧) led the October Revolution!
• Russia became the first communist country in the world because of
the success of the October Revolution.
Many new
nation-states
were created like
Czechoslovakia,
Yugoslavia,
Poland and
Hungary.
• However, the principle of self-determination was selectively applied
and racial problems were created.
• E.g.1 million Germans in Poland
• Many Magyars and Rumanians in Yugoslavia
• 0.5 million Germans in Czechoslovakia
They were situated
between two aggressive
countries, respectively
Germany and the Soviet
Union. Therefore, they
became the target of
aggression in the future.
• The war weakened many countries like France and Britain. Totally
exhausted in the war, they lost dominant position gradually to the
United States.
The war also gave rise to totalitarianism.
• The post-war settlement created resentment
among the Germans and they disliked the newly
formed Weimar Republic(威瑪共和國) that
brought them the unjust peace and national
humiliation.
• Also, the war caused inflation and unemployment

problems that the government failed to solve. The
later turned to support Hitler.
• Italians were also discontented with the settlement as Italy could not
gain the land being promised.
• Together with the post-war economic difficulties, the Italians later
supported Mussolini as he promised to revive national glory.
• Japan also rose to become a world power and became keen to build
up an empire in Asia and the Pacific.
• Militarism(軍國主義) grew more intensely and Japan started
expansion in the 1930s.
• Also, states increased their intervention into social and economic
affairs like food and resource distribution during wartime. Therefore,
people gradually got used to totalitarian rule.
• Citizens got used to the food rationing and blackout(燈火管制).
• Ex-soldiers could not adapt the civilian life when they returned home
and were unable to find jobs. They turned to support extreme ideas
later.
• Religious faith was weakened in the war. The belief in physical
strength, material power and the will to dominate became more
popular. These ideas gave rise to totalitarianism and the weakening of
democracy.
• The League of Nations was formed in 1920 as Woodrow Wilson
suggested to form an international peace-keeping organization to
keep peace. It was the first formal international organization to keep
peace that completely demonstrated the new diplomatic concept of
“collective security” and the beginning of a new international order.
International Peace Bureau(國際和平局)
• China was not satisfied with the Paris Peace Conference. Therefore,
Chinese students started to show the upsurge of Chinese nationalism
and started the May Fourth Movement (五四運動).
Social and economic impacts
• World War I was a very costly and destructive war. Though, European
economy was steadily improved but many European countries
suffered from inflation, food shortage, unemployment, economic
reconstruction.
• They were also heavily indebted. Europe could never regain her pre-
war position as the leader of the world trade and industry. Economic
center gradually shifted to America.
• The USA became the greatest creditor(債權人) in the world.
Therefore, the Great Depression(經濟大蕭條) caused by the collapse
of American stock market finally caused economic bankruptcy of
many European countries as they were over-reliant on American loan.
• The social status of women increased greatly after the war as they
contributed to the war in nursing and manufacturing during the
wartime. In Britain, the women aged above 30 were given voting right
in 1918.
• Europe was faced with many social problems like orphanage(孤兒),
disease, broken homes and refugees(難民).
https://savethechildren.org.hk/en/about-us/
• Technology:
• Plastic surgery(整容手術):
Shell Shock: Psychology
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7Jll9_EiyA
The Effects of Shell Shock: WWI Nueroses |
War Archives
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvTRJZGWqF8&ab_channel=The
GreatWar
In the 1920s, the US became the richest nation and the
biggest creditor nation in the world. It held over half of
the gold reserves in the world. The US products were
sold across the world.
New York prospered

in the 1920s.
37
The prices of shares increased continuously because of
the economic boom. People began to speculate in shares.
Overproduction also occurred.
The US experienced the ‘Roaring Twenties’.(咆哮的二十年

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUpAcPAipDA 代)
38
In October 1929, sensing a slowing economy, some
Americans began to sell their shares for profits.
There was a panic sale in Wall Street. The prices of
all shares fell sharply. This was the Wall Street
Crash. Around 90% of the stock value evaporated.
The market crashed and

crowds flooded Wall Street.
39
Thereafter, the US plunged into dire economic
hardship. Numerous banks went bankrupt. Factories
were shut down. Inflation grew more serious. Many
workers lost their jobs.
The unemployed lining up

for free food in Chicago
40
History Brief: Daily Life in the 1930s
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkAfjRolNCI
Monopoly and the Great Depression
• Monopoly is a board game which focuses on the
acquisition of fictional real estate titles, with the
incorporation of elements of chance. After losing his
job at a sales company following the Stock Market
Crash of 1929, Darrow worked at various odd jobs.
Seeing his neighbors and acquaintances play a home-
made board game in which the object was to buy and
sell property, he decided to publish his own version of
the game, with the help of his first son, William, and
his wife Esther. Darrow marketed his version of the
game under the name Monopoly.
The US thus stopped
granting loans to other
countries, and urged
Britain and France to
repay their wartime
debts. To protect its
local products, the US
raised the tariff on
imported goods.
The US government put forward

measures to alleviate unemployment.
41
The recession caused by the Wall Street Crash soon swept the
world. It triggered the worldwide Great Depression from
1929-1933.
The European countries that had been relying on the US
faced economic crises. Countries started to follow the US’s
trade protectionist(保護主義)policy. Consequently,
international trade in the world experienced rapid recession.
It dropped from US$ 68.6 billion in 1929 to US$ 24.2 billion
in 1933.
Crowds appeared outside

the London Stock Exchange
following the 1929 Wall
Street Crash 42
In Europe, Germany
suffered the most from
the Great Depression.
A young and hopelessly

unemployed Berliner panhandles
for spare change.
43
The US devised the Young Plan in 1929 to help
Germany repay the reparations.
However, the Great Depression hindered the
implementation of the plan. Due to the US withdrawal
of aid and the pressure from France and Britain for
reparations, Germany experienced a complete
economic collapse.
The photograph
depicts unemployed
dockworkers at
Hamburg’s harbour in
January 1931.
44
Many businesses went bankrupt, factories were
closed, with unemployment rising from 1.32 million
in 1929 to 6 million in 1933.
In October 1931,
a charitable
organisation
collected
donations in
Berlin for the
unemployed and
the war disabled.
45
Under these circumstances,
Adolf Hitler promised to
improve the economy,
such as rebuilding
armaments, seeking
Lebensraum (living space)
through military
expansion and achieving
economic self-sufficiency.
Hitler thus gained wide
support. This led to the
rise of the Nazi Party.
‘Our Last Hope—Hitler’ 1932. In the

presidential elections of 1932, Nazi
propagandists depicted Hitler as the
saviour of the unemployed Germans.
46
Nazi Germany - The Depression - The Rise of Hitler
N01d
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXkSCZdq0Sg
In the 1930 general election, the Nazi Party became the
second biggest party in Germany. In the 1932 election,
the Nazi Party became the biggest party. In January
1933, Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany.
Afterwards, Hitler adopted the expansionist policy and
abolished the Treaty of Versailles.
Hitler received by the

German President
Hindenburg
47
The Great Depression was a heavy blow to the economy in
Italy. In late 1933, the number of the unemployed was over
1 million. To restore the economy and divert resentment
within the country, Mussolini actively sought for foreign
expansion. For example, Italy invaded Abyssinia in 1936 in
order to exploit its natural resources.
Italian soldiers set out

for Abyssinia
48
The economies of Britain
and France suffered a hard
blow. Disrupted trade,
closedowns of banks and
inflation aggravated the
vulnerable economies.
Unemployment was serious.
In Britain, around 2.8
million were unemployed in
1932. In France, the number
of unemployed was over 1
million between 1932 and Unemployed British in a rally in 1933
1933.
49
During the Great
Depression, Japan faced
serious economic
difficulties. Between 1929
and 1931, the amount of
exports fell by 50%. The
price of raw silk and rice
fell drastically. The small
and medium enterprises
were closed down. The
workers’ net income fell
and the number of the
unemployed reached 3
million.
A bank run in Japan in the 1920s
50
The Japanese party
government was unable to
solve the economic
problems. This led to the
rise of militarism. The
military controlled the state
power. The militarists
advocated foreign
expansion to plunder
resources. For example,
Japan staged the Mukden
Incident and established
the puppet Manzhouguo to
seize the resources in
Northeast China.
Ikki Kita, a well-known Japanese militarist
51
At the Paris Peace
Conference, the
victorious powers
ignored the issue of
how to revive the
European economy.
They imposed
extremely large sums
of reparations on the
defeated nations.
A cartoon depicting the burden

of reparations on Germany
52
European countries faced serious economic problems
after WWI, and they had to rely heavily on American
loans and investments.
The signing ceremony of the Young Plan, another US attempt at helping

Germany’s recovery that was ultimately affected by the Great Depression
53
The collapse of the US economy took a toll on European
economies instantly and resulted in a worldwide
recession.
A bank run
in 1930s
Germany.
54
The post-war economic
problems destroyed the
democratic systems in
Germany and Japan,
contributed to the rise of the
Nazi Party in Germany, and
led to the British and French
adoption of an appeasement
policy towards the aggressors.
This reduced the effectiveness
of collective security and
eventually triggered the
outbreak of WWII.
A Nazi poster for the Reichstag in
1930. The Nazi Party gathered public
support with ‘Freedom and Bread’.
55
Totalitarianism(極權主義)
• Name anything about totalitarianism from your impression.
In simple words, totalitarianism means that the political
power of a country is controlled by the leaders of the ruling
party. All people must obey the state and devote absolute
loyalty to the party leaders. Individual interests should be
subordinate to state’s interests.
The German people

must obey the Nazi
Party and Hitler.
1
In addition, a single political
ideology is instilled in people.
All aspects of life, including
economy, culture, education
and thinking, are controlled
either directly or indirectly
by the ruling party. The
government also uses force
and terror to suppress
dissidents and people with
different thoughts. Nazi Germany founded Gestapo
for nationwide surveillance.
2
Totalitarian states practise one-party dictatorship. All
parties other than the ruling party are banned. The
leader of the ruling party is also the leader of the state
and imposes dictatorship.
The Nazi Party took

over the congress
completely after 1933.
3
The ruling party requires people to devote absolute
obedience and loyalty to the state and the leader.
Everything must serve the state’s interests. Under
totalitarianism, the state is a community and an individual
is only a part of it.
The Italian people

supported the Fascist Party
4
Accordingly, individual
freedom and human rights
are not respected. The
existence of individuals
depends solely on the
existence of the community
as a whole.
A Nazi propaganda poster promoting the

importance of a strong German navy
5
【獨裁者手冊】「一起追溯金氏政權的起因，
金日成又如何在北韓人民心中深根起英雄的形
象」
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp26Jl34n3U&ab_channel=%E5
%9C%8B%E5%AE%B6%E5%9C%B0%E7%90%86NationalGeographic
The ruling party
adopts ways including
force, secret police and
imprisonment to
eliminate dissidents
and destroy party
politics of the
democratic system.
Sturmabteilung, the
armed force controlled
by the Nazi Party
6
北韓-在勞改營的日子(North Korea: Life in the
camps)中文字幕
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiHQvpLY5QM&ab_channel=aa8
613789
The ruling party usually believes in racial supremacy
and promotes foreign expansion. It regards war as the
only solution to all problems and the best way of
acquiring concessions.
German propaganda
card designed to
justify the expansion
of Germany on the
basis of Lebensraum
7
北韓首次氫彈試爆引發5 1級地震
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqCqFcfjfpk&ab_channel=HKBC
MediaLimited
Much of the national expenditure is spent on
increasing armaments and building a strong army.
Neighbouring countries and regions become its targets
for invasion.
German troops occupied

Danzig in 1939
8
The ruling party adopts a planned economy instead of free
economy of capitalism. Economic activities serve political
purposes. The ruling party strengthens the control over
economic activities. All production must serve the interests
of the state.
Germany
implemented massive
infrastructure project
in the 1930s to
recover economy.
9
In order to attain economic self-sufficiency, the ruling
party encourages agricultural production and secures
the sources of raw materials. It also develops an
industrial system, in which military industry is the
backbone, to cater for foreign expansion.
German tank factory in 1940

10
The ruling party controls the mass media. There is
censorship of textbooks. People have no freedom of speech.
The ruling party indoctrinates children and teenagers with
totalitarian ideas. It promotes heroic figures and advocated
that war is the way of attaining national glory through
political propaganda.
Boys in ‘Hitler
Youth’
11
洗腦造神運動 "金氏王朝"控制北韓
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_cuYhSG6OQ&ab_channel=%E
5%B9%B4%E4%BB%A3%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9ECH50
• Is North Korea a totalitarian country?
Democracy vs. Totalitarianism
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VtU5xounH0
Comparison between totalitarianism and democracy
Totalitarianism Democracy
One-party dictatorship is adopted. People Party politics is adopted. People have the right
have no political rights. to vote in elections for their representatives.
State's interests are emphasised. All people Individual freedom and rights are emphasised.
must obey the ruling party.
People's life and thinking are strictly People's life is not intervened by the
controlled. Different methods are adopted to government. Freedom of speech is emphasised.
suppress opposition. People can express their opinions.
National resources and production are strictly The government usually does not take a
controlled. All commercial activities and leading role in economic activities.
labour unions are monitored.
An expansionist foreign policy is adopted. A peaceful foreign policy is adopted.
12
During the inter-war period, different forms of
totalitarianism appeared in different European states.
Fascism in Italy and Nazism in Germany were the
two forms of totalitarianism that directly led to the
outbreak of WWII.
German invasion of
Poland led to WWII.
13
Rise of Totalitarianism
Italy: Fascism Germany: Nazism Japan: Militarism
198
Italy was the first country
to adopt totalitarianism.
The Fascist Party, led by
Benito Mussolini, seized
power in 1922 and
continued its rule until 1943.
Totalitarianism in Germany
arose in 1933. The Nazi
Party, led by Adolf Hitler,
adopted one-party
dictatorship. In 1934, Hitler
was called Der Führer (The Mussolini and Hitler
Leader). He ruled Germany
until 1945 when WWII
ended.
14
The rise of Fascism in
Italy and Nazism in
Germany was to a large
extent due to the
discontent with the
Paris Peace Conference.
15
Why were the Italians angry with the Paris Peace Settlement?
Fiume
Dalmatia
Italy did not side with
Germany and Austria
during WWI in accordance
with the Triple Alliance. On
the contrary, it joined the
Allies in 1915 in the hope of
getting Dalmatia and Fiume
as rewards after the victory.
Due to limited wartime
contributions, Italy was only
given Istria and Tyrol at the
Paris Peace Conference.
16
Fiume and Dalmatia today
Fiume(Rijeka) Dalmatia(Dubrovnik)
A German cartoon published in 1919, entitled
“The Betrayed Betrayer”.
1.Why was Italy crying?

Italy failed to get
Fiume.
2.Why was Italy described by the
Germans as “the betrayed
betrayer”? Italy
Fiume
Italy was initially a member

of the Triple Alliance, but it
became a betrayer during
WWI by joining the Allies.
However, as Italy was only
given Tyrol and Istria after
WWI, it was described as
“the betrayed betrayer”.
18
Post-war economic and social problems
To express their outrage, Italian nationalists occupied
Fiume in September 1919.
Under the pressure from other victorious powers, the
Italian government agreed to make Fiume a free city
under the mandate of the League of Nations and drive out
the Italian nationalists.
Italian nationalists
once sent a battleship
to Fiume to establish
another regime against
the Italian government
19
D'Annunzio(鄧南遮)
This caused widespread anger across Italy. Disappointed
with the weaknesses of their democratic government in
defending national interests, the Italians desired a strong
leader to regain national glory and prestige.
Italian people staged a rally in support of the occupation of Fiume
20
Mussolini took advantage of
the time by demonstrating a
strong leadership and
pledging the revival of
national glory.
Mussolini earned public support with

his oratory skills.
21
Students can browse the following website to watch
a video about Mussolini and his Fascist party.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfaXzVkDkyM
22
Under the principle of national
self-determination, people of
the same ethnic groups should
have the right to build their
own nation state.
However, the territorial
settlements made at the Paris
Peace Conference put many
Germans under the rule of
foreign countries, and this
aroused widespread discontent
among the Germans.
A German poster with the

words ‘Danzig is German’
23
After the establishment of a
communist government in
Russia in 1917, the
victorious powers attempted
to contain the spread of
communism by recognising
the independence of Poland
and enlarging its territory
by giving it West Prussia,
Posen and Upper Silesia of
Germany.
Dmowski was the Polish delegate to the Paris Peace Conference. He

played an important role in the terms that were beneficial to Poland.
24
Russo-Polish War, (1919–20) 波蘇戰爭
• Russo-Polish War, (1919–20), military conflict between Soviet Russia
and Poland, which sought to seize Ukraine. It resulted in the
establishment of the Russo-Polish border that existed until 1939.
• An armistice was signed in October 1920. The Treaty of Riga,

concluded on March 18, 1921, provided for the bulk of Ukraine to
remain a Soviet republic, although substantial portions of Belarus (白
俄羅斯) and Ukraine (烏克蘭) were ceded to Poland.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfm0AQNzpkc
Russo-Polish War, (1919–20) 波蘇戰爭
A buffer zone in eastern
Germany was
established. Many
Germans thus came
under the rule of
Poland, and German Poland
territories were divided

into two halves.
East Prussia separated from

Germany by the independence
of Poland.
25
In addition, the victorious powers gave the
Sudetenland, which was inhabited by 3 million
Germans, to the newly founded Czechoslovakia.
The victorious powers also banned the union of
Germany and Austria, which were both German states.
A Czech fortress in Sudetenland

26
Sudetenland
The Germans were angered as they were denied the
right of national self-determination enjoyed by the
Poles and the Czechs.
Citizens in Danzig protested against the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.
27
The ethnic (民族) issues created by the Paris Peace
Conference provided Nazi Germany with a good excuse to
invade Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland in the future.
‘Sudetenland is free!’– a Nazi propaganda poster promoting

the return of Sudetenland to Germany
28
No concrete solutions were suggested by the victorious
powers at the Paris Peace Conference to help European
countries solve their post-war economic problems.
French city
destroyed in
the war
29
Post-war economic and social problems
Shortage of daily necessities, inflation and unemployment
were serious. The Italians’ discontent with the economic
conditions was a favourable factor for the rise of Fascism.
Labour strike
in 1920 in
Turin, Italy
30
The Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh punishment on
Germany. Germany lost 10% of its national territory and
all overseas colonies, 12.5% of its population, 16% of its
coalfields, and nearly half of its iron and steel production.
A large amount of reparations were also imposed on
Germany.
German factory in
WWII
31
All these harsh terms aroused among the Germans great
humiliation and a strong desire for revenge. Germany’s
economic conditions kept worsening. The industrial
production fell sharply and the unemployment rate was
constantly high. Inflation was very serious.
Bank notes
were used as
papers to write.
32
In 1923, since Germany was unable to pay the
reparations, France occupied the Ruhr, an industrial
region in Germany. Germany had to rely on the US
loans to pay the reparations and rebuild its economy.
Therefore, when the US stopped making overseas
investments and demanded loan repayments from its
debtors after the Wall Street Crash of 1929, Germany
faced economic crises, which provided favourable
conditions for the rise of Nazism.
French soldiers occupying Ruhr

33
The great powers aimed at weakening Germany’s
military strength at the Paris Peace Conference in order
to prevent it from waging wars in the future. According
to the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was disarmed and
only allowed to keep a small army and limited
armaments. Germany had been known for its strong
military power.
Only a small amount of bombs

were left after the disarmament.
34
The Germans felt humiliated by the Treaty of Versailles
and wanted to abolish it. They hoped to rebuild the
military power of Germany in order to get back the lost
territories and restore national glory.
Hitler and the

German army
35
At the Paris Peace
Conference, President
Wilson of the US proposed
the establishment of the
League of Nations to help
maintain world peace.
In the 1930s, the League
failed to stop the
aggression of totalitarian
states such as Germany
and Italy, which directly
caused the outbreak of The League of Nations failed to stop the
WWII. aggression of Italy after its withdrawal
from the League in 1933.
36
Weak democratic government
Parties Seats
Extreme Nationalists 10
Fascists 35
National Alliance 139
Radicals 68 Could any political
Catholic Party 107 party win the
Reformists 29 majority?
Socialists 123
Communists 15
Minority Groups 9
Italy had practised
democracy since the late
19th century. However,
the political condition was
not stable. The democratic
governments were not
supported by the people
and were short-lived.
Between 1918 and 1922,
five coalition governments
were formed.
Luigi Facta(路易吉·法克塔), a 1920s Italian
Prime Minster who was in office only for
247 days.
37
After WWI, Italy failed to
get the territories promised
by the Allies. The Italian
government drove out the
Italian nationalists who
occupied Fiume in
September 1919. Italy had
experienced a number of
diplomatic setbacks(挫敗).
The Italians were
disappointed at the
democratic government and
wanted a strong leader.
Newspaper article
about the nationalist
movement in Fiume
38
After WWI, a
democratic government,
namely the Weimar
Republic, was set up in
Germany. It was
unpopular because it
had signed the
humiliating Treaty of
Versailles.
Friedrich Ebert, the first President

of the Weimar Republic
39
The Germans thus lost
their confidence in
democracy. They believed
that only a strong,
determined and effective
government could restore
social order. This situation
provided a favourable
condition for the rise of the
Nazi Party.
A poster depicting Hitler

as a saviour
40
In Italy, the Socialist Party
expanded quickly after
WWI. It won over 30% of
the votes in the 1919
general election and became
the biggest party. The
leftists organised many
strikes and took control of a
number of factories.
Matteotti (third from left) was

an Italian socialist politician.
41
This intensified the existing social and economic
instability. To protect their own interests, landlords,
industrialists and businessmen in Italy began to support
the Fascist Party, which was strongly anti-communist.
Strikes organised by
the leftists
42
The situation in Germany
was similar. Many labour
unions were set up after
WWI. Strikes and
demonstrations were
common. The Communist
Party of Germany had
gained much support
since the mid-1920s.
The Italian communist party

called upon people to terminate
the capitalist system.
43
It gained more and more
seats in the Reichstag
(German parliament).
This worried the German
landlords and capitalists,
who believed that only
Hitler was able to control
the spread of communism.
Therefore, they gave their
full support to the Nazi
Party.
A poster of the Nazi Party in the

1930s criticising the proletariat
44
Mussolini and Hitler were capable leaders. They were good
at making use of the circumstances to arouse the discontent
of the people about the government. They acted according
to people’s needs and made different promises to different
people in the society.
Hitler visited Mussolini

in Italy
45
• Assume you were Hitler. Can you make some slogans to gain support
from German people?
Target Slogan
Working class
(Hint: Unemployment, inflation
was serious)
Middle class
(Hint: they faced the threat of
communism)
Ex-soldiers (Hint: They couldn’t
find the jobs and face the defeat
of WW1)
General public (Hint: Resentment
over the Treaty of Versailles?)
As a result, both the Fascist
Party and the Nazi Party
gained wide support. For
example, Hitler proposed
abolishing the Treaty of
Versailles. This appealed to
the German public who
were humiliated by the
defeat of war.
A poster of the Nazi Party advocating the idea of

breaking free from the chains of the Treaty of Versailles
46
He promised jobs for
workers and the
unemployed. He
gained support from
the landlords and
the capitalists by
promising protection
from communism.
‘Work and Bread’ – a

Nazi propaganda poster
47
Mussolini and Hitler were
also good at using
political propaganda to
promote their ideas. They
displayed propaganda
posters everywhere.
An anti-communist poster
of the Fascist Party
48
They held political rallies and delivered public speeches
frequently. Their charm fascinated the public. Many
people were attracted to them and supported them
wholeheartedly.
Both Hitler and Mussolini had excellent speech skills.

49
Mussolini’s speech
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hpn9iPLbNDc
Hitler’s speech
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIFoaMiJ5oE
The word ‘Fascism’ came
from a Latin word, ‘fasces’,
which was a symbol of power
in ancient Rome. It had the
shape of a staff which was
formed by wooden rods and
an axe bound together.
‘Fasces’ can also be found

on Ancient Roman statues
50
It symbolised unity and
power. Therefore,
Mussolini adopted it as
the emblem of his party
and took the name
‘Fascist Party’. His
political ideas were
called Fascism.
Emblem of the Fascist Party
51
The Fascists practised one-party dictatorship and
banned all other parties. The Fascist Party controlled
everything in the society, from politics to economy,
and also the lives of the people.
A poster promoting the

Fascist government
52
Fascism emphasised
that everything should
serve the state’s
interests. Individual
interests were of
secondary importance
only. Therefore, people
were required to devote
absolute obedience to
the state, to follow the
orders of the state and
to sacrifice their The headquarters of the Fascist Party
interests for the state. in Rome, decorated by multiple ‘Si’s
(meaning ‘yes’ in Italian)
53
The Fascists believed that the best way to protect the
interests of the state was to achieve economic self-
sufficiency so as not to depend heavily on foreign imports.
To attain this goal, the government should fully develop
national resources and adopt new economic policies to
control the economy.
‘Battle for Wheat’ put forward by

Mussolini helped promote Italian
agricultural development.
54
The Fascists thought that a lot of time was wasted on
voting and elections under a democratic system.
Moreover, democracy emphasised too much on the
interests of the individuals. This would badly affect the
state’s interests.
Italian Parliament dominated

by the Fascist Party
55
Communism would
cause disunity within
the state due to its
promotion of class
struggles. Therefore, the
Fascists severely
criticised communism
and regarded it as the
state’s greatest enemy.
An Italian poster
criticising communism
56
The Fascists regarded
war as the only and the
most effective means to
attain glory and to
expand territories.
Therefore, they strongly
advocated the use of
military power to gain
territories for the state.
An Italian poster
promoting war
return
57
Question
• Would you like to live under Fascist rule? Why or why not? Explain
your reasons.
• E.g. Yes, I would choose to live under Fascist rule. / No, I would not
choose to live under Fascist rule.
because the idea of XXX would ______________________________
(Hint: How would the glorification of war affect the nation and peace?
Was one-party dictatorship good for citizens?)
In March 1919, Mussolini founded the Italian Fasci of
Combat in Milan. In 1921, it had 300,000 members.
Mussolini also established the Blackshirts, a militia whose
main duties were to disrupt socialists’ rallies and suppress
labour movements.
‘Fasci of
Revolutionary
Action’ in 1919
58
In 1920, a series of
strikes took place in
Italy. Landlords and
capitalists gave their
support to Mussolini,
who was strongly anti-
communist. The power
of the Fascists thus
greatly increased.
Workers with weapons occupying a

factory during the strikes
59
In May 1921, 35 Fascists were elected into the parliament.
However, their power was not strong enough to control
the parliament. In November, the Italian Combat League
was renamed the Fascist Party, with Mussolini as II Duce
(the leader).
Rally of the
Fascist Party
60
The leader to his history
In October 1922, Mussolini called on the Fascists to
‘March on Rome’ in order to seize power. All the Black
Shirts gathered to occupy Rome and demanded the
establishment of a new government under the leadership
of Mussolini.
Mussolini in
‘March on Rome’
61
History Brief: Benito Mussolini Gains Power in Italy
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpAVqiDVlw4
Knowing that the Fascist
Party was supported by the
military and businessmen
while fearing a civil war,
King Victor Emmanuel III
agreed to their demand and
invited Mussolini to be the
Prime Minister. In this way,
Mussolini came to power.
King Victor Emmanuel III
62
Once gaining power,
Mussolini focused on
consolidating his rule. In
1923, Mussolini forced the
parliament to pass a new
electoral law. Under this law,
if the majority party gained
one-fourth of votes in the
election, it could take two-
thirds of seats in the
parliament.
Giovanni Gentile headed two
constitutional reform
commissions for Mussolini.
63
In April 1924, the Fascists
used different ways to
influence the election results.
They won the election and
controlled the parliament
eventually.
In 1928, another electoral
law was passed. All
members of the parliament
became appointed by
Mussolini only.
The parliament was completely

controlled by Mussolini after 1924.
64
Thereafter, the
parliament lost its
power to watch over
the government, and all
decisions were made by
Mussolini. The Fascist
totalitarian state was
formally established.
A propaganda of Mussolini
65
In addition, Mussolini used different methods such as
the secret police to suppress opposition. He banned all
political parties other than the Fascist Party, arrested
his opponents, imprisoned them in concentration camps
and even killed them.
Concentration camps in Italy
66
He enforced press censorship so that all non-Fascist
publications were prohibited. Mussolini also established
many Fascist organisations for indoctrinating children and
the youth with Fascism so as to control their thought.
Fascist Youth
67
Mussolini planned to
turn Italy into a
‘corporate state’(企業
組合國家). All economic
activities were divided
into several domains. In
each domain, a
corporation was set up
to represent the
employers and workers.
‘Corporatism’ advocated by
the Fascist Party
68
These corporations replaced the former labour unions
and were controlled by the government. They could
decide wages, working conditions, prices of goods as well
as industrial policies, and ban strikes. In 1934, there were
22 corporations in Italy. Through these corporations,
Mussolini controlled all economic activities in Italy.
Workers were banned

from organising strikes
69
Since Italy was an
agricultural country,
Mussolini encouraged
development in agriculture.
He started the Battle for
Wheat and the Battle for
Land to boost wheat
production and to develop
more land for farming
respectively.
Mussolini giving speech

in the Battle for Wheat
70
He also strove to enhance industrial development, but the
result was not satisfactory due to Italy’s lack of natural
resources and the Great Depression. By the end of 1933,
there were more than 1 million unemployed people in Italy.
Therefore, Italy still faced serious economic hardship.
Food processing factory

in Italy in the 1930s
71
After the unification of Italy in 1870, the Pope refused
to recognise the new government.
But in February 1929, Mussolini signed the Lateran
Treaty with the Pope. By signing the Treaty, the power
of the Pope to rule over Vatican City was recognised.
The signing of the

Lateran Treaty
72
The Church was given a
series of privileges. These
arrangements ended the
quarrel between the Church
and the government. As a
result, the Pope officially
recognised the legitimacy(合
法性) of the Italian
government and normalised
their relations.
Pope Pius XI signed the
treaty with Mussolini
73
In 1919, Hitler joined the German Workers’ Party. In
1920, he renamed it the National Socialist German
Workers’ Party, or Nazi Party for short. In 1921,
Hitler became the leader of the Nazi Party.
Emblem of the
Nazi Party
74
5. 1920s Hitler led National Socialist Worker’s Party (NAZI)
Political instability:
Internal unrest(p.58-59)
Four revolts within 4 years
Date Event Result

January Spartacist Suppressed
1919 Revolt
March Kapp Putsch Suppressed by the government and
1920 street gangs
January Ruhr Valley As Germany needed to print more
1923 incident banknotes, it worsened hyperinflation.
France withdrew from Ruhr in 1925.
Novem Beer Hall Putsch Hitler was jailed.
ber
1923
When the French army occupied the Ruhr in 1923,
Hitler organised the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich to
overthrow the Weimar Republic. However, the coup
failed, and Hitler was imprisoned.
Hitler and other

participants in the
Beer Hall Putsch
75
During his
imprisonment, he
wrote a book Mein
Kampf (My Struggle).
It laid out the political
philosophy and action
plans of the Nazi Party.
Mein Kampf
76
Like Fascism, Nazism emphasised the importance of
one-party dictatorship. All parties other than the Nazi
Party had to be banned.
The German people

must obey Hitler.
77
A totalitarian state should
be built up, under which
the Nazi Party should hold
all power and control all
activities within the state.
All people should obey the
Party and Der Führer (The
Leader) unconditionally.
A poster emphasising
obedience to Hitler
78
Hitler denounced democracy as a useless and inefficient
political idea. Democratic governments would only waste
time on debates and voting without actually solving the
problems. The Weimar Republic was a good example.
German election in
1924 with people
lining up for voting
79
Moreover, democracy
overemphasised (過份
強調)individual
freedom and rights,
leading to national
disunity.
A Nazi poster in 1928 criticising the Social

Democratic Party for betraying the voters.
80
Hitler regarded the
Aryans (a race who
migrated to India and
Europe from Central Asia
during ancient times) as
the most superior race,
and the Germans were the
purest among them all. To
maintain such racial
purity, Hitler opposed
intermarriage between
Aryans and other races.
A Nazi poster with an Aryan
as the main character
81
He regarded all non-Aryans as inferior, and the
Jews, in particular, should be exterminated. Due to
his belief in the Germans’ superiority, Hitler
thought that Germany should rule over the world.
This sense of racial supremacy led to the
persecution of the Jews and the outbreak of WWII.
Nazi supporters advocating

boycott against the Jews
82
Hitler promoted the
idea of Pan-Germanism,
which stated that all
Germans over Europe
should unite to form a
Greater Germany. Due
to a lack of living space
for the large German
population, Hitler also
thought that Germany
should expand
eastwards to acquire
Lebensraum.
Hitler parading in the streets of
Danzig after invading Poland in 1939
83
The newly acquired land could be cultivated to provide
food for the growing number of Germans. These ideas of
Pan-Germanism and Lebensraum became the rationale
for the future expansion of Nazi Germany.
A cartoon depicting the ambitions of Hitler
84
To improve the economy
of Germany, Hitler
encouraged the
development of
agriculture and industry.
He also followed an
expansionist policy in
order to obtain more
natural resources. Then,
Germany could achieve
economic self-sufficiency
and rely less on foreign German village in the 1930s
imports.
85
According to Nazism,
national unity was the most
important element in
strengthening a country.
However, communism
promoted class struggles and
encouraged different classes
to fight for their own interests.
Communism would never
unite for the sake of the state.
Therefore, the Nazis regarded
them as their greatest enemy.
An anti-communist
poster of the Nazi Party
86
After the failure of the Beer
Hall Putsch, Hitler changed
his strategies. He tried to win
seats in the Reichstag.
An election poster of the Nazi Party
87
However, Germany was
then under the rule of
Gustav Stresemann
(1923-1929), who
relieved its economic
difficulties and improved
its relations with other
countries. Under this
situation, Nazism was
not attractive to the
Germans.
Stresemann with Aristide Briand,
the French Prime Minister
88
Death of Stresemann(1929) (p.76-77)
Gustav Stresemann was one of the most influential
politicians during the 1920s.
Under his guidance, Germany began to recover from the
economic crisis.
Less uprisings compared with the early period of Weimar
Republic
Death of Stresemann(1929)
Death of Stresemann(1929) (p.76-77)
He became Chancellor in 1923 and helped to end the Ruhr
Crisis
He was Foreign Secretary 1924-29 and helped to restore
Germany’s international image.
He took the lead for the peaceful diplomacy of Germany in
the 1920s.
He initiated(推動) Dawes Plan(1924) and Young Plan (1929)
to borrow loan from the US to pay the reparations.
Peaceful diplomacy of Germany in the 1920s(p.76-
77)
• 1922: Treaty of Rapallo (拉巴洛條約, signed between USSR and
Germany. The two governments also agreed to normalize their
diplomatic relations and to co-operate.)
• 1926: Locarno Treaties. Germany joined the League of Nations.
• 1928: Kellogg-Briand Pact
• 1930: The American and British army withdrew from Rhineland.
The Dawes Plan(1924) and the Young
Plan(1929) (p.76-77)
The Dawes Plan was an arrangement to help Germany with
the reparation payments, and promise the retreat of Ruhr
Valley.
Germany would be able to pay what they could afford each
year.
USA would lend money to Germany to help Germany
recover. They used it to build factories and machinery.
àThis meant more jobs.
Plan(1929)
Plan(1929) (p.76-77)
Young Plan reduced the indemnity of Germany, since the
Dawes Plan could not let Germany pay off the reparations.
Young Plan enabled Germany to postpone the payment.
The death of Stresemann
èloss of a capable leader
èGave chance for the rise of Hitler
Then, the situation changed in 1929, when the Great
Depression began. The Nazi Party started to gain more and
more support as the economy deteriorated.
A nazi poster
that says
‘560000 people
need work’
89
6. Great Depression helps the Nazis gain more political power in Germany.
In July 1932, the Nazi Party
won 230 out of 608 seats in
the election. It became the
largest political party in the
Reichstag. Paul von
Hindenburg, President of the
Weimar Republic, appointed
Hitler as the Chancellor in
January 1933.
Poster calling for support

of Hindenburg and Hitler
90
After the death of Hindenburg in the following year,
Hitler became the President as well. Thereafter, he alone
held all the power and was called Der Führer. Germany
under his rule was called the Third Reich.
Hitler became
Führer after
becoming the
President
91
After Hitler became the Chancellor, the Nazi Party
introduced measures to establish one-party dictatorship.
Hitler meeting
the crowd
92
In February 1933, the
Reichstag building was set
on fire. Hitler then issued an
emergency order to deprive
people of the freedom of
speech and of the press. He
also accused the communists
of starting the fire and seized
them throughout the country.
The Reichstag
building in fire
93
Reichstag (國會) in Berlin, Germany
In March 1933, the Enabling Act was passed, under which
the Reichstag lost the power of making laws and
discussing budgets to the Chancellor. The government
could conclude treaties with foreign countries without the
permission of the Reichstag.
Hitler giving speech on

the Enabling Act
94
The Nazi Party became
the only political
party in Germany.
Thereafter, the Reichstag became totally powerless.

Executive and legislative power all rested with Hitler.
By July 1933, Hitler had officially banned the
Communist Party and dissolved others. The Nazi Party
had become the only political party in Germany.
95
In addition, the Nazi
Party suppressed all
opposition within the
country through the SS
(Schutzstaffel, Hitler’s
personal guards) and the
Gestapo (secret police).
Members of the Gestapo
96
The SS and the Gestapo could arrest any suspects, send
them to concentration camps, or even execute them. They
helped to turn Germany into a police state.
Dachau concentration camp,

the first concentration camp
in Germany to hold
political prisoners.
97
In June 1934, Hitler ordered
the SS to wipe out his
political enemies. Around
100 Nazis, including the top
leaders within the Nazi
Party, were killed. This
incident was called the
‘Night of the Long Knives’.
(長刀之夜)
Ernst Röhm, the leader of the

Sturmabteilung, was killed in
the ‘Night of the Long Knives’.
98
The Night of the Long Knives
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBOK5FGhai0
The Nazi Party also strictly
controlled the German
people’s thinking. Joseph
Goebbels served as Minister
of Propaganda. The mass
media was put under
government control and
used as propaganda means
to promote Nazi ideas.
Joseph Goebbels
99
Pupils learning the gesture of salute
All educational curricular and textbooks were

designed or reviewed by the Party to eliminate anti-
Nazi elements. Students must learn basic Nazi theories.
Teachers with anti-Nazi attitude were expelled.
100
The Nazi Party also set up youth organisations like the
Hitler Youth to indoctrinate children with Nazism.
Members of the Hitler Youth
101
The Nazi Party completely controlled Germany’s
economy. It banned all trade unions so as to prevent
workers from going on strike.
After banning all trade unions, the Nazi Party founded the
German Labour Front as the only labour organisation.
102
In 1933 and 1937, Hitler
implemented the Four-
Year Plans. During the
period, he developed
agriculture to stabilise the
price of crops and tried to
import fewer materials
from foreign countries in
order to achieve economic
self-sufficiency.
A Nazi poster promoting

the Four-Year Plans
103
Besides, he put a strong emphasis on expanding the heavy
industry and the military industries including armaments
production and plane-building.
Hitler attending
the sod-turning
ceremony of a
highway
construction
project
104
Hitler also carried out
many public work projects,
such as building roads,
reclaiming wasteland and
constructing railways, and
implemented a massive
rearmament plan.
As a result, unemployment
rate in Germany dropped
from 6 million in 1932 to
1.6 million in 1936.
German workers
building roads
105
Hitler hated the Jews very
much. He thought they had
polluted the purity of the
Germans, and blamed them
for Germany’s defeat in
WWI as well as its post-war
economic hardship. Thus,
once the Nazi Party gained
power, a large-scale
persecution of the Jews was
immediately carried out.
A poster blaming Jews for

the German defeat in WWI
106
In September 1935, the Nuremberg Laws were passed to
deprive the Jews in Germany of their citizenship and to
forbid marriages and sexual behaviours between Jews
and Germans.
Under the Nuremberg

Laws, races were put
into different categories.
107
In November 1938, the SS violently attacked Jews
throughout Germany. 30,000 Jewish men were sent to
concentration camps. Thousands of Jewish shops
were damaged.
Jewish shops
destroyed by
the SS
108
Netflix – 納粹集中營實錄(42:40~)
• 因為德國納粹為了希望可以快速繁衍"高貴"的雅利安血統，將裡
頭的雙胞胎進行實驗，並將他們的器官取出，找出如何生雙胞胎
的方法。
• Since Nazi Germany wanted to figure out the way for quick
reproduction of the “noble” Aryan races, they would take out the
organs of the twins to find the way of giving birth to twins.
• 德軍會告訴猶太人這是洗澡的地方，然而一次會擠進千人，等到
在裡頭的猶太人覺得哪裡不對勁時，也來不及反抗了。毒氣會從
地上不斷冒出。
• The German army would tell Jews that they could take a bath. With a
thousands of people, they could no longer escape or resist. The
poison gas would be released from the floor.
• 裡頭的人會本能往煙囪爬尋求一線生機，因此人會不斷的堆疊，
那誰會被壓在最低層呢? 束手無策的嬰兒和小孩。然後老人女人
最後健壯的男人，層層堆疊成金字塔的樣子。等到聲音全無後，
拔掉身上值錢的金牙，接者被送進焚屍爐，
• Even the golden tooth of the elderly would be grabbed by the

Germans.
• 不要忘記: 這裡所有的東西都會被運用得淋漓盡致。灰燼還要被
用來當種植的肥料
• Never forget: Everything would be used entirely. The ask of
corpses(dead bodies) were used as fertilizers.
In 1942, the ‘Final Solution’ was drawn up. The Jews
were sent to gas chambers to be exterminated. It was
estimated that over 6 million Jews were killed.
The Jews were sent to

gas chambers in the
concentration camps.
109
Investigating the Holocaust Pt 13: The Nazi Final
Solution – The Annihilation of the Jews of Europe
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wT7u6G9V7g&has_verified=1
a video about Hitler and Nazi Party in Germany.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFK0uz5n_Cg
110
Once Mussolini and Hitler
were in power, they actively
prepared their countries for
war. To restore the past glory
of Italy and of Germany, they
adopted an expansionist
policy and formed a military
alliance. Their acts of
aggression, however, finally
drove Europe into WWII.
A propaganda poster of
Nazi Germany and Fascist
Italy during WWII
111
Italy sought to expand its armaments. Its navies
ranked the fifth in the world. It was even among the
top countries in the Mediterranean region.
Mussolini holding a
military parade
112
In addition, Italy strove to develop new weapons,
such as new model fighter aircraft, heavy artillery
guns and light tanks.
Light tank used by Italian army in WWII
113
Italian aircraft
Fiat G.50 Reggiane Re.2000

In 1923, Italy occupied the Greek island of Corfu. The
League of Nations mediated and Mussolini agreed to
withdraw his troops, but he managed to force Greece
to pay a huge sum of money as compensation.
Italian troops
occupying Corfu
in Greece
114
In 1924, Mussolini
reached an agreement
with Yugoslavia and
got Fiume.
A report about the

seizure of Fiume
115
In 1926, Mussolini
signed a Pact of
Friendship and
Security with Albania,
turning it into an
Italian protectorate.
Zog I of Albania
endorsed by Italy
116
In the early 1930 s, Mussolini planned to invade
Abyssinia (present-day Ethiopia).
Abyssinia in 1934
117
Abyssinia
Abyssinia was located in East Africa, near the Red Sea.
It was rich in natural resources and was strategically
important. If Italy could take Abyssinia, it could
establish a colonial empire in East Africa by joining
Abyssinia with Eritrea and the Italian Somaliland.
The Italian
Somaliland in
the 1930s
118
Mussolini visiting Abyssinia
after the occupation.
In October 1935, the Italian army invaded Abyssinia.

The League of Nations condemned Italy and imposed an
economic sanction on it.
Since Britain and France did not want to declare war on
Italy and feared that Italy would form an alliance with
Germany, they suggested ceding two-thirds of the
territories in Abyssinia to Italy.
119
ITALIAN INVASION OF ETHIOPIA 1935
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtxL3idYS6k
However, Mussolini
refused the proposition.
The Abyssinians lost
their capital to Italy in
May 1936. Their king,
Haile Selassie, fled to
Britain.
Haile Selassie
120
Eritrea
Libya
Shortly afterwards,
Mussolini declared
the union of
Abyssinia
Abyssinia, Eritrea
and the Italian
Somaliland into Italian
Italian East Africa. Somaliland
Abyssinia, Eritrea and

Italian Somaliland together Italian East Africa in
1936
forming ‘Italian East Africa’
121
Italy did not trust
Germany at first. In
April 1935, it even joined
Britain and France in
showing regrets against
re-militarisation in
Germany. Initially,
Mussolini hoped that by
siding with Britain and
France, they would allow
Italy to annex Abyssinia.
Italy showed regrets against

re-militarisation in Germany.
122
However, Britain and France did not support it. In
contrast, Germany gave full support to Italy, and this
paved the way for future co-operation between the two
totalitarian states.
Hitler was
ecstatically
welcomed by Italian
people during his
visit to Italy.
123
In July 1936, a civil war broke out in Spain. General
Francisco Franco and his army organised revolts
throughout Spain to oppose the republican government.
General Francisco
Franco in a
military parade
124
26:00~
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaU3ARvWQtI&list=PLc7r3KwQ1
9MxbMJH-QUjb-ic9o2vWbv9o
• Questions:
• According to the video, how was the reaction of France and Britain
towards the Spanish Civil War?
The Spanish Civil War
provided a chance for
Italy and Germany to
co-operate closely.
Together, Mussolini and
Hitler provided Franco
with weapons. They also
sent an army to assist
him to fight the war.
Spanish leaflet during the Spanish

Civil War calling for resistance
against Hitler and Mussolini
125
The relationship between the Paris Peace
Conference and the two world wars
A cartoon published in 1936, reflecting the intervention of Italy and

Germany in the Spanish Civil War
389
Students can browse the following website to
watch a video about the Spanish Civil War.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ0Py8lWGh8
126
The joint intervention of Italy and Germany in the
Spanish Civil War laid the foundation for the
formation of an alliance between the two countries.
In October 1936, Italy and Germany formed the
Berlin-Rome Axis.
Hitler Youth paraded through Rome in

September 1936, a month before the
signing of the Pact of Steel127
They promised to take the
same stance on important
international issues in the
future. In November 1937,
Italy joined the Anti-
Comintern Pact signed
between Germany and
Japan. The Axis Powers,
the countries who started
WWII, came into existence.
Propaganda celebrating the signing of

the Anti-Comintern Pact in Japan
128
In December 1937, Italy withdrew
from the League of Nations to
facilitate its further expansion.
In April 1939, it annexed Albania.
Italy annexed Albania in 1939.

129
If you were Hitler, what would be your aggression
step? Please arrange the order from the earliest.
Action Aim
Invasion of Poland To acquire territories and connect with the East Prussia
Alliance with Italy To find an ally with same ideology

Remilitarization of Rhineland To protect its border and break the limitations of the Treaty
of Versailles
Rearmament To equip the military forces and break the limitations of the
Treaty of Versailles
Alliance with Japan To find an ally with same ideology and check the influence
of the Soviet Union
Annexation of Czechoslovakia To acquire resources
Annexation of Austria To unite all the Germans and break the limitations of the
Invasion of Sudetenland To unite all the Germans and test the reaction of the
League of Nations
Once the Nazi Party was in power, preparations were
made for rearming Germany and preparing it for war.
The Nazi Party

declared the
rearmament of
Germany on 16
March 1935
130
In 1933, Germany
withdrew from the
League of Nations.
Hitler announced
German withdrawal
from the League of
Nations in 1933.
131
In 1935, Hitler violated the Treaty of Versailles by
introducing conscription. The number of soldiers in
the army increased from 100,000 to 500,000.
German troops
in Saar
132
Germany also built up an
air force and expanded
the navy. By 1939, the
German air force had
already owned over 4,000
military aircraft. The
total displacement of its
warships increased from
110,000 tons in 1935 to
350,000 tons in 1939.
A poster promoting
German navy
133
In March 1936, German troops re-entered the demilitarised
Rhineland, violating the Treaty of Versailles again. Later,
Germany constructed the Siegfried Line along its Western
border to oppose the French Maginot Line.
Today’s
Siegfried Line
134
Siegfried Line(齊格菲防線)
Time to think J
• Why did the remilitarization of the Rhineland violate the Treaty of
Versailles?
A British cartoon published in
1936, entitled “The Goose Step”.
1. Name the country represented by the

goose in the cartoon.
Germany
2.Identify the incident referred to in the
cartoon.
The German occupation of the
Rhineland. The cartoon was
published in 1936, and Germany was
walking through the Rhineland in the
cartoon.
3.What was the cartoonist’s view on this
incident?
Negative. The goose claimed that it was
not intent on expansion by saying “pray
excuse my blunder”. However, its
weapons showed Germany ‘s ambition “Goosey Goosey gander, where are you going?”
to revoke the Treaty of Versailles. “Only through the Rhineland, pray excuse my
blunder!”
135
In October 1936, the Spanish Civil War served as an
opportunity for Germany and Italy to ally with each
other. They formed the Rome-Berlin Axis.
The German air

force in the Spanish
Civil War
136
In November 1936, Germany signed the Anti-Comintern
Pact with Japan. When Italy joined the pact in 1937, the
Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis was formed.
Representatives of the
governments of Italy,
Germany, and Japan
sign the Three Power
Pact, establishing the
Rome-Berlin-Tokyo
Axis.
137
4. The annexation of Austria, 1938
• Hitler wanted to form a “Great Germany”(大德意志) including Austria
as they shared the same culture.
Based on the principle of
national self-determination,
Hitler demanded Anschluss
(union with Austria which
had an Aryan majority) in
February 1938.
The Austrian Chancellor,
Kurt von Schuschnigg,
called for a referendum,
hoping to stop Anschluss
by public opinion.
Austrian people calling for

referendum before Anschluss
138
Under the threat of Hitler,
he was forced to resign and
be replaced by a Nazi
leader in Austria. In March
1938, Hitler claimed that
the Austrian government
asked him to send the
German army into Austria.
A poster promoting
Anschluss
139
Austria became an administrative region of Germany.
Later, the Nazis claimed that 99% of Austrians
supported Anschluss in the referendum held on 10 April.
Nazi troops were

greeted by the
public when they
entered Vienna
140
Anschluss was an open
violation of the Treaty
of Versailles and the
Treaty of St. Germain,
both of which
prohibited the union of
Germany and Austria.
Although Britain,
France and the League
of Nations lodged a
protest, they did not
take any further action.
Newspaper article about German troops
entering Vienna
141
German Troops March Into Austria (1938)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6Wa4BL28OM
Reason for invading Sudetenland
• In Sudetenland , there were 3 million German-speaking people.
However, it was ceded to Czechoslovakia after the Paris Peace
Conference. Hitler wanted to occupy Sudetenland for territorial
expansion and uniting the Germans.
After taking Austria, Germany was in a position to
encircle the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia. This
facilitated its next aggression and greatly fed
Germany’s ambition of further invasion.
After taking Austria, Germany was in a position to encircle the

Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia.
142
The next target of Hitler
was the Sudetenland of
Czechoslovakia, which
was inhabited by 3 million
Germans. In September
1938, Hitler demanded to
have the Sudetenland on
the pretext of national self-
determination, and he
even threatened to use
Sudeten Germans desired the annexation
force. of Sudetenland by Germany.
143
To avoid war, the British Prime Minister, Neville
Chamberlain, and the French Premier, Edouard Daladier
held the Munich Conference with Hitler and Mussolini.
The Munich Agreement was signed to demand
Czechoslovakia to cede the Sudetenland to Germany.
Hitler, Chamberlain
and Daladier at the
Munich Conference
144
Czechoslovakia, 1938–39
• Reasons for invading whole of Czechoslovakia:
• Czechoslovakia was rich in natural resources, and prosperous in

military industry, as well as its important strategic position, so Hitler
coveted(覬覦) there.
However, Hitler’s aggression did not end. He annexed the
rest of Czechoslovakia in March 1939.
In March 1939, Hitler

invited Emil Hácha, the
Czech President, to a
meeting in Berlin. Hitler
informed him that the
German troops were
about to invade
Czechoslovakia.
145
The German annexation of Czechoslovakia, a non-German
nation, violated the Munich Agreement. It also showed clearly
that Hitler’s ambitions were not confined to German areas.
146
Britain and France finally decided to take forceful
actions against any further German aggression. The two
countries promised that if Poland was invaded, they
would offer Poland military assistance.
Chamberlain and
Daladier
147
However, Hitler believed that Britain and France would
stick with appeasement. Poland became the next target
of Hitler.
German tanks invading Poland

148
In March 1939, Hitler
demanded to have Danzig
and a fair treatment of all
Germans in Poland.
Hitler giving speech in Danzig
149
In August, the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact was signed.
Germany and the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)
promised not to attack each other within ten years and to
stay neutral if one of them was at war with a third party.
Signing of the
German-Soviet Non-
Aggression Treaty
150
They also agreed, in the
secret terms of the pact,
that Poland would be
divided between them.
After they had reached an
agreement, Germany was
freed from its worry
about a two-front war.
Magazine’s cover on the

signing of the Nazi-Soviet Non-
Aggression Pact
151
A cartoon published in 1939, entitled
“Wonder how long the honeymoon
will Last?”.
1.Name the countries represented by

the two men in the cartoon.
Germany and the USSR.
2.Identify the incident referred to in
the cartoon.
Signing of the Nazi-Soviet Non-
Aggression Pact in 1939.
3.What was the cartoonist’s view

on their “marriage”?
The cartoon’s title showed that
the cartoonist held a suspicious
attitude towards their “marriage”
(The Nazi-Soviet Non-
Aggression Pact).
152
a video about the outbreak of the Second World War.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45r8ubaD0g8
153
To conclude, the rise of Fascism and Nazism stemmed
from the improper arrangements of the Paris Peace
Conference. The territorial demands of the Italians were
not fulfilled. The Treaty of Versailles greatly shattered
Germany’s power.
Germany was
forced to accept
the Treaty of
Versailles.
154
Germany’s national glory
took a serious blow. The
Paris Peace Conference did
not address the post-war
economic problems. Hence,
the two countries plunged
into economic hardship.
Mussolini and Hitler made
use of public resentment to
seize power. They adopted
the expansionist policy,
which finally led to the
outbreak of WWII. A cartoon indicating the rise of Hitler
155
Collective security is a system in which international efforts
are made to settle disputes and maintain world peace.
Nations abandon war as the means to resolve conflicts and
they stop aggression by joint effort.
Wilson after Signing the

1
Definition of collective security
• 在這種機制下，每個參與國都認為破壞和平是對所有參與國共同
的挑戰，也即參與國認為其他國家的安全是所有國家的安全。
• 集體安全概念的假設是，國家將放棄使用武力或是以武力為威脅
以求達成國家利益及目標，所有國家對為違反此一原則的侵略國
家進行集體制裁，以維持國際和平及秩序。
• Collective security, system by which states have attempted to prevent
or stop wars. Under a collective security arrangement, an aggressor
against any one state is considered an aggressor against all other
states, which act together to repel the aggressor.
After WWI, collective
security was first advocated
by President Wilson of the
US, who proposed the
establishment of the League
of Nations in his ‘Fourteen
Points’. Besides, nations co-
operated to prevent war by
signing international peace
agreements and organising
disarmament conferences
during the inter-war period.
People calling for disarmament
2
At the Paris Peace
Conference in 1919,
President Wilson of the
US proposed the
establishment of an
international
peacekeeping
organisation.
Wilson reading
the drafted
covenant of the
League of Nations
3
This suggestion was supported by all participating
countries. In January 1920, the League of Nations was
set up. Its headquarters was in Geneva, Switzerland.
First Assembly of
the League of
Nations in Geneva,
1920.
4
The League had four major
organs:
Secretariat (秘書處)
• It was the
administrative organ of
the League and was
headed by the
Secretary-General.
• All staff should be loyal
to the League, not to
their own countries.
James Drummond, the first
Secretary General of the League of
Nations from 1920 until 1933.
5
Assembly (全體大會)
• It was formed by
the representatives
of all member
states, which met at
least once a year.
• Each member state
had a vote, and
most resolutions
had to be passed by
a unanimous vote.
(一致投票) The first assembly of the League
6
Council (理事會)
• It had four permanent members, namely Britain,
France, Italy and Japan (also Germany during the
period 1926-1933), and four non-permanent members,
which were elected by the Assembly (the number
increased to six and nine in 1922 and 1926 respectively).
The home of the League Council
7
• It met at least four times a year. All resolutions had to be
passed by a unanimous vote.
The League of
Nations council
(shown here in
session) in 1938. By
this time the league
was regarded by
many as ineffectual.
8
Permanent Court of International Justice (國際常設法院)
• It was located at The Hague and had 15 judges. It
resolved conflicts among member states, and gave
advice to the Assembly as well as the Council.
A hearing on the
Permanent Court of
International Justice
9
Many specialised agencies came under the League of
Nations, including the International Labour Organization
(ILO), the Health Organization, the Economic and
Financial Organization, the Temporary Slavery
Commission, the High Commission for Refugees, etc.
The League’s headquarters in Geneva,

Switzerland
10
In addition, the League also set up the Permanent
Mandates Commission(託管委員會). It assigned the
victorious powers the mandate over the former territories
and colonies of the defeated countries in WWI.
The mandate over Palestine was assigned to Britain after WWI.
11
The League was the first
peacekeeping international
organisation, which provided
a platform for nations to
settle disputes through peace
talks and arbitration.
It prevented nations from
setting up secret alliances
again to ensure their national
security, and improved
international relations.
A cartoon published in the 1930s

about the League of Nations
12
In the 1920s, the League made an effort to settle territorial
disputes among nations:
In 1920, the League successfully mediated the territorial
disputes between Sweden and Finland over the Aland Islands.
Aland Islands
13
In 1921, the League
also resolved the
border conflict between
Poland and Germany.
A Polish poster for the

‘Upper Silesia plebiscite’,
which was mandated to settle
the border conflict between
Poland and Germany.
14
In the Corfu incident in 1923, five Italians were killed in
Greece. Mussolini sent warships to bomb and occupied
the Greek island of Corfu. Without the support of
Britain and France, the League could not condemn Italy.
Corfu in the 1910s
15
Under the request of the
League, however, Greece
paid reparations to Italy
in order to gain back
Corfu Island. Finally,
Mussolini agreed to
retreat from Corfu Island.
A cartoon about Italian

occupation of Corfu
16
In 1925, the League threatened to impose sanctions on
Greece due to its invasion of Bulgaria. It successfully
made Greece back down.
The women and

children in this
photo show the
bullet wounds
received from the
battle between
Bulgaria and Greece
17
The League gave the victorious powers in WWI, such as
Britain, France and Japan, the mandate over the former
colonies of Germany and Turkey, and effectively
administered the Saar (1920-1935) and Danzig (1920-1939).
Crowd waiting to vote

in the Saar Plebiscite to
decide whether the
region should be
returned to Germany
after the League’s
administration ended.
18
The League had more remarkable socio-economic achievements.
The Slavery Commission (奴隸委員會) addressed various
problems, such as international drug trafficking(販毒) and
prostitution(娼妓).
E.g. Nepal abolished slavery in 1926.
The Slavery Convention

of the League of Nations
19
The Commission for Refugees (難民委員會) offered
humanitarian aid to refugees and issued Nansen passports(南
森護照) to help them immigrate to other countries.
The League of Nations

helped the settlement of
Armenian refugees after
the Armenian Genocide.
20
Nansen passports(南森護照)
The Health Organization helped poor countries combat
infectious diseases and improve health conditions.
Malaria Committee of the League of Nations Health Organization
21
The ILO encouraged its member states to provide better
working conditions for their workers.
The League
established the
International
Labour
Organisation to
improve labour-
related issues, such
as child labour.
22
The Economic and
Financial Organization
provided loans and
material assistance to
European countries, such
as Austria and Hungary.
The League of Nations

distributed bread to
people of Vienna
23
Time to think
A unanimous vote was necessary for important
decisions
• Imagine that we were planning a class trip. If we want to set off, we
need all classmates to vote for the same decision.
• What would happen?

Participants
• Our class consists of 28 classmates and 1 teacher. Mr Cheung and our
subject monitress are absent. Classmates can join the class anytime.
Can we hold the lesson?
Means of mediation
• F.4 History class is very noisy and annoying(!!!). No one submits the
homework. Everyone fights and plays mobile phones in class.
However, Mr. Cheung could not punish any students but just
condemn. What would happen to the class?
In the 1930s, the League completely failed to stop the
aggression of Japan, Italy and Germany.
A cartoon depicting
the ineffectiveness
of the League of
Nations in stopping
the aggression
24
Japanese invaded Northeast China in 1931. After
investigation, the League announced the Lytton Report
and denounced Japan as an aggressor. It demanded the
Japanese troops to withdraw from China.
Lytton Commission,
which is investigating
the railway at which
the conflicts between
Japan and China took
place in Manchuria.
25
Japan, however, ignored the League and continued
with its invasion. In 1932, it established the puppet
Manzhouguo and enthroned Puyi as the ‘emperor’. It
even withdrew from the League in March 1933.
Japanese diplomats leaving the League of Nations building

after its withdrawal.
26
After the Lugouqiao Incident of 1937, China once again
appealed to the League. However, the League could only
declare that the Japanese acts of aggression were against
international agreements and ask its member states not
to take action that would possibly undermine China’s
resistance. It failed to stop the Japanese advances.
Lugouqiao
27
Background of Lugou Bridge Incident, the
beginning of Japan's full-scale invasion of China
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPZXs3rZLaI
When the Italian troops invaded Abyssinia in October
1935, the League denounced Italy as an aggressor and
imposed economic sanctions.
Italian troops
march past
billboard of
Mussolini during
1936 invasion of
Abyssinia
28
However, no sanction was imposed on strategic
commodities, such as oil, iron and steel. Many countries
continued to trade with Italy, including non-member
states of the League, such as the US and Germany.
Haile Selassie I, the

King of
Abyssinia,
addressing the
League of
Nations, Geneva
29
Thus, the League failed to stop Italy from conquering
Abyssinia. In July 1936, it even lifted its economic
sanctions on Italy. This exposed once again its inability
to stop aggression.
Italian troops
entering
Abyssinia
30
Italy finally withdrew from the League in December 1937.
In 1939, Italy annexed Albania. The League was left with
no solutions.
Italian withdrawal
from the League of
Nations
31
A cartoon published in 1936, entitled “Pah! They
were uncivilized savages, without ideals”.
1.Identify the incident
referred to in the cartoon.
Cite two clues from the
cartoon to support of your
answer.
The Italian invasion of
Abyssinia. The cartoon
was published in 1936
and the victims of
massacre in the cartoon
were all black people.
2. What was the cartoonist’s
view on Mussolini’s action?
Negative. Mussolini was depicted as a cruel butcher, killing the Black
people with poison gas bombs.
32
A cartoon about the
Abyssinian Crisis.
1. How did the

international
community respond
to the annexation of
Abyssinia?
In the cartoon, the three monkeys on the court of international law

and order see, hear and speak ‘no Abyssinia’, showing that the
international community simply ignored the annexation of Abyssinia.
33
A cartoon about the
Abyssinian Crisis.
2. What is the
cartoonist’s attitude
towards the powers?
Negative/critical/
satirical.
The cartoonist depicts the powers as monkeys turning a blind eye to

injustice and neglecting their responsibility to uphold international
law and order. The Lady Justice in the cartoon appeared confused
and helpless, showing that the powers failed to give an impartial
judgment.
34
When Hitler re-militarised the Rhineland in 1936, all the
League could do was to denounce Germany’s violation of
the Locarno Pact.
The German troops

received applause when
they entered the
Rhineland.
35
The League’s reputation
was further diminished
and its members no
longer wanted to assume
any responsibility. No
action from the League
was expected when
Hitler annexed Austria
in March 1938.
A cartoon titled ‘Reunion in

Vienna’shows the Austria was
annexed by, rather than united
with, Germany
36
When Germany demanded all the Sudetenland, Britain
and France chose to arrange the Munich Agreement with
Hitler instead of solving it through the League. The failure
of the League to stem the aggression of Nazi Germany
made the outbreak of WWII inevitable.
Hitler meeting
Chamberlain in the
Munich Conference
37
After WWI, the former territories and colonies of some
defeated countries became the League of Nations’
mandates. The member states would be responsible for
administering the mandates and put the mandates on a
path to autonomy and independence. The mandatory
powers were obligated to report annually to the
Permanent Mandates Commission.
Rwanda, ruled by Belgium after WWI as

a mandate of the League of Nations
38
However, since there had
been no effective League
supervision, the mandatory
powers often took advantage
of the mandates to serve their
interests. They even saw the
mandates as their colonies.
British Command Paper containing

the Mandate for Palestine and the
Transjordan memorandum
39
For example, Japan built military facilities on its
mandate, the South Sea Islands. This paved the way for
its invasion of the Southeast Asian countries.
The Headquarters of the South Pacific Mandate
40
Cannon in Saipan
Japanese command
post in Saipan
The League of Nations GCSE History Revision
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5mkjDawFBI
In October 1925,
Britain, France, Italy,
Belgium, and Germany
held a conference in
Locarno, Switzerland.
Poland and
Czechoslovakia were
invited to join them.
The Locarno Pact was
signed as a result.
According to the Pact: Locarno International Conference
41
Main Content of the Locarno Pact:
Ø The boundaries of Belgium, France and Germany should
remain unchanged (including the demilitarised zone of the
Rhineland). Britain and Italy, as guarantors, had the
responsibility to protect any one of them when under
attack.
Ø All border conflicts among Germany, Poland and
Czechoslovakia should be settled by the Permanent
Court of International Justice.
Ø All signatories agreed to settle their disputes through

peaceful means instead of wars, except for 'legitimate
self-defence'.
42
In addition, France signed
treaties with Poland and
Czechoslovakia that
promised mutual
assistance in case of
conflicts with Germany.
A cartoon about the

Locarno Pact.
43
The Locarno Pact improved the relationship between the
Anglo-French alliance and Germany. It relieved the
tension accumulated since the Paris Peace Conference
and the French occupation of the Ruhr.
German
delegation to the
League assembly
44
After the meeting, the Allies
agreed to withdraw its troops
in the Rhineland earlier in
1930. Moreover, Germany was
admitted to the League and
became a permanent member
of its Council in 1926. Its
international status was raised.
A Nazi Germany’s poster publicising

the invasion of the USSR
45
In addition, the Locarno Pact ensured the territorial
agreement set in the Paris Peace Conference. Germany’s
policy of compromise also led to a short period of peace in
Europe. In fact, Germany had not violated the Locarno
Pact before Hitler was appointed Chancellor in 1933.
A cartoon
about the
signing of the
Locarno Pact
46
The binding effect of the
Locarno Pact was in
doubt. ‘Legitimate self-
defence’ was easily used
by aggressors as an excuse
to carry out expansion.
The Pact only guaranteed
that the western boundary
of Germany would remain
unchanged.
A cartoon depicting
Hitler’s ambitions
47
There was no effective provision to eliminate the
German desire to reclaim its loss of eastern territories.
After Hitler assumed office, his aggression concentrated
on the east of Germany, including Austria, the
Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia and Poland. It disturbed
peace in Europe.
German troops entering

Prague in 1939
48
In addition, the Locarno Pact was set by the Western
European countries. The USSR was not invited to attend
the meetings. The USSR felt that it was isolated and
became sceptical to the Western European countries.
The Locarno Pact was

framed by the Western
European nations
49
In 1927, Aristide Briand,
the Foreign Minister of
France, and Frank
Kellogg, the US Secretary
of State, proposed to
denounce wars as illegal
acts. This led to the
signing of the Kellogg-
Briand Pact in 1928.
Aristide Briand (left) and Frank
Billings Kellogg (right) at the
French foreign office in Paris.
50
A total of 65
nations signed the
Pact, and they all
agreed to abandon
wars (except
defensive wars) and
settle disputes by
peaceful means.
Signing of the Kellogg-Briand Pact
51
The Kellogg-Briand Pact outlawed war in the form of
international law for the first time. It became the main
legal basis for the trial and punishment of the Class-A
war criminals from Germany and Japan.
War crimes trial

after WWII
52
In addition, the USSR, which
became a communist
country, was invited to sign
the Kellogg-Briand Pact.
This showed that the
Western countries accepted
the USSR into the
participation of collective
security.
Litvinov, a Soviet Ambassador

who supported the USSR’s
participation in collective security
53
Like the Locarno Pact, the Kellogg-Briand Pact was not
effective. It failed to prevent the outbreak of wars. There
were neither binding terms nor concrete punishments for
the aggressors. It did not clearly define ‘self-defence’.
A cartoon about the

Kellogg-Briand
Pact. The Pact was
depicted as a short
person to
emphasised that it
was powerless
when facing the
Mars representing
warfare.
54
Besides, all signatories
selectively followed those
terms that served their
interests. For instance, the US
stated that its power of self-
defence would not be
constrained by the Pact. It
assumed no responsibility to
stop aggression. In the 1930s,
Mussolini and Hitler ignored
the Pact and carried out
invasion with no restraints.
A cartoon about the Kellogg-Briand Pact

showing that a world war broke out ten
years after its signing
55
Initiated by the US, the representatives of the US, Britain,
France, China, Japan, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and
Portugal met in Washington, D.C., the US capital, to
discuss naval disarmament and their interests in the
Pacific and Asia in November 1921. This was known as the
Washington Conference. After discussion, they signed the
following treaties:
Washington
Conference
56
Signatories: US, Britain,
France, Japan
• They agreed to respect
each other’s interests in
the Pacific region.
• They promised to use
peaceful means to solve
any possible conflicts
among them.
A 1921 cartoon, titled “The Pacific

Bubble”, showing the Four-Power
Treaty was as fragile as a bubble.
57
Signatories: US, Britain, Japan, France, Italy
• They agreed to stop building capital ships of 35,000 tons
or above for 10 years.
• They fixed their ratio of capital ships to 5 (US):5
(Britain):3 (Japan):1.75 (France):1.75 (Italy).
• The total tonnage of aircraft carriers was set at: 135,000
tons for the US and Britain each; 81,000 tons for Japan;
60,000 tons for France and Italy each.
British fleet
58
All powers attending the conference
• They promised to maintain an ‘open door’ in China to
promote equal rights among nations.
• Japan had to return its rights in Shandong to China.
Chinese
delegation to the
Washington
Conference
59
The meeting succeeded
in keeping the countries
from the competition of
expanding their naval
powers. It could
maintain the balance of
naval strength among
the main powers.
British aircraft carrier
60
To a certain extent, it stabilised the situation in the world.
In addition, the meeting was able to force Japan to
withdraw its troops from Shandong in China and from
Siberia in the USSR. The situation in Asia was temporarily
relieved.
Japan was forced to

withdraw from
Shandong in China
61
Despite the signing of a number of treaties, the
Washington Conference did not actually solve any
problem. It only fixed the ratio of capital ships and
aircraft carriers of the five major powers. No agreement
was reached in respect of other kinds of warships, such
as light cruisers, destroyers and submarines.
British navy
62
In addition, issues concerning the army and the air force
were not mentioned at the conference. Besides, the treaties
did not state clearly how the violators would be punished.
As a result, the powers did not take the agreements
seriously, and they resumed their naval race shortly after
the conference.
The US continued
to develop new
models of aircraft
63
Moreover, the Nine-Power Treaty lacked binding power. It
could not contain Japan’s ambition. In 1931, Japan staged
the Mukden Incident and invaded Northeast China. In
1937, it launched a full-scale invasion of China.
Japan actively expanded its navy after WWI.
64
Treaty Battleship
The London Naval Conference was attended by the US,
Britain, Japan, Italy and France.
American
delegation en
route to the
London
Naval
Conference
65
The conference mainly discussed the tonnage ratio of
auxiliary ships(輔助艦) among the participants. It
compensated the inadequacy of the Washington
Conference, which only focused on restricting the capital
ships.
A destroyer built by
the US in 1932
66
At last, the US, Britain
and Japan fixed the ratio
of light cruisers and
destroyers of the three
powers at 10:10:7 and
large cruisers at 10:10:6,
but they could have the
same number of
submarines. The building
of capital ships was
suspended until 1936.
A cartoon depicting Japan’s discontent

over the ratio of large cruisers
67
Since France and Italy refused to sign the treaty, only
Britain, the US and Japan made disarmament efforts.
Besides, it was stated that if any country other than the
three powers started to expand its navy, they could also
expand theirs for security reasons.
A cartoon about the

London Naval
Conference. France
was reluctant to
give up the right to
expand its navy for
security concerns.
68
This greatly undermined
disarmament efforts. As
the limitation on
tonnage was only
applicable to current
ships, the US even
exploited this loophole
in the treaty and
launched a new
shipbuilding programme
in 1930.
The US rapidly built

capital ships after 1936.
69
New cruisers were not built within treaty specifications.
This made the treaty exist in name only and intensified
the armaments race.
The US destroyer
70
The Geneva
Conference was the last
international attempt at
disarmament before the
outbreak of WWII. It
was called by the
League of Nations in
1932 and was attended
by 61 nations.
Geneva Conference
71
Unlike the previous conferences, the Geneva Conference
aimed at a general disarmament, including different kinds
of weapons.
A postcard about the Geneva Conference. The dove and the scrapped weapons
on the postcard show that the aim of the conference was disarmament.
72
Although the Geneva Conference proposed around 300
disarmament suggestions, the participating countries had
serious disagreements. France was unwilling to disarm
without any guarantee for its safety.
A cartoon about
disagreement
between France and
Germany in the
Geneva Conference.
73
Germany claimed that since it had complied with the
Treaty of Versailles to disarm itself, it would be fair only if
other powers did the same. Otherwise, Germany should be
allowed to rearm itself.
A 1933 entitled “The

difficulty of shaking
hands with Gods”.
It showed the
disagreement
between Germany,
Italy and Japan and
other participating
countries in the
Geneva Conference.
74
Due to deep distrust among the powers and their
uncooperative attitudes, the conference came to a standstill.
When it was recalled in October 1933, Germany had already
withdrawn from the League. The Geneva Conference ended
in failure without any concrete agreement.
Germany Foreign
Minister Konstantin
von Neurath
justifies Germany's
withdrawal from
the League of
Nations.
75
As Germany started to
rearm itself, other
powers deemed it
necessary to strengthen
their military power.
Therefore, they sought
to expand their
armaments as well as
built up large naval
forces and land forces.
An arsenal in Germany in the 1930s
76
Between 1933 and 1935, France’s expenditure on national
defence increased from US$ 520 million to US$ 870
million. Britain’s expenditure on national defence also
increased from US$330 million to US$650 million.
A cartoon about
the Geneva
Conference
showing that the
conference was
unsuccessful due to
rivalry, envy, hate
and fear
77
By then, all attempts at collective security had completely
failed. Wars became imminent.
A British cartoon
depicting the
failure of
collective security
in the 1930s
78
A cartoon about disarmament conferences.
According to the cartoon,

why did the disarmament
conferences fail?
The cartoonist depicts

the attendees as
crocodiles and tigers to
suggest that the
international leaders are
belligerent.
The crocodile sheds ‘crocodile’s tears’ when it announces the

failure, showing that the international leaders had never wanted
to promote disarmament or peace. The conferences were merely
perfunctory and failures were inescapable.
79
When the League was
established, its major
members included
only Britain, France,
Italy and Japan.
Delegations of countries
attending a meeting of
the League of nations
80
Although the League’s formation was proposed by
President Wilson, the US never joined the organisation
due to the objection from the US Congress under the
isolationist policy after WWI.
Republican senators
opposed the treaty,
specifically the
section regarding the
League of Nations.
81
A cartoon about the
Treaty of Versailles.
1. Why was the woman who

represent ‘Humanity’ accusing
the ‘US Senate”?
The US Senate did not pass
the Treaty of Versailles. The
cartoonist compares this to a
crime against humanity.
2. How would the act of the US

Senate affect the operation
of the League?
Establishment of the League is one of the agreements in the Treaty
of Versailles. The Senate’s refusal to pass the Treaty means that
the US would not join the League, which would suffer from
inadequate representation.
82
Germany, a defeated nation in WWI, was not invited to
join the League until 1926, when its relationship with
Britain and France improved. However, it withdrew
from the League in 1933 when Hitler seized power.
German
Chancellor
speaking at the
League assembly
in 1926
83
The USSR, as a communist country, was discriminated
against and not welcomed until 1934.
Soviet forces invaded Finland, beginning the

Finnish-Soviet War, or Winter War.
84
Japan and Italy also
withdrew from the
League in 1933 and
1937 respectively after
being condemned for
their aggressions.
As Yosuke Matsuoka, Japan’s

delegation in the League of
Nations, announced Japan’s
withdrawal from the League, he
appeared on the cover of TIME.
85
There was not a time
when all the major
powers were in the
League. Some important
countries only joined the
League for a short time.
An American cartoon
satirising the League as a
product of idealism
86
The heavy burden of peacekeeping was shouldered by
Britain and France. This directly reduced the
effectiveness of the League.
A cartoon depicting
the ineffectiveness of
the League of
Nations
87
The fact that all resolutions had to be passed by a
unanimous vote in the Council greatly restricted the
effectiveness of the League.
Opening meeting of
the 65th Council of
in 1931, which
discusses the events
in Manchuria.
88
As the Council consisted of
major powers, it was not
difficult to understand why
the League could not solve
the disputes involving
major powers despite its
successful interventions in
the territorial conflicts
among small nations.
A cartoon reflecting the inability of

the League to deal with
international disputes.
89
The League lacked an armed force of its own. It could only
rely on the stronger member states, such as Britain and
France. If the member states were unwilling to provide the
army, the League could not adopt any military action.
A cartoon depicting the

horror brought by the
invasion of Abyssinia
by Italy. The League
was unable to take any
actions against Italy’s
aggression.
90
Britain and France
were the chief members
of the League. Although
both of them hoped to
maintain world peace,
their views towards the
League diverged.
Britain and France

supporting the dying
League of Nations
91
Initially, Britain wanted
to rely on the US for
maintaining the security
of France and peace in
Europe, but the US did
not join the League at last.
Britain was unwilling to
take the responsibilities
on its own and only
regarded the League as
an international
organisation without a
strong binding effect.
A cartoon depicting Britain
condemning Mussolini along
with France
92
The different views between
Britain and France hindered
the League’s ability to
maintain peace.
For example, the League
drafted the Treaty of
Mutual Assistance in 1923.
It proposed to cut back on
the armaments and adopt
collective military action
against the aggressors.
France agreed with the
treaty. Britain rejected it. As
a result, the treaty could not
come into effect.
Robert Cecil, British diplomat who helped
draft the Treaty of Mutual Assistance
93
In 1929, the Wall Street Crash took place and led to the
Great Depression. The US slid into severe economic
recession. The government concentrated on economic
recovery and thus stuck to its isolationist policy.
A cartoon depicting the US

isolationist policy
94
Besides, as the US demanded loan repayment from its
debtors, the economies of Britain and France suffered a
hard blow. To focus on economic recovery, Britain and
France adopted an appeasement policy towards the
expansion of Germany and Italy in exchange for peace.
Unemployed men
protest outside a
Labour exchange in
London during the
Great Depression.
95
Thus, the League could not stop aggression without the
support of Britain and France, which were its most
important member states. International agreements also
turned out to be mere scraps of paper.
A cartoon depicting
the inability of
Britain and France in
maintaining peace.
96
Collective security was
effective to some extent when
totalitarianism in Italy and
Germany had not yet risen,
and Japan was still ruled by
the party government. Japan
even showed support to the
League during the early years
as it was one of the permanent
members of the Council.
Kenkichi Yoshizawa,
Japan’s delegation in
97
However, with the rise of totalitarianism, Fascist Italy and
Nazi Germany actively carried out foreign expansion. The
Japanese militarists also seized power in their country and
invaded China.
Japanese troops entering Fengtian
98
The aggressions of
Germany, Italy and Japan
ran counter to the concept
of collective security. They
gradually got rid of the
collective security system.
For example, Germany
withdrew from the Geneva
Conference and all three
nations withdrew from the
League one after another.
German withdrawal from
99
As totalitarianism and
militarism promoted the
use of force to solve any
problem, the system of
collective security could
hardly be effective,
especially when Germany,
Italy and Japan were
major powers.
The Abyssinian Crisis was

solved by the Italian
occupation of Abyssinia.
100
1. What incident was referred A cartoon published in 1933.
to in the cartoon?
Japan ignoring the
condemnation by the UN.
2. What is the
cartoonist’view on the
League of Nations?
The cartoonist depicts the
League as a doormat to
show that it is subjected to
abuse without any ability
to defend itself.
3. Why does the cartoonist hold that view?
In 1931, Japan invaded Northeast China. The League condemned Japan as
the aggressor. Not only did Japan ignore the condemnation, but it also
withdrew from the League in 1933. It exposed the inability of the League
and damaged its reputation.
101
As totalitarianism and militarism promoted the use of
force to solve any problem, the system of collective
security could hardly be effective, especially when
Germany, Italy and Japan were major powers.
Neville Chamberlain declares

'peace in our time' after
returning from Munich with his
piece of paper after seeing
Hitler.
102
When Germany, Italy and
Japan were actively
expanding their territories,
Britain, France, the US
and the USSR responded
with passive measures for
the sake of their self-
interests. Their passive
attitudes only encouraged
the Axis aggressions,
which inevitably led to
another world war.
Hitler meeting with Chamberlain
103
Appeasement is a foreign policy in which negotiations
are conducted and concessions are made in order to
stem out the discontent or satisfy the ambitions of an
aggressor. Its aim is to avoid wars.
A cartoon
satirising the
appeasement
policy
104
It was adopted by the British
Prime Minister, Neville
Chamberlain, towards the Axis
Powers (Nazi Germany in
particular) before WWII.
Through sacrificing the
interests of the weaker states,
Britain and France hoped to
keep peace and ensure their
own safety. However, this policy
could not pacify the aggressors.
It only emboldened them.
Chamberlain
105
After WWI, Britain and France were much weakened.
They did not want another world war, especially during
the Great Depression when they faced serious economic
problems. Political instability emerged as the governments
of these countries were unable to solve economic
difficulties.
In the 1930s, members

of the upper class ran
a canteen for
unemployed workers
in London.
106
For example, the French
government had short
terms of office. No single
party could win a majority
of seats in the elections.
Riots occurred frequently.
People in Britain and
France demanded their
governments to focus on
the internal problems, not
the European affairs.
British citizens asked the
government to put more efforts in
livelihood issues.
107
Appeasement policy
• There was strong anti-war public opinion at home.
• 1935 Peace Ballot (organised by League of Nations): voters asked to

vote on various issues concerning peace. Further survey in July 1937
revealed 71% of British people thought that supporting the League of
Nations was best way of keeping peace.
Appeasement policy
• The disastrous effect caused by the First World War alarmed the great
powers.
• Memories of WWI remained powerful – Books like Goodbye to All
That (1929) and 1930’s film All Quiet on the Western Front intensified
widespread rejection of war.
Due to economic hardship, both countries were unable to
increase military expenses. They lacked the power to stop
Hitler’s aggressions. On the other hand, Hitler actively
militarised Germany after he had seized power. The
military strength of Germany greatly surpassed that of
Britain and France in a few years.
108
Together with the rise of the USSR and the adoption
of an isolationist policy by the US, Britain and France
understood that they had limited ability to restrain
the aggressors.
A cartoon depicting
the isolationist
policy of the US
109
They needed time to narrow the military disparity
with Germany. Therefore, they appeased the
aggressors diplomatically and tried to avoid war.
The German
cruiser Admiral
Hipper in
construction
during the early
1930s
110
Moreover, Britain and
France were democratic
countries. They were in
fear of and hostile to
communism. They
regarded communism as a
greater threat than Nazism.
A magazine published
by the Communist
International for
publicity in 1919.
111
Britain and France thought
that they should co-operate
with Germany, which was a
possible barrier against
communism, to contain the
USSR. Through the
appeasement policy, Britain
and France hoped to
encourage Nazi Germany,
an anti-communist country,
to expand eastwards.
A British anti-communist
poster in the 1920s
112
In this way, Germany
might defeat the USSR.
Furthermore, both
sides might even suffer
heavy losses.
An anti-communist poster
depicting that the
Bolsheviks would make
the world soak in blood.
113
Britain wanted to pacify
Germany’s desire for
revenge by giving it some
compensation for the harsh
punishments imposed by
the Treaty of Versailles.
It was sympathetic with
Germany when it called for
acquiring Lebensraum,
national self-determination
and rearmament.
A cartoon depicting that the
victorious countries forced Germany
to accept the Treaty of Versailles
114
Appeasement policy
• The European statesmen especially Chamberlain underestimated
Hitler and regarded that Hitler could be appeased by fulfilling his
desire to regain the lost German territories in the Versailles
Settlement.
• Britain was clearly appeasing Germany from a position of weakness,

rather than strength. Before 1930 Hitler was considered as ‘a ranting
fool’(傻仔) – Observer newspaper
Appeasement policy
• Even after the Night of the Long Knives massacre, The Times and most
other newspapers of the time came to the conclusion that ‘during the
next few years there is more reason to be afraid for Germany than
afraid of Germany’. (與其害怕德國，不如替德國擔心)
When the German troops
marched into the
Rhineland, for example,
Britain did not strongly
object to it. On the other
hand, Britain worried that
France would dominate the
affairs in the European
continent. Therefore,
Britain tended to be lenient
towards Germany.
Chamberlain adopted the appeasement

policy to satisfy Hitler’s ambitions.
115
At the same time, Britain
did not want to sign a
military alliance with
France. France did not take
action either despite its
concern on the German
expansion. Similarly, it also
adopted the appeasement
policy towards Germany.
The Prime Minister of France,

Édouard Daladier, also adopted
the appeasement policy.
116
Nazi Expansion and Appeasement
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo03e_RigCU
Songs of appeasement policy – Ariana Grande
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1Zymw3BpEU
Japanese invasion of China
(1931)
• The League sent the
Lytton Commission to
Northeast China for
investigation. Japan was
denounced as an
aggressor in the report.
Following the Japanese
withdrawal of the League,
Britain and France did
not take further action to
stop its invasion and Lytton Commission arriving at Shanghai
safeguard territorial
integrity of China.
117
Rearmament of Germany (March 1935)
• Britain and France only expressed regrets over Hitler’s
decision to rearm Germany.
• Britain even made an agreement with Germany that
fixed a ratio whereby the total tonnage of the German
navy was to be increased from 6% to 35% of that of the
British navy (Anglo-German Naval Agreement)
Hitler rearmed
Germany soon after
assuming power.
118
• In exchange, Hitler promised that Germany would not
challenge the British naval supremacy.
Joachim von
Ribbentrop after
the Conclusion
of the German-
British Naval
Treaty in London
119
A British cartoon published in
1939. What message does the
cartoon convey?
Britain adopted an appeasement

policy in the 1930s and Hitler
believed that Britain would take
no action to their aggression.
Therefore, he said that the dog
representing Britain “don’t bite”,
encouraging Mussolini to carry
Hitler: “It's all right; you know barking dogs out further expansion.
don't bite.”
Mussolini: “Oh, yes, I know it, and you know
it; but does the dog know it?”
120
Abyssinian Crisis (1935-1936)
• In December 1935, Britain and France planned to ask
Abyssinia to cede two-thirds of its territory to Italy in
order to peacefully resolve the crisis.
Pierre Laval, once the

French Prime Minister,
signing the so-called
Hoare-Laval Treaty,
which outlined the
terms by which
Abyssinia was to cede a
large portion of its
territory to Fascist Italy.
121
• The plan failed when Italy annexed Abyssinia in May
1936. Although Britain and France tried to appease Italy,
they failed to stop it from allying with Germany.
Abyssinians
paying tribute
to the portrait
of Mussolini
after their
country had
been annexed
122
A British cartoon published in 1935. The Santa
Claus represented Britain and France and the man
who was kidnapped was the Emperor of Abyssinia.
What message
does the cartoon
convey?
Britain and France

planned to sacrifice
Abyssinia in order
to please Italy.
123
Re-militarisation of the
Rhineland (1936)
• Britain sympathised
with Germany and held
that it was reasonable
for a country to station
troops within its
boundary under the
principle of national
self-determination.
German troops were

fervently welcomed by the
citizens in Rhineland.
124
• Why did the remilitarization of the Rhineland violate the Treaty of
Versailles and the Locarno Treaties?
• Poll: If you were a British leader, how would you react to the
remilitarization of Rhineland? Explain your reason.
• A. Criticized Germany
• B. Declared war on Germany
• C. Other options
• Since the Rhineland was adjacent to the border of
Germany and France, France was deeply concerned
by the matter. However, it took no action against it.
Nationalism proved to
be the driving force of
the success in the Nazi’s
expansion.
125
A 1936 cartoon entitled “Stepping Stones to Glory”.
1.Name the man walking

on the backs of the
leaders of democracy in
the cartoon.
Hitler
2.How did the leaders of

democracy in Europe
respond to the action of
this man, as reflected in
cartoon?
They fell prostrate and took no respond to Hitler’s action in cartoon. The
cartoonist satirised them as spineless for becoming Hitler’s stepping stone to
further expansion.
126
Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
• During the Spanish Civil War, Germany and Italy
supported General Francisco Franco, whereas the
USSR supported the ruling leftist government.
The leftists
received support
from the USSR
during the Spanish
Civil War
127
• To avoid turning the
Spanish Civil War into
another world war, Britain
and France followed the
principle of non-
intervention. In order to
contain the USSR, Britain
turned a blind eye to the
intervention of Germany
and Italy.
The Prime Minister of France,

Léon Blum, decided not to intervene
in the Spanish Civil War.
128
Anschluss (March 1938)
• When Hitler announced
the Anschluss, Britain did
not oppose to it. It even
regarded the ban on the
union of Germany and
Austria as a mistake, for
there had always been
close political, economic
and cultural ties between
the two countries before
the 19th century.
Therefore, Britain and
France decided not to
Austrians were enthusiastic
intervene in the Anschluss. about the news of Anschluss.
129
German occupation of the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia
(September 1938)
• The Sudetenland was a German-speaking region
mainly inhabited by Germans.
Wilhelm Frick, the

Minister of Interior
of Nazi Germany.
meeting Sudeten
Germans,
Sudetenland,
Czechoslovakia.
130
• When Hitler demanded to annex it, Britain and France
immediately arranged the Munich Agreement. They
forced Czechoslovakia to cede the Sudetenland to Germany.
• In return, Hitler promised to stop its invasion. Britain and
France hoped to bring peace to Europe by sacrificing the
interests of small nations.
Munich
Conference
131
The Munich Agreement | History Lessons
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKA-lhWFbsE
Facing the expansion of Germany, Italy and Japan and
the growing possibility of a war, Britain and France used
appeasement to satisfy the aggressors. This only
encouraged further ambitions.
A British
cartoon
showing
Chamberlain
ended the
conference with
‘concessions’;
‘reason’ and
‘peace’ suffered
a hard blow.
133
Hitler broke his promise by invading the rest of
Czechoslovakia and Poland in March and September in
1939 respectively.
Hitler visited
Brno in
Czechoslovakia
after invading
the country.
134
The situation in Europe became out of control. Britain
and France finally gave up the appeasement policy and
declared war on Germany. WWII broke out.
A cartoon
depicting the
untamable
ambitions of
Germany
135
A cartoon, published in 1938, about
1.Name the man in the cartoon. the Munich Conference.
The British Prime
Minister, Chamberlain.
2.Identify the hope of Chamberlain
before the Munich Conference, as
reflected in the cartoon.
Chamberlain was depicted as an
angel, holding an olive branch.
This showed that he tried to
bring peace to Europe through
the Munich Conference.
3.Was the conference successful in
bringing peace to Europe?
The Munich Conference only
encouraged the ambitions of
Germany and it could not bring
peace to Europe.
136
After WWI, the US
public did not want the
country to be involved in
the European conflicts
again. Therefore, the US
adopted an isolationist
policy and avoided
involvement in European
affairs.
War-weariness emerged
among the Americans after
WWI, as shown in this
music score titled ‘I don’t
raise my boy to be a soldier’
137
US isolationist
policy
It did not join the League of Nations, even though the
formation of which was suggested by President Wilson.
In the 1920s, the US participated in the international
affairs only when its interests were threatened.
A 1919 cartoon
showing the US
reluctance to join the
League of Nations.
138
For example, it called the Washington Conference and
made a number of agreements in order to limit
Japanese expansion in the Pacific region.
A Japanese destroyer built in the 1920s
139
It devised the Dawes
Plan for Germany so
that Germany could pay
reparations to Britain
and France. Hence, the
US could collect back the
war debts from Britain
and France.
Charles G. Dawes proposed

the Dawes Plan
140
In the 1930 s, the US became preoccupied with its internal
issues caused by the Great Depression. It therefore
continued to adopt a conservative attitude towards its
foreign policy.
The photo shows a

seminar held by America
First, an organisation
supporting the adoption
of isolationist policy.
141
In 1935, when Italy
invaded Abyssinia,
the US did not
impose an economic
sanction on Italy.
A cartoon depicting the US

being safe from European
turmoil under the
isolationist policy
142
At the same time, the
Congress passed a series
of Neutrality Acts which
prohibited the sale of
arms and provision of aid
to any country at
international war. Besides,
there were strong anti-
war feelings in the US.
A cartoon hinting that the

Neutrality Act would stop the US
from helping the invaded countries.
143
People demanded the
government to focus on
internal issues rather
than international
disputes. Therefore, the
US only condemned the
aggressions of Germany,
Italy and Japan but did
not adopt effective
measures to stop their
continual expansion.
Protest in the US supporting
the isolationist policy
144
• The USSR intended to co-
operate with Britain and
France to restrain Germany.
In 1935, the USSR and
France signed the Franco-
Soviet Pact of Mutual
Assistance(蘇法互助條約).
When one side was invaded
by a European country,
another side should offer
immediate assistance.
A cartoon about the signing
of the Franco-Soviet Pact of
Mutual Assistance
145
However, France did not have sincerity in fulfilling
the obligations. After the Anschluss, the USSR was
worried that the next target of Hitler would be
Czechoslovakia.
The USSR worried

that it would be the
next target of Germany.
146
This would pose a
threat to the safety of
the USSR. Therefore,
it proposed to hold a
conference to discuss
the potential crisis in
the Sudetenland.
However, Britain
rejected its suggestion.
A cartoon depicting the

attitude of Britain and France
towards the USSR (CCCP).
147
Britain and France were unwilling to ally with the USSR
due to their fear of communism. Besides, the USSR
suspected that Britain and France appeased Hitler to plot
against it. In 1938, Britain and France held the Munich
Conference. However, the USSR was not invited.
A French anti-
communist poster
in the 1930s
148
A Soviet cartoon. The men sitting
on the horse represent the western
powers.
1.Who is the man in disguise of the

horse?
Hitler.
2.Identify the message conveyed by the
cartoon.
The cartoonist suggests that the
western powers collaborated with
Hitler.
In the cartoon, the men representing the western powers are waving their
weapons, sitting on Hitler who disguises himself as a horse. The cartoonist
further suggests that the western powers use Nazi Germany to their full
advantage for expansion.
149
Moreover, Britain and France were willing to sacrifice
Czechoslovakia to appease Hitler. The USSR felt more
certain about its suspicion. From April to August in 1939,
Britain and France negotiated with the USSR in Moscow.
However, it was fruitless.
The USSR was not

invited to the Munich
Conference eventually.
150
The Soviet leader Stalin believed that when a war broke
out, the Western countries would not support the USSR.
To ensure its own safety, the USSR signed the Nazi-Soviet
Non- Aggression Pact with Germany in August 1939.
The Nazi-
Soviet Non-
Aggression
Pact
151
The USSR and Germany
promised each other that
they would not attack one
another. The pact included a
secret protocol, under which
Poland would be divided
between the two countries.
A British cartoon satirising the

alliance formed by Stalin and Hitler,
which would bring bloody invasion.
152
Under this treaty, Germany could eliminate potential
threats from Eastern Europe and Hitler could focus on
the warfare in Western Europe. Within a month after the
signing of the pact, Germany invaded Poland, which
became the catalyst of WWII.
German troops
entering
Warsaw,
Poland.
153
WWII was fought between two opposing camps: the Axis
Powers and the Allies. Germany, Italy and Japan were
the major Axis Powers, with Bulgaria, Romania, Finland
and Hungary fighting on their side.
Japan, Italy and Germany signing the Tripartite Pact in September 1940
1
The Allies included 26 nations, such as the US, Britain,
France, the USSR and China.
A map of the World showing the participants in WWII.

Those fighting on the Allies side are depicted in green.
2
In September, Germany
invaded Poland. It
captured Warsaw, the
capital, in 18 days.
However, there were no
major battles between
Germany and the Allies
before May 1940.
This period was called
the 'Phoney War'. The German troops crossing
the German- Polish border
3
Between April and May, Germany occupied Denmark,
Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. It
began to invade France.
German troops entering

Oslo, May 1940.
4
• How to attack France?
• https://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=6BJCHZEE
9ak&list=PLpV7Jftr9hn
_uzAUi0TRcJ3-
PXW0TH4PQ&index=2
• (23:35)
France surrendered
At the end of May, the Allied forces evacuated from the
European continent.
British troops evacuating Dunkirk's beaches
5
Winston Churchill - We Shall Fight them on the
beaches
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IHadByMvXk
In mid-June, Italy joined WWII.
Paris was captured by Germany,
and France surrendered. The
puppet Vichy regime (維希法
國)was established.
Nazi flags
hanging over a
street in Paris
6
Between July and
December,
Germany bombed
Britain day and
night, but failed to
make it surrender.
During the German

bombing of London,
citizens had to live in
railway stations.
7
How was the Battle of Britain Won? | Animated
History
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JB3bgzLCA0
In September, Germany, Italy and Japan signed the
Tripartite Pact (德意日三國同盟條約). The Axis
powers were formed.
Leaders of the Axis powers met before the signing of the Tripartite Pact.
8
In March, the US started supplying armaments to the Allied
Powers. (民主國家的兵工廠Arsenal of Democracy)
Aircraft factory of
the US during WWII
9
In June, Germany suddenly attacked the USSR to seize its oil
resources. Within three months, the USSR lost most of its strategic
grounds and suffered huge casualties.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RePOWFtsInw
Scotched earth policy(焦土)/ delayed the time of battle
A German soldier
walking to a
burning tank
during the
surprise attack on
the USSR.
10
In August, the US issued the Atlantic Charter(大西洋憲
章) to show its support of Britain.
The Atlantic
Charter
11
In December, Germany and Italy
declared war on the US.
Newspaper article about the German and

Italian declaration of war on the US
12
US started supplying
Formation of the
armaments to the Allied
Axis powers
Powers.
Germany invaded Italy joined WII. Germany suddenly

Poland. WWII Paris surrendered. attacked the USSR
began. Germany and
Italy declared
war on the US.
1939 1940 1941 1942
Germany
occupied Germany bombed Britain The US issued the
Denmark, Norway, day and night. Atlantic Charter.
the Netherlands,
Belgium and
Luxembourg. The Allied forces
evacuated from the
European continent.
13
On 7 July, Japan launched the Lugouqiao Incident. The
eight-year War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression
抗日戰爭 (1937-1945) began.(2nd Sino-Japanese War)
The Lugouqiao
Incident marked
the beginning of
the Sino-Japanese
War.
14
In November, Japan captured Shanghai.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QUFcgXFqCg
The Japanese troops held a military parade after occupying Shanghai.
15
In December, The Japanese troops occupied Nanjing
and killed 300,000 Chinese people.
Japanese troops
entering Nanjing
16
On 7 December, Japan suddenly attacked the US naval
base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The US declared war on
Japan. The Pacific War began.
Explosion at
Pearl Harbor
17
• ABCD encirclement (ABCD包圍網)
• A: America
• B: Britain
C: China
• D: Dutch (the Netherlands荷蘭)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnWXSIy412I
Students can visit the following web site to
watch a video about the Pearl Harbor
Incident in 1941.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwfjLAqKltg
18
On 25 December, Japan occupied Hong Kong.
Japanese
troops
entering
Hong Kong
19
• 2nd Sino-Japanese War (1937-45) (China VS Japan)
• Pacific War (太平洋戰爭) 1941-45 (USA, Britain, France, the
Netherlands , China VS Japan)
In January, Japan
captured Malaya.
Japanese troops in
Kuala Lumpur
20
In February, Japan invaded Singapore.
Victorious Japanese troops

marching through Fullerton Square
21
In March, Japan invaded Indonesia.
Japanese troops
entering
Surabaya, the
capital of East
Java
22
In May, Japan invaded the Philippines and Burma.(緬甸)
Japanese soldiers
captured by
American and
Filipino soldiers
23
Japan captured Japan Japan invaded Malaya,
Japan launched occupied Singapore, Indonesia, the
Shanghai. Japan suddenly
the Lugouqiao Hong Kong. Philippines and Burma.
Incident. attacked Pearl
Japan occupied Harbor.
Nanjing.
24
In Winter, the USSR won the Battle of
Stalingrad(史太林格勒戰役) and began to fight
back.
The USSR had an

overwhelming victory in
Stalingrad. The Axis
Powers suffered a series of
defeats since then.
25
In July, King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy dismissed
Mussolini as Prime Minister.
King Victor
Emmanuel
III and
Mussolini
26
In September 1943, the Allies marched into Italy. Italy
surrendered.
Italian soldiers
waving white
flag of surrender
27
On 6 June, the Allies launched the successful Normandy
landings in France. It was known as the 'D Day'.
US Army troops
wade ashore on
Omaha Beach on
the morning of 6
June 1944
28
Where would you do your landing?
12:00~
17:28~
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0UqHpO0D_0
In August, the Allies
liberated Paris.
French troops and vehicles

parading down the Avenue des
Champs-Élysées, Paris, France.
29
In May, the US defeated Japan in the Battle of the
Coral Sea and shattered Japan's plan of invading
Australia.
A Japanese cruiser sunk by the US

in the Battle of the Coral Sea
34
In December, the Soviet troops advanced into Eastern
Europe and expelled the German troops from Poland,
Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Yugoslavia.
Soviet troops in the USSR and Poland
30
On 30 April, Hitler
committed suicide
before the Allies
captured Berlin.
Newspaper article about

Hitler’s suicide
31
In May, the Allies occupied Berlin; Germany
surrendered. The Allies announced 8 May to be
'Victory in Europe Day' (V-E Day).
Chief of the German

General Staff, signs
the unconditional
surrender document
at Rheims
32
The US Mussolini as Prime
The USSR won the The Allies Hitler
joined the Minister was
Battle of Stalingrad. liberated committed
Allies. dismissed.
Paris. suicide.
The surrender
of Italy
The Allies
landed in
Normandy.
the Soviet troops The surrender

advanced into of Germany
Eastern Europe.
33
In June, the US defeated Japan in the Battle of
Midway(中途島戰役). It became the turning point of
the Pacific War.
A Japanese
cruiser sunk by
the US in the
Battle of
Midway
35
In November, the US troops landed
on the Gilbert Islands.
36
In February, the US troops defeated the Japanese
again on Iwo Jima(硫磺島).
The US troops
landing Iwo Jima
37
In April, the US troops landed on Okinawa(沖繩).
The US troops in Okinawa
38
Typhoon of Steel (鉄の雨)
On 6 and 9 August, the US dropped atomic bombs on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan.
The photo shows

a building that
survived the
destructive
atomic bombing
in Hiroshima on
6 August.
39
watch a video about the Atomic Bomb.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-uMdJf-bXk
40
小心: 內含洋蔥 (Beware of weeping)
(30:00~)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKhzutOYRY0&t=2171s&ab_chan
nel=%E9%98%BF%E7%95%A2%E9%98%BF
On 15 August, Japan declared unconditional surrender.
WWII ended.
Prisoner of wars at Guam

after hearing their
Emperor announce Japan’s
surrender.
41
Americans landed on
The US defeated the Gilbert Islands.
Japan in the Battle The US dropped
American troops
of the Coral Sea. atomic bombs
defeated the
The US defeated on Hiroshima
Japanese again
Japan in the Battle of and Nagasaki.
in Iwo Jima.
Midway.
The US troops On 15 August, Japan

landed on Okinawa. declared
unconditional
surrender. WWII
ended.
42
The Day Japan Surrendered, Ending WWII | NBC
News
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX8hyM1a-sg
Why could the Allied Powers win?
• 1. The Aid from the US (Lend-Lease Program租借法案 to China, the
USSR, the UK
• 2. Cooperation of the Allies in wartime conferences(Moscow
Conference, Tehran Conference, Cairo Conference, Yalta Conference,
Potsdam Conference)
• 3. Effective naval blockade and air bombardment
4. Liberal political system
• 5. Moral superiority
Settlements on post-war
international order (Theme B,
pp.122-128)
International order refers to the common conditions
involving two or more countries.
Before the outbreak of WWI in 1914, examples of
international order included colonisation, European
rivalries for supremacy and establishment of collective
security.
The rise of the US

and the USSR
altered the post-war
international order.
1
During WWII, the Allies
held a number of
conferences to discuss
wartime strategies and
post-war settlements.
For instance, they would
maintain world peace by
weakening aggressors,
such as Italy, Germany
and Japan, and
improving on collective
security measures. The Big Three, Roosevelt,
Churchill and Stalin, dominated
the wartime conferences.
2
Post-Second World War
settlements and their impact
Ⅰ. Wartime diplomacy, 1943–45
• The major Allied powers held several meetings from
1943 to 1945
• To sort out post-war arrangements and to re-establish
international order
• These decisions later became important guidelines for
post-war settlements
September 1939 Wartime conferences August 1945

• The Moscow Conference
Outbreak of the Second The end of the
• The Cairo Conference Second World
World War
• The Teheran Conference War
• The Yalta Conference
• The Potsdam Conference
707
Post-Second World War
settlements and their impact
Ⅰ. Wartime diplomacy, 1943–45
The Potsdam Conference The Moscow Conference

July 1945, Germany October 1943, the Soviet Union
The Yalta Conference The Teheran

Conference
February 1945, the
Soviet Union November 1943, Iran
The Cairo Conference

November 1943, Egypt
Time and place of wartime conferences 708

They planned the post-
war international order
and made many
important decisions
(especially at the Yalta
and Potsdam Conferences)
that were later included in
the peace treaties with the
defeated nations. Before
the War ended, the peace
treaties of WWII had
already been prepared.
A cartoon describing how the Big Three

tried to restore world peace and order.
3
This differed from the peace settlements in WWI, which
were formulated after the War. Held in 1946, the Paris
Peace Conference was only a conference that announced
the peace treaties.
Paris Peace
Conference in 1946
4
However, the wartime conferences started to reveal
disagreements and distrust among the Allies. For
example, the Western powers could not agree with the
USSR on the spread of communism(共產主義) in Eastern
Europe and the postwar settlements of Germany. This
impacted hugely on the international order in the future.
A cartoon depicting
the expansion of the
USSR’s influence to
places such as China
5
Time: August 1941
Place: A battleship on the Atlantic Ocean
Participants: Franklin Roosevelt (President of the US),
Winston Churchill (Prime Minister of Britain)
Roosevelt and
Churchill boarding the
battleship
6
Decision on post-war settlements
Roosevelt and Churchill signed the Atlantic Charter (大西洋憲
章) and suggested the establishment of another international
peacekeeping organisation to replace the League of Nations.
Roosevelt and Churchill drafted the Atlantic Charter.
7
Impact on post-war international order
It paved the way for the

founding of the United Nations.
It stressed the ‘Fourteen Points’
proposed by President Wilson.
It strengthened the Anglo-
American relations and
prompted the US to enter
WWII. The US gave up
isolationism and actively
participated in world affairs.
The Atlantic Charter
8
Time: October-November 1943
Place: Moscow, the USSR
Participants: Foreign Ministers of the US, Britain and the
USSR (later joined by China)
Moscow Conference,
(from right to left):
Molotov, Stalin,
Harriman (US
Ambassador to the
USSR) and Churchill.
9
The Declaration on General Security (共同安全宣言)
was passed. A general international peacekeeping
organisation should be established as early as possible.
Germany had to surrender all the territories it had
occupied since 1938.
Foreign Ministers of
different countries at
a conference
10
The independence of
Austria would be
restored and it would
not be treated as a
defeated nation.
China was recognised
as one of the Big Four.
British soldiers at a
celebration to mark the first
anniversary of the liberation
of Vienna.
11
It paved the way for
establishing the United
Nations.
It preliminarily set up the
plan settling the German
territories after WWII.
China won a major
diplomatic victory. Its
international status was
raised and became one of
the big powers. The Declaration of the Four Nations,
signed in the Moscow Conference by
delegates of the US, Britain, the
USSR and China
12
Time: November 1943
Place: Cairo, Egypt
Participants: Roosevelt, Churchill and Jiang Jieshi
(Chairman of the Nationalist Government of China)
Cairo Conference
13
Japan had to give up the
Pacific islands and other
territories it had occupied
since 1914.
Japan had to return the
Chinese territories it had
seized since 1894.
Korea would become
independent.
Taiwan’s Retrocession Day after the

end of Japanese rule
14
It preliminarily drafted
the territorial
arrangements in Asia
and the Pacific region. It
ensured that Korea
would become
independent after WWII.
Jiang Jieshi was invited
to attend the conference.
The international status
of China was raised once A news article about the Cairo Conference
again.
15
• http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/trad/china/2015/08/150815_china_
movie_cairo_declaration
• 中國軍方屬下的八一電影製片廠拍攝的二戰大片《開羅宣言》日前
發表了該片的最新海報，前中共領導人毛澤東也以主要人物出現，
立即引起了中國不少網友的批評。
• 有關電影海報共有4款，除了其中一張是中國著名演員唐國強飾演
的毛澤東之外，另外3張還有前美國總統羅斯福、前英國首相丘吉
爾和前蘇聯領導人斯大林的形像。羅斯福、丘吉爾和斯大林三個人
物海報的肖像之下都是「開羅會議」的畫面，而毛澤東則是指點江
山的手勢，配合著硝煙與炮火。此外，四款海報上都寫有：「紀念
中國人民抗日戰爭世界人民反法西斯戰爭勝利70週年」的字樣。
• 《開羅宣言》是二戰期間的一個重要歷史事件。1943年11月22日
至26日，美國總統羅斯福、英國首相丘吉爾以及時任中國國民黨
總裁、中華民國國民政府主席、國民政府軍事委員會委員長蔣介
石一同在開羅舉行會議，至於斯大林則由於蔣介石在場而沒有出
席會議。會議結束後，美國發表宣言，表示中英美三國堅持對日
作戰直到日本無條件投降，並要求日本歸還自第一次世界大戰以
來在太平洋地區侵佔的一切島嶼，並特別要求日本把在中國佔領
的所有領土，包括滿洲、台灣及澎湖群島歸還給中華民國。這就
是著名的《開羅宣言》，而且《開羅宣言》也為戰後如何處理日
本定下了基本原則。
• 網民評論
• 為此，在八一廠的《開羅宣言》海報推出後，馬上就引起許多中
國網友的熱議。其中不少人指齣電影海報所暗示的內容與當年歷
史完全不相符，質疑有關影片篡改歷史。
• 其中一位網友表示，「能拍出抗日神劇的導演已經夠國人噁心了。
我真的不懂開羅宣言與毛有半毛關係。我們雖然歷史觀差，你也
不用這樣忽悠誤導我們吧。」
Time: November-December 1943
Place: Teheran, Iran
Participants: Roosevelt, Churchill and Joseph Stalin (the
Soviet leader) (known as the Big Three)
From left: Stalin,

Roosevelt and
Churchill
16
To improve the Soviet-Western relations, Eastern Poland
and East Prussia would be given to the USSR.
It suggested establishing an international peacekeeping
organisation.
The Tehran
Conference was held
in the Soviet Union's
embassy in Tehran.
17
It preliminarily set the
post-war territorial
arrangements in Europe.
The relations between the
USSR and the Western
countries improved greatly.
At the same time, it paved
the way for the expansion
of the USSR in Eastern
Europe after WWII.
It formally confirmed the
establishment of the United
Nations.
Germany was excluded from the
discussion between the Big Three.
18
Time: February 1945
Place: Yalta(雅爾達), the USSR
Participants: Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin
Yalta
Conference
19
Germany:
• Germany and its capital, Berlin, would be divided into
four zones and occupied by the US, Britain, France
and the USSR. The Allied Control Council would be
established in Berlin for co-ordination.
French soldiers
during the
occupation of
Germany
20
• It had to compensate the Allies in kind(物資) for the
destruction caused by WWII.
• It had to be disarmed and denazified(去納粹化). All
war criminals had to be prosecuted.
Denazification was
carried out in Germany.
The photo shows an
American soldier
replacing a street sign of
‘Adolf-Hitler-Str.’ with
‘Roosevelt BLVD’.
21
• The eastern part of Poland would be given to the
USSR. Poland would get some territories of Germany
in the north and the west as compensation.
Territorial changes of Poland

after WWII according to the
Yalta Conference
22
Japan had to return the
territories it had seized
from the USSR (south of
Sakhalin and Kurile Islands)
and give up its privileges in
Northeast China and Outer
Mongolia. This was the
rewards for the USSR on
declaring war on Japan
after Germany surrendered.
Japanese emigrants repatriated

from Port Huludao to Japan
23
The liberated nations and the protectorates of the Axis
Powers would receive help in establishing democratic
governments.
A United Nations conference was to be held in San
Francisco two months later.
The United Nations

Conference held in
San Francisco, 1946
24
It further confirmed the

territorial arrangements in
Europe and Asia after
WWII.
The powers set up the
occupation zones in
Germany and Berlin. It
directly led to the long-
term division in East and
West Germany after WWII.
A newspaper reporting
the Yalta Conference
25
The powers permitted the USSR to establish pro-
Soviet(親蘇) regimes in the Eastern European countries.
Consequently, Eastern Europe came under the sphere of
influence of the USSR (Greece was the only non-
communist country). It formed the capitalist bloc and the
communist bloc(陣營) during the Cold War.
The Soviet
troops took
over East
Europe after
liberation, so
Stalin was
against the idea
of introducing
democracy to
that area.
26
The USSR could gain the territories in Asia and expand
into East Asia. By declaring war on Japan, the USSR
marched into Northeast China and supported the China
Communist Party (CCP). The CCP took the chance and
seized power.
The USSR
maintained good
relationship with
the CCP.
27
Time: July-August 1945
Place: Potsdam, Germany
Participants: Harry Truman (President of the US),
Clement Attlee (Prime Minister of Britain) and Stalin
Potsdam
Conference
28
Potsdam Conference (1945)
Potsdam Conference (1945)
The Council of Foreign

Ministers was established
to prepare the peace
settlements and draft the
peace treaties. The Allies
decided to allow the
defeated nations to
participate in the
preparation of the peace
treaties.
Foreign ministers meeting during the
Potsdam Conference.
29
It restated the settlements of Germany outlined at the
Yalta Conference.
Germany’s military industry would be dismantled(拆除)
in order that it might not wage war again, but its light
industry and agriculture would be recovered and rebuilt
for economic recovery.
British and American

personnel dismantled the
experimental nuclear
reactor in Germany.
30
The US, Britain and the USSR could get compensation
from their own occupation zones in Germany.
General Dwight D.
Eisenhower, Supreme
Allied Commander in
the West examined a
suitcase containing
silverware looted by
the Nazis that was
hidden in the Merkers
salt mine.
31
Germany had to cede to Poland a large part of territory
in the east. East Prussia was to be partitioned by Poland
and the USSR.
32
After surrender, Japan were occupied by the Allies until
a democratic government was set up. In addition, it had
to be demilitarized(去軍事化).
An American soldier
dismantling guns in Japan in
1945
33
International order(國際秩序) p.96 ?
• International order is an international-relations term meaning “the
distribution(分布) of power and authority(勢力) among the political
actors on the global stage.
• E.g.? (Which power became stronger or weaker? The change of the

international organization?)
• Study p.96. Discuss with your neighbor whether the Second World
War created a new international order, or just continued the
international order after the First World War.
Each country agreed on the

principle of assisting the
economic recovery of
Germany. Indirectly, this led
to the Marshall Plan
implemented in Western
Europe by the US after
WWII. Hence, it widened
the differences between
Eastern and Western
Europe politically and
economically.
A poster of the Marshall Plan
34
The US, Britain and the
USSR had clear differences
on settling the problem of
East Prussia. The relations
between the USSR and the
Western countries worsened.
A propaganda item during the

Cold War defaming Stalin
35
The Allies decided to allow the defeated nations to
participate in the preparation of the peace treaties in
order to lessen their vengeful(復仇) feelings. This
helped maintain peace for a longer time after WWII.
Japan signed the

Treaty of San
Francisco with the
Southeast Asian
countries.
36
It confirmed that Japan
would be occupied by the
Allies after WWII. After
the end of the occupation,
Japan was still influenced
by the US for a long time.
It became an important
US base for resisting
communism in Asia.
MacArthur, the Supreme

Commander of the Allied Powers
(SCAP), and Emperor Showa
37
World War 2 Allied Conferences: AP European
History
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lByKodp_UKo
At the Potsdam
Conference, Attlee,
Truman and Stalin
decided not to hold the
Big Three conference
anymore. The Council
of Foreign Ministers
was authorized(授權) to
draft the peace treaties.
Conference of the Council of
foreign ministers (Paris, 25
April to 12 July 1946).
38
After nearly a year of negotiations, the Allies first signed
treaties with Italy, Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary and
Romania. Later, settlements were also reached with
Germany, Austria and Japan.
Foreign minister
of Romania
speaking at the
peace conference
in Paris.
39
In July 1946, the Allies
held a peace
conference in Paris.
Italy, Bulgaria, Finland,
Hungary and Romania
were also invited to
attend the conference.
Though they were
allowed to defend
themselves, they did
not have the right to
Romania, one of the defeated countries,
vote. was allowed to send delegates to the
peace conference.
40
In February 1947, they signed a series of peace treaties.
Italy had to cede land to France, Greece and Yugoslavia,
and to give up all its overseas colonies. The defeated
nations had to compensate their neighbouring nations.
Italian delegates
signing the peace
treaties
41
Their armaments had to be strictly limited. War criminals
of the defeated nations had to be tried in military tribunals.
All defeated countries must dismiss all the Fascist
organisations. In the meantime, they had to safeguard the
basic human rights and freedom of its people.
Finland set up
military tribunals.
42
Ending of Mussolini
After signing the treaties with Italy and other defeated
nations, the Council of Foreign Ministers started to
draft the peace treaties for Germany.
The Council of
Foreign
Ministers held
many meetings
on the
arrangements for
Germany. They
reached a
consensus in
London, but
without support
from the USSR.
43
At that time, the world was dividing into the capitalist
bloc and the communist bloc.
The US and the USSR were getting more and more
suspicious of each other, and both of them wanted to
control the whole of Germany.
The USSR
called the first
Germany
People’s
Congress in
East Berlin in
1947 strengthen
its control over
East Germany.
44
Therefore, the Western countries and the USSR did not
sign any peace treaty with Germany. The post-war
settlements of Germany were only based on the decisions
made at the wartime conferences.
In 1990, the four

powers once occupied
Germany renounced
all rights they held in
Germany.
45
Germany and its capital,
Berlin, were divided into
four zones, which were
to be occupied and
administered separately
by the US, Britain,
France and the USSR.
46
Besides, Germany returned all the territories annexed
by Hitler. East Prussia was ceded to the USSR and
Poland. Poland also received Danzig.
Germans living in
Poland were
expulsed following
the cession of
German territories
to Poland.
47
For a period of time, the Germans could not administer
their own country. Instead, the victorious powers would
administer Germany in order to root out Nazism effectively.
A burning
Nazi emblem
48
From 1945-1946, the Allies held a series of military
tribunals in Nuremberg to try major war criminals,
including a number of Nazi leaders and German admirals.
Among them, eleven were sentenced to death. Later,
Germany had to carry out denazification and reform its
education system.
Goring at the
Nuremburg Trial.
Goring was an
important Nazi leader
closely associated
with Hitler.
49
watch a video about the Nuremberg Trials.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toF3ZyBhq0M
50
Nuremberg Principles IV (紐倫堡原則: 第四
條)
• The fact that a person acted pursuant to order of his Government or
of a superior does not relieve him from responsibility under
international law, provided a moral choice was in fact possible to him.
• This principle could be paraphrased as follows: "It is not an

acceptable excuse to say 'I was just following my superior's orders'".
Germany had to disarm. To prevent it from starting a
war, Germany was deprived of its arms industry.
In Aurich,
German prisoners
of war offload
weapons at their
military barracks
during the
disarmament.
51
Germany had to pay reparations. However, it was
payable in kind from industrial products and raw
materials. The US, Britain and the USSR could demand
industrial compensation from their respective occupation
zones.
Entrance of the
British
occupation zone
52
The US, Britain and
France ended their
occupation of Germany
in 1954. In the following
year, the USSR also
announced that it was
no longer in a state of
war with Germany.
In 1954, Britain, the US and

France decided to end the
occupation of West Germany.
The decision was made official
at a conference in Paris.
53
A 1946 cartoon titled “Oh! Those Fellows Again…”
1. What was meant by the

title of this cartoon?
Similar to the situation

after WWI, Germany
was once again treated as
a defeated nation after
WWII and the post-war
settlements were also
mainly decided by the
US, Britain and France.
The Treaty of Versailles in 1919 failed to prevent the outbreak of WWII.

Therefore, the victorious powers feared that the peace conference after
WWII would lead to another world war again.
54
After its unconditional surrender in August 1945, Japan
was occupied by US forces and placed under the
administration of the Supreme Commander of the Allied
Powers, General Douglas MacArthur.
Japanese Foreign
Minister signing the
instrument of
surrender.
55
Due to the tension of the Cold War, the signing of the Treaty of
San Francisco(舊金山和約) with Japan was postponed to 1951
though the USSR still opposed the signing of the treaty.
Signing of
the Treaty of
San
Francisco
56
According to the treaty:
• Japan had to give up Korea and grant Korea
independence. It had to give back Taiwan to China and
return all of its privileges in China and Korea. Japan
had to give Sakhalin and Kurile Islands to the USSR.
Japanese soldier
stationed on the
Soviet-Japanese
border on the
Sakhalin Islands in
the 1940s
57
• Japan had the rights to self-defence and conclusion of
collective security agreements.
• Countries that had been conquered by Japan could
demand reparations.
The US and Japan

signed the Mutual
Security Pact in 1951.
58
During the occupation of the Allies, the International
Military Tribunal for the Far East(遠東國際軍事法庭)
was set up in Tokyo.
It held the Japanese military leaders accountable for the
war guilt. The army, navy and air forces in Japan were
dismissed. Japan was also denied the right to start a war.
Arsenals were demolished.
Tojo Hideki was tried

in the International
Military Tribunal for
the Far East.
59
Old Sugamo
Prison(巢鴨監獄)
• 巣鴨刑務所(古いサイト)
The US also reformed the political and education system
in Japan. The US occupation of Japan ended in 1952.
After that, Japan resumed autonomy(自治).
Okinawa was still

occupied by the US
after 1952. It was
returned to Japan
in 1972.
60
However, the People’s Republic of China did not recognise
the Treaty of San Francisco. China was in a state of war
with Japan until 1972.
The Sino-
Japanese Joint
Declaration in
1972 ended the
state of war
between China
and Japan.
61
Similar to Germany, the territories in Austria and its
capital, Vienna, were divided into four occupation zones.
They were administered by the US, Britain, France and
the USSR respectively. After years of occupation, the
powers settled on the peace treaty with Austria in 1955.
Soviet soldiers
in Vienna
62
They signed the Austrian State Treaty(奧地利國家條約)
with Austria.
Austria could resume its sovereignty(主權) and became a
neutral(中立) state. Its territory could resume back to the
state before the Anschluss. Unification between Germany and
Austria was forbidden. Austria had to pay war reparations to
the USSR and cut back on its armaments.
The signing of the Austrian

State Treaty with Austria
63
To be fair or not to be-Evaluation of the Treaty
of Versailles
Aims of our lessons today
• You can evaluate the fairness of the Treaty of Versailles.
• You can develop a sense of empathy through the mock tribunal.

During World War I
Guerre de 1914: Creil
incendié par les
Allemands
War of 1914: Creil (a

French city) burnt by the
Germans
According to your own
knowledge, how was
Germany treated by the Big
Three finally ?
Can you name some terms
of the Treaty to support
your opinion?
The Palace of Versailles not only
signified the birth of the German
Empire, but also the dissolution of it.
Let’s judge whether the Treaty of Versailles
was fair to Germany.
• Motion: "The Treaty of Versailles was a fair treaty imposed on
Germany.”
Rules
• The whole game consists of five stakeholders, such as judge,
prosecution attorney(控方律師), defense attorney(辯方律師), the
jury(陪審團), Germany, and three witnesses(證人).
• The teacher will act as the judge, while other characters will be acted
by students.
Roles
• Prosecution lawyers: Kelly Chiu, Cherie Leung, Jocelyn Chan
• Defense lawyers: Sandy Li, Ruby Ng, Hebe Chi
• Witness:
Emperor of Austria-Hungary: Mandy Chung
Emperor of Russia: Angel Wang
Premier of France: Jasmine Chu
Germany: Yvonne Cheung
• Jury: Persis Li, Joyce Yiu, Agnes Wan, Eunice Tsang
• Judge: Mr Cheung
Reasons for the fair judgement of Germany
• Germany should bear full responsibility in causing World War I, such

as the start of alliance system and naval race.
• Germany should be punished harshly because she was aggressive in

causing pre-war crises.
• Germany should not be invited to the Paris Peace Conference because

she caused the world war directly by supporting Austria-Hungary in
the Sarajevo Incident.
Guidelines for Jurors:
• I will choose Prosecution/ Defense (choose one) side because…
• 1. Organization & Clarity:

Were the main arguments and responses outlined in a clear and orderly way?
• 2. Use of Argument:
Were there enough reasons given to support the resolution?
• 3. Rebuttal skills:
Could the lawyers defend themselves against attack? Were their arguments
strong enough?
• 4. Presentation Style:
Did they speak loud? Was their expression clear?
Conclusion : What does the cartoon mean?
Conclusion : Words to you
• We are human. We have our own points of view.
• We should not judge an event by just focusing on the

benefits/drawbacks, but think thoroughly. Don’t be influenced by first
impression.
Conclusion
• The Treaty of Versailles paved the way for the German revenge, which
resulted in World War II.
• “This is not peace. It is an armistice for 20 years,” said by the French
General Foch.
The British cartoon was
published in 1935. The man
sitting on the ‘Abyssinian
Pottery’ is Mussolini, and
the man hiding in the ‘North
China’ vase represents Japan.
The 1. What was the cartoonist’s

League view of the League of
Nations’ effectiveness in
peacekeeping? Explain your
answer with reference to
Source A. (3 marks)
1. What was the cartoonist’s view of the League of
Nations’ effectiveness in peacekeeping? Explain
your answer with reference to Source A. (3 marks)
• View:
• The League of Nations was unable to keep peace.
• Clue:
• Italy and Japan violated the rule that said ‘Do not touch’. However,
the man representing the League of Nations was unable to make them
stay away from the exhibits.
2. Is the cartoonist’s view you mentioned in (1) applicable to the international conflicts
between 1930 and 1938? Explain your answer using your own knowledge. (5 marks)
• Applicable:
• China had appealed to the League of Nations about Japanese aggression in
1931. The League of Nations did nothing more than condemning Japan’s
behaviour. Japan then withdrew from the League of Nations in 1933 and
invaded China in 1937.
• In 1935, the League of Nations imposed economic sanctions on Italy after
its invasion in Abyssinia. However, such economic sanction did not prevent
Italy from annexing Abyssinia in 1936.
• The League of Nations was unable to stop Germany from expanding in the
period of 1936 to 1939. Germany rearmed Rhineland, annexed Austria and
occupied Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia. These reflected the ineffectiveness
of the League of Nations in peacekeeping.
Consequences of World War II
• In political aspect,
• Changes of balance of power
• The rise of independence movements in Africa and Asia
• Towards greater international cooperation
• Socio-economic consequence: emergence of problems and changes
in beliefs and daily life
• Changes of balance of power
• Balance of power?
• Balance of power?
• a distribution and opposition of forces among nations such that no
single nation is strong enough to assert its will or dominate all the
others.
• 1. In political aspect, WWII changed the balance of power
• The Second World War also led to the rise of two superpowers,
respectively the United States and Soviet Union.
• After the end of war, the European powers were seriously weakened.
Only Britain could maintain political stability.
• Therefore, political center gradually shifted from Europe to America.
• After the Second World War, communist governments were
established in every European country, like Czechoslovakia, Hungary,
Romania and Poland, as the main anti-Nazi resistance groups during
the war were led by communists.
• Also, the Soviet Union helped to establish communist government in
Eastern Europe after she liberated the Eastern Europe from Nazi
control.
• LThe western capitalist countries led by the USA feared of the
expansion of Soviet power and communism when Soviet Union
turned the Eastern European countries into her satellites.
• Two blocs were formed respectively, namely the capitalistic bloc
headed by the USA and the communist bloc led by the Soviet Union.
• Iron curtain also erected between Eastern Europe and Western
Europe as the Soviet Union stopped all free communication between
the Eastern Europe and Western Europe. International tension
mounted(上升) again.
• The Cold War also started due to the rise of communism and wartime
diplomacy and strategies.
• LIn the Teheran Conference of 1943, Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin

agreed that the Soviet Union would destroy the Nazi forces in Eastern
Europe, thus allowing the Soviet Union to liberate Eastern Europe
from Nazi control.
Afterwards, the Soviet Union
even established communist
governments in those
liberated areas.
• LThe postponement of opening the second war front increased the
mutual suspicion between the western countries and the Soviet
Union.
Western countries
opened the second
war front in 1944.
• The Second World War also quickened the decolonization.
• üThe colonial powers like Britain and France were greatly weakened
during the war and could not maintain their rule over the colonies.
A ruined town in France

(1944)
üThe war also proved that the

White Europeans were not
invincible.
• üIn Asia and Africa, nationalism started to rise as the people helped
Allies in the war against the Axis powers and were impressed by
western ideas of freedom and democracy.
• üThe United States also put pressure on the colonial powers to grant
independence to their colonies. Therefore, more than a hundred
colonies were independent in the 1950s and 1960s.
• In political aspect, WWII led to a greater international cooperation.
Churchill and Roosevelt issued the Atlantic

Charter in 1941 in which they agreed to set up
the United Nations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thle8mzfjd
c
• Economically, the Organization for
European Economic Cooperation was
formed in 1948 and the European
Economic Community in 1957.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A544I0zf2PI
• Women’s liberation movements after the Second World War
• According to the video, how did women’s social status change after
the WW2? Explain the reason.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxDdVoiLHcg
Tuskegee Airmen
Doris "Dorie" Miller
The Story Behind an American Hero, Ship's
Mess Attendant Doris Miller
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaLhoCViEmY&ab_channel=U.S.
Navy
• The idea of racial superiority over
non-whites was gradually weakened.
The Declaration of Human Rights in
1948 stated that all people are born
equal and should have the same rights.
• More and more people supported democracy and freedom due to the
disastrous effects brought by the extreme totalitarianism.
• Air transport, radio, motor cars and all forms of communication
equipment developed rapidly during the Second World War. These
were adapted for common use after the war, making everyday travel
and communications easier and quicker.
• https://www.sohu.com/a/248919950_100085945
• https://blog.findmypast.co.uk/10-everyday-inventions-you-owe-to-
ww2-1434543995.html
Historical significance of the two
World Wars (Theme B, pp.130-
140)
The two World Wars upset the global balance of power.
Europe had long dominated international politics.
A 19th century French

drawing glorifying the
invasion of Algeria as
the introduction of
European civilisation.
1
In the 20th century, however, European supremacy was
first challenged by WWI and utterly destroyed by WWII.
In 1960 seventeen
African colonies gained
their independence. On
September 30, 1960, the
flags of sixteen African
countries were hoisted
outside the United
Nations headquarters
in New York.
2
Scale of the two World Wars
WWI WWII
Duration Four years and three Six years
months
Countries involved 31 60
Major battlefields Europe Europe, Africa, Asia
and the Pacific
Tanks in WWII
3
The US had a substantial influence over the course of
WWI after its entry in 1917. The European countries were
proven to be unable to solve their problems on their own.
In the closing
stages of WWI,
the US deployed
its army to the
Eastern Front
following the
Soviet
withdrawal
from the war.
4
After WWI, four traditional empires, namely Russia,
Austria-Hungary, Germany and the Ottoman Empire,
collapsed.
5
Britain and France were also greatly weakened. Europe
started to decline after WWI.
In post WW1 Britain,

unemployment
reached two million
as men returned from
the military in
search of work. The
photo shows a
workers’
demonstration in
Glasgow.
6
After WWII, the armed forces of the defeated nations
such as Germany and Italy were totally dismantled.
Their economies also collapsed. France and Britain, two
of the victorious nations, were further weakened.
A 1945 cartoon titled

“Good bye to all that?”,
showing Germany’s
unwillingness to be
disarmed at the time.
7
For example, the exports of Britain fell drastically from
£500 million in 1938 to £300 million in 1946. The foreign
debts of France reached US$ 1.35 billion.
London laid in ruins

after heavy German
bombings during the
war. The St Paul
Cathedral shown in
the photo is one of
the few buildings
survived the
bombings.
8
The two countries could
no longer be regarded
as great powers. In
addition, the colonies of
Britain, France and the
Netherlands gained
independence one after
another after WWII.
European supremacy
finally came to an end.
The colonies of Britain, France and the

Netherlands in Asia gained independence
one by one after WWII.
9
Before the two World Wars, China, Japan and
Thailand were the only independent major Asian
nations. The remaining nations in Asia were nearly all
Western colonies.
The photo shows foreign concessions in early 20th-century Shanghai.
10
After WWI, Japan took the opportunity to extend its
sphere of influence(勢力範圍) in China and Southeast
Asia, and replaced the status once enjoyed by European
powers in Asia to a certain extent.
Japan rose as a
world power
after WWI. Its
military officials
took the
opportunity to
strengthen the
military
tradition in the
country.
11
China was another victorious nation in Asia. Although its
opinion were not valued at the Paris Peace Conference,
China recovered its tariff autonomy(關稅自主權) and
took back many concessions(租界) given away during the
Nanjing Government period(1928-37).
The Nanjing
Government
recovered the
British
concession in
Kiukiang in 1927.
12
Although Japan was a defeated nation occupied by the
US after WWII, it became a world power due to the
support from the US.
The US offered help to

Japan, a potential ally
in Asia during the
Cold War, and greatly
boosted its industrial
development.
13
China had all the unequal treaties abolished and became
one of the permanent members (常任理事國) of the
United Nations Security Council (聯合國安全理事會).
With no objection from the US, China became one of the permanent
members of the United Nations Security Council in 1972.
14
In addition, most nations in Asia no longer remained colonies
and became independent.(decolonization非殖民地化 )
India declared
independence
on 15 August
1947.
15
Unaffected by the two World wars, the US and the USSR
grew stronger.
Parisians held a
parade to welcome
Wilson, the US
President who went
to France for the
Paris Peace
Settlement. His
attendance
reflected the
importance of the
US in the post-war
international order.
16
The US
WWI led to a rapid growth of
the US economy. Before
joining the War, the US made
use of its neutrality to trade
with both camps. It also took
over the markets of the
European countries.
Britain
France
A cartoon published in 1922, showing

Germany the US becoming the biggest creditor
country in the world.
17
After the US entered the War, it greatly increased the
strength of the Allies and speedily defeated the Central
Powers. At the Paris Peace Conference, the US
enjoyed equal decision-making power with Britain and
France. It could affect the decisions of the conference.
US President Wilson
was one of the ‘Big
Three’ in the Paris
Peace Conference
after WWI.
18
During WWII, the US economy was boosted
unprecedentedly(前所未有地). Its industry developed
at high speed and its GNP rose to a record high.
A war aircraft
manufacturing
plant in the US
during WWII
19
In 1944, the US troops led
the Allies to land at
Normandy and defeated
Germany. The US even
invented the world’s first
atomic bomb. In August
1945, it dropped atomic
bombs on Hiroshima and
Nagasaki in Japan and
forced Japan to surrender
unconditionally.
Little Boy is the first atomic

bomb used as a weapon in war.
20
Not only did the US exert huge influence in WWII, it
even dominated decisions made at the wartime
conferences, including the punishments on Germany
and post-war settlements. The two World Wars had
consolidated the superpower status of the US.
US President Roosevelt
was also one of the ‘Big
Three’ in the Paris
Peace Conference after
WWII.
21
The rise of the USSR was also closely related to the two
World Wars. During WWI, the. Russian people staged
the October Revolution in November 1917 to overthrow
the government at that time. Later in 1922, they
established the world’s first communist country, the
USSR
Lenin led an armed

rebellion to established
the USSR.
22
During WWII, the USSR
focused on developing
heavy industry to produce
armaments. This
contributed a lot to the
defeat of Germany. At the
wartime conferences, the
USSR also dominated the
decision making together
with the US and Britain.
23
The USSR gained huge rewards after WWII as
compensation for its heavy loss. For example, the USSR
had its own occupation zones in the German territory and
the capital Berlin. The USSR could also claim industrial
compensation from Germany in its occupation zones.
Soviet army
entering Poland
after defeating the
Nazis. The USSR
was awarded the
eastern territories
of Poland after
the war.
24
In addition, the influence of the USSR spread to
Eastern Europe. Moreover, it also had a strong army
and a great potential for economic development. These
factors enabled it to develop into a superpower to
replace Europe as one of the world’s leaders.
A cartoon published in 1945,

showing the US and the USSR
replacing Europe to dominate
world politics in their own
spheres of influence.
25
The two superpowers had
great ideological(意識形態),
political and economic
differences on top of a poor
relationship.
During the last phase of WWI,
the Allies hoped that Russia,
which had withdrawn from
the War, could return to the
Eastern Front and divert
German aggressions on the
Western Front.
The fear of the spread of communism is

reflected in this anti-communist
pamphlet published in the US.
26
Therefore, they supported the fractions (派系) that
opposed communism in the Russian Civil War(俄國內戰).
As a result, the USSR and the Western countries grew
suspicious against each other afterwards.
Russian soldiers of the

anti-Bolshevik army
27
The USSR thought that the appeasement of Britain and
France before WWII aimed at encouraging Hitler’s
aggression in Eastern Europe.
A cartoon satirising
the signing of the
Nazi-Soviet Non-
Aggression Pact
28
Besides, Stalin believed that the Allies deliberately(故意
地) postponed opening a second front against Germany
in order to leave USSR alone on the Eastern Front.
The USSR suffered

heavy casualties
due to the battles
fought on the
Eastern Front
without aid.
29
On the other hand, Western countries, such as Britain
and France, condemned(譴責) the USSR for expanding
its influence over Eastern Europe and establishing pro-
Soviet governments there after the German retreat from
Eastern Europe.
The USSR took over

Eastern Europe by as
its army stayed in the
countries there even
after the war.
30
Hence, the hostility between the capitalist bloc and the
communist bloc was formed. It can be concluded that
WWII sowed the seeds of the Cold War.
The Cold War

lasted for half
a century.
31
The two World Wars gave birth to two peacekeeping
organisations, namely the League of Nations and the
United Nations (UN).
The League
of Nations
32
The League was established
after WWI. The US President
Woodrow Wilson proposed
the establishment of an
organisation for keeping peace
at the Paris Peace Conference.
The world powers witnessed
the huge destruction caused
by the War. Therefore, they
agreed with the suggestions
proposed by President Wilson.
A cartoon about the League of the

Nations. It shows that the League was
thought to be an able peacekeeping body.
33
In 1920, the League of Nations was established. Its
aim was to maintain peace through international co-
operation. As the first international organisation for
maintaining world peace, the establishment of the
League exemplified the principle of collective security.
It marked a new attempt to keep peace.
The 10th annual

session of the
League of Nations
meets in Geneva,
Switzerland.
34
Before WWII ended, Britain and the US had already
suggested the founding of the UN to replace the
League. At the San Francisco Conference (聯合國國
際組織會議)in 1945, the representatives of each
country signed the United Nations Charter(聯合國憲
章). The UN was formally established.
In 1942, 26 Allied
delegates signed the
UN Declaration.
35
In the beginning, the UN had 51 founding
members(創始成員國). Later, most countries in the
world joined it. It became the world’s largest
international organisation. Its aim is to maintain
world peace and mediate(調停) conflicts among the
countries.
The UN sent
peacekeeping forces
to protect civilians
during the Bosnian
War.
36
It also promotes the world’s development in economic,
social, cultural and scientific aspects. The UN continues
to play an important role in maintaining world peace
even up until now.
World Health
Organization
was to promote
worldwide
medical and
health
development.
37
In addition, the severe
destruction brought by
WWII taught the world
powers a lesson. The
victorious nations did not
demand excessive
reparations from the
defeated nations.
A Romanian delegate speaking at

the Paris Peace Conference in 1946.
At that Conference, the defeated
powers could defend themselves.
38
Instead, the Allies
assisted the economic
recoveries of Japan and
Germany in order to
lessen their vengeful
feelings.
Japan’s post-war manufacturing

industry flourished due largely
to the support from the US.
39
This thinking also
restrained the
behaviours of both
camps during the
Cold War, which did
not turn into another
large-scale war.
American women asking

President Kennedy to deal
with the Cuban Missile
Crisis carefully. The crisis
was resolved peacefully due
to the negotiations between
the two superpowers.
40
After WWI, the Germans and the Italians resented the
settlements of the Paris Peace Conference. At that time, the
democratic government could not resolve the resentment
of the public and solve the economic problem.
A protest in
Germany against
the Treaty of
Versailles
41
Gradually, the people
turned to support
totalitarianism. This led
to the rise of Nazism
and Fascism in
Germany and Italy
respectively. Hitler and
Mussolini seized power.
Hitler and
Mussolini
42
They adopted expansionist policy, which led to the
outbreak of WWII. After the two countries were
defeated, the victorious powers requested all Nazi or
Fascist organisations to be dissolved. A democratic
government must be re-established.
Nazi propaganda was destroyed after WWII
43
WWI brought heavy casualties and serious economic
crises to Russia. As a result, the Tsarist regime(沙皇政權)
was overthrown. In November 1917, the communists in
Russia, the Bolsheviks(布爾什維克, 多數派) , succeeded in
seizing power.
The Bolsheviks,
succeeded in seizing
power in 1917.
44
In 1922, they established the USSR and became the first
communist country in the world. Later, the USSR sought
to expand the influence of communism and assist the
communist groups in different places to seize power.
A cartoon
depicting the
ambitions of
the USSR
45
Kennedy (left) and
Khrushchev (right)
After WWII, capitalism continued to develop in

Western Europe and North America. Communism
also became an important force in world’s politics.
46
Between 1946 and 1948, the USSR established communist
regimes in various Eastern European countries. It even
supported the communist movements in Asia and Africa
after decolonisation. For example, the leaders of
Egypt(Nasser) and Indonesia (Sukarno) were influenced
by communist ideas.
The
Communist
Party of
Indonesia
47
The two World
Wars promoted the
development of
nationalism.
Nationalism in Serbia
continued to grow after
the defeat of the Ottoman
Empire, as shown in the
poster titled ‘Heroic
Serbia’.
48
After WWI, the powers
created new nation states,
such as Finland, Estonia,
Latvia, Lithuania, Poland,
Czechoslovakia and
Yugoslavia, under the
principle of national self-
determination. Nationalism
flourished in Central and
Eastern Europe.
Europe after the

49
After WWII, there were rapid developments of
nationalism in Asia and Africa. The War had aroused the
national feelings among many people in the colonies, who
demanded independence after the War.
In 1908 the first Indonesian Nationalist Movement was formed, Budi Utomo.
50
By the 1960s, 18 countries had gained independence in
Asia. By the 1980s, 55 African states had also become
independent. The successful examples of decolonisation
marked the persisting development of nationalism.
Colonies in Asia and Africa that gained independence after the Second World War
51
The two World Wars
caused huge economic loss
to the participating
countries.
The estimated costs of
WWI were US$ 330 billion.
The US government sold war bonds

during WWII to support the military
expenses
52
After the War, Europe was in ruins. Farmlands, factories,
houses and roads were destroyed. Agricultural and
industrial production were almost completely halted.
Hyperinflation appeared in various European countries.
Aerial warfare became the most important pattern of

warfare in WWI. The destruction of war is thus more
severe, as shown in this photo of Ypres in Belgium.
53
After the War, Germany
had to pay heavy indemnity
and rely on the Dawes Plan
from the US to support its
economy. Victorious powers,
such as Britain and France,
also needed to rely on the
US for loans.
Charles G. Dawes proposed

the Dawes Plan
54
In WWII, the estimated costs were US$ 1,000 billion.
When the War came to an end, the situation became even
worse. Cities such as Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Berlin
were levelled. London and Tokyo were severely devastated
after the bombings.
The city of
Hiroshima was
levelled after the
atomic bombing
on 6 August 1945.
55
Many other places in Europe and Asia were in ruins, with
countless houses, factories, farms, railways and bridges
being destroyed.
The allied
bombings of
Berlin in the later
stage of WWII
left the city in
ruins.
56
Brest during the
Battle for Brest
In France, many ports were destroyed, such as Brest(布

雷斯特).
57
Material shortage, inflation and unemployment were
serious in various countries. They had to rely on assistance
of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation
Administration(聯合國善後救濟總署) and the US to
revive their economies.
Aid of the United

Nations Relief and
Rehabilitation
Administration
sent to Europe
58
A German tank
dismantled after WWI
After the end of WWI, suspicion and hatred still existed

among nations. To achieve economic self-sufficiency, all
countries focused on recovering their national
economies. They implemented trade protectionist
policies(貿易保護政策) and imposed high tariffs(關稅)
on imports to protect their domestic industries.
59
For example, the US enacted the Emergency Tariff of
1921(緊急關稅法案). It imposed high import tariffs on
agricultural products. Their negligence(忽視) of co-
operation hindered the development of international trade
and undermined the progress of economic reconstruction.
Germany was
punished severely
after WWI. Its people
lived in poverty as a
result of the heavy
reparation payments.
60
The European countries learned a lesson from WWII.
Besides, in the face of the unprecedented destruction
brought by WWII, they understood that
reconstruction was impossible without co-operation.
Normandy
after WWII
61
After WWII, they began to strengthen cooperation in order
to solve their common economic problems and founded a
series of organisations for economic co-operation.
Organisation
for European
Economic Co-
operation
62
Regional economic co-
operative organisations
started to form across the
world.
As revealed by history,
the success of economic
reconstruction and
development became
more attainable with
international co-operation.
The US introduced the Marshall Plan

to offer economic aid to Europe.
Under the plan, the economy in
Western Europe recovered rapidly.
63
Apart from huge
economic loss, the two
World Wars caused
heavy casualties.
64
It is estimated that 10 million soldiers died in WWI.
The average number of deaths was 6,000 per day.
Around 21 million were wounded.
Wounded British soldiers and German war prisoners on

the way to a dressing station during WWI 65
The casualties of WWII were much greater since the
battles were fought in cities instead of uninhabited areas.
About 60 million people were killed in battles, massacred
or bombed. Such casualties were unprecedented in history.
As cities became
the bombing
targets, the British
government
evacuated
teenagers and
children to
suburban areas
during WWII.
66
In the holocaust(猶太人大屠殺), Nazi Germany killed 6
million Jews. In the Nanjing Massacre, the Japanese
army killed 300,000 Chinese.
Concentration camps at Auschwitz. Jews were sent to

the concentration camps to be executed during WWII. 67
After the two World Wars, many survivors, widows and
family members of the dead suffered from trauma(創傷).
70% of those surviving the Nazi concentration camps
even had to live with post-traumatic stress disorder (創傷
後壓力症候群)for the rest of their lives.
Many veterans are

diagnosed with post-
traumatic stress
disorder many years
after the WWII.
68
The popularity of religion decreased since some
Europeans thought that religions were useless in the face
of the pains brought by wars.
WWII boosted the

development of
humanitarianism.
Many
organisations,
including Oxfam
of Britain, offered
humanitarian aid.
69
In addition, some people could not accept the defeat of
their nations. For example, there was a strong desire for
revenge among most of the Germans after WWI, with
Hitler being an example.
Germans staged
protests after the
signing of the
Versailles Treaty.
70
Before WWI, women in many countries had been
considered the subordinates(附屬品) of men. They were
responsible for domestic duties with a low social status
and no notable rights.
The photo shows British

female domestic helpers
working in Canada in the
early 20th century. Women
at that time had limited
career choices. Most of
them could only become
domestic helpers.
71
• Women’s liberation movements after the Second World War
• According to the video, how did women’s social status change after
WW2? Explain the reason.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxDdVoiLHcg
However, since most of the men were enlisted to fight at
the front during WWI, many governments encouraged
women to take up the jobs previously occupied by men
to maintain a certain level of industrial productivity
(particularly in the military industry).
Women war workers sawing wood specimens

for testing at the New Gun Factory
72
Women started to work in factories, mines and farmlands.
Some worked in military production as well. Many women
even participated in the medical work on the front line. For
example, around 15,000 women followed the US army and
the Red Cross to serve as military nurses for the Allies.
Military
nurses in
WWII
73
Starting from the end of WWI, the efforts and contributions
of women to their countries had been receiving general
recognition. Many European countries granted women the
right to vote. Women gradually became economically
independent and their social status was elevated(提升).
American
suffragettes in
the early 20th
century. In 1920,
the US granted
all adult
females the
right to vote.
74
A 1918 British cartoon, entitled “At Last”
1.Why were the women of Britain given

the right to vote in 1918?
During WWI, women took up jobs
that were previously done by men.
Women’s wartime efforts and
contributions to Britain received
general recognition after WWI.
Therefore, the women of Britain
were given the right to vote.
2.What was the cartoonist’s view on
women’s franchise, as reflected in the
cartoon?
Supportive. The woman in cartoon
was depicted as a winner. In addition,
the title of this cartoon hinted that
the women of Britain finally got the
franchise they deserved.
75
During WWII, women’s
involvement became
more widespread. Apart
from participating in
defence work, they fought
on the war front. For
example, they served as
pilots and shooters.
During and after the War,
more women from other
countries gained the
voting rights.
During WWII, women took up occupations
that had been dominated by men.
76
There were large-scale women’s liberation movements
around the world. For example, the US founded the
National Organization for Women(全國婦女組織) in 1966.
It fought for gender equality on political, economic and
social aspects.
Women
autonomy is the
focus of the
women’s
liberation
movements
after WWII.
77
The European whites had always regarded themselves
superior to Asians and Africans. Their sense of superiority
gradually changed after WWII.
An African-
American man
goes into the
‘colored’
entrance of a
movie theatre in
the US.
78
During WWII, people of different races and colours joined
the Allies to fight against the Axis Powers. For example,
Egypt provided 200,000 labourers for the Allies between
1942 and 1943.
A liberty ship
crew in 1941;
the black man
at the centre is
the captain of
the ship
79
Tuskegee Airmen (塔斯克基飛行員)
Doris "Dorie" Miller
They helped construct airports and railways. Some whites
abandoned their sense of racial superiority after the War.
Members of the US
Navy Construction
Battalion (CB) in
the Netherlands in
1944; during WWII,
more than 12,500
African-Americans
served in the CB.
80
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
was adopted by the General Assembly of the
United Nations in 1948 in Paris.
As noted by the Universal Declaration of Human

Rights(世界人權宣言) adopted in 1948, all people are
born equal and should have the same rights, freedom
and dignity regardless of race and colour.
81
Human rights in two minutes
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew993Wdc0zo
The two World Wars
stimulated technological
development. Technologies
and inventions that were
originally used for military
purposes were used in our
daily lives after the War.
They impacted hugely on
the lives of human being.
Sunglasses were worn by

the US air force in WWII.
83
As a result of WWI, steel had replaced brass(黃銅) to be
the most important industrial raw materials. Vehicles
replaced mules(騾) and horses to become the most
important transportation tool.
US military
truck in WWI
84
During WWII, Germany
sought to develop rockets,
which were very useful
for space exploration
afterwards. This directly
affected the post-war
space exploration plan of
the US and the USSR.
The rocket model developed

by Germany in WWII
85
The US also engaged in the mass production of
penicillin(盤尼西林). Hence, this lifesaving drug was no
longer in shortage. In addition, the computers were
invented out of military needs in the beginning but were
widely used afterwards.
A poster promoting
the use of penicillin
in WWII
86
• Air transport, radio, motor cars and all forms of communication
equipment developed rapidly during the Second World War. These
were adapted for common use after the war, making everyday travel
and communications easier and quicker.
• https://blog.findmypast.co.uk/10-everyday-inventions-you-owe-to-
ww2-1434543995.html
The history of the two World
Wars had become the
inspiration of many writers.
Many literary works were
produced as a result. For
example, the German novel
All Quiet on the Western Front
(西線無戰事) was published in
1929. It depicted the cruelty of
WWI and the horrific
experiences of the German
soldiers.
All Quiet on the Western Front
87
After WWII, the novel The
Longest Day(最長的一日),
which was set against the
Allied invasion of Normandy,
was published. The Diary of
Anne Frank recorded the lives
of a Jewish girl and her
family under the Nazi rule.
The Diary of Anne Frank
88
Besides, films that took historical figures such as Hitler
as its theme were prevalent as well. An example would be
Hitler: The Last Ten Days, which was a British film
released in 1973.
A poster promoting
Hitler: The Last Ten
Days
89

WW2 (New) PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

WW2 (New) PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

World

The victorious powers

Paris Peace Conference

French soldiers in the Rhineland

A French cartoon showing the

A cartoon published after the Paris

The German Fleet

I. The Paris Peace Conference

Different attitudes of the peacemakers

Ⅱ. The peace settlements

Original copy of the

Signing of the Treaty of Trianon

The founding of the Republic of

Trains loaded with

Czechoslovakia declared independence in

Signing of the Treaty of St Germain

Under the Treaty of Trianon, Transylvania of

A cartoon depicting the establishment of

Palace of Nations, the

A poster depicting Germany

Europe after the Paris

The founding ceremony of Yugoslavia

In March 1939, Nazi troops

Study Sources A and B.

Answers should be affirmative, or else it would be difficult to raise

L1 Vague argument with ineffective use of the Source. [max. 1]

L1 Vague answer, ineffective in using both Sources and own

A German cartoon about the

Britain was in economic hardship after

­ Contrarily, when the European powers were in wars,

The news of Japan

­ Although the US attempted to restrain the ambition of

Japan invited foreign

Japan promoted ‘Great Asianism’

Belgium’s Ypres before and after WWI

Mussolini and his

East London was

A French soldier overseeing the

Paper money stacked

1.What is the cartoonist’s attitude

Negative/critical. The French

2.How does the cartoon reflect the

The aggressive behaviour of France incited vengeful feelings among the

A German woman feeding a

2. Identify the economic problems

3. Explain the meaning of

Dissolution of four European

• Also, the war caused inflation and unemployment

New York prospered

The US experienced the ‘Roaring Twenties’.(咆哮的二十年

The market crashed and

The unemployed lining up

The US government put forward

Crowds appeared outside

A young and hopelessly

‘Our Last Hope—Hitler’ 1932. In the

Hitler received by the

Italian soldiers set out

A bank run in Japan in the 1920s

Ikki Kita, a well-known Japanese militarist

A cartoon depicting the burden

The signing ceremony of the Young Plan, another US attempt at helping

Contrarily, when the European powers were in wars,

Although the US attempted to restrain the ambition of

Thereafter, the Reichstag became totally powerless.

All educational curricular and textbooks were

In October 1935, the Italian army invaded Abyssinia.