‭-World‬‭War‬‭one‬‭and‬‭World‬‭War‬‭two-‬

‭1.World‬‭War‬‭One‬‭–‬‭Causes,‬‭Effects‬‭and‬‭Consequences:‬
‭Why‬‭is‬‭it‬‭called‬‭the‬‭‘Great‬‭War?‬
‭ he‬‭First‬‭World‬‭War‬‭is‬‭sometimes‬‭known‬‭as‬‭‘The‬‭Great‬‭War’‬‭as‬‭there‬‭had‬‭been‬‭no‬‭war‬‭like‬
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‭it…‬

‭A‬‭war‬‭motivated‬‭by‬‭19th‬‭century‬‭ideals‬‭fought‬‭using‬‭20th‬‭century‬‭industrial‬‭technology.‬

‭Casualties:‬‭Around‬‭40‬‭million‬

‭Countries‬‭involved:‬‭Germany,‬‭Britain,‬‭France,‬‭Austria-Hungary,‬‭Russia…‬

‭Weapons:‬‭Rifles,‬‭Machine‬‭gun,‬‭Grenades…‬

‭Trenches:‬‭Fire‬‭trench‬

‭2.‬‭Causes‬‭of‬‭WWI:‬
‭The‬‭MAIN‬‭causes‬‭of‬‭the‬‭first‬‭world‬‭war‬‭are:‬
‭M‭i‬litarism:‬‭The‬‭belief‬‭that‬‭a‬‭country‬‭should‬‭maintain‬‭a‬‭story‬‭military‬‭capability‬‭and‬‭be‬
‭prepared‬‭to‬‭use‬‭it‬‭aggressively‬‭to‬‭defend‬‭or‬‭promote‬‭national‬‭intersts.‬

‭A‬‭lliances:‬‭a‬‭union‬‭of‬‭association‬‭formed‬‭for‬‭mutual‬‭especially‬‭between‬‭countries‬‭or‬
‭organozations.‬

‭I‬‭mperialism:‬‭A‬‭system‬‭of‬‭government‬‭in‬‭which‬‭a‬‭central‬‭power‬‭rule‬‭over‬‭smaller‬‭territories/‬
‭colonies.‬

‭N‬‭ationalism:‬‭Identification‬‭with‬‭one’s‬‭own‬‭nation‬‭and‬‭support‬‭for‬‭its‬‭interests,‬‭especially‬‭to‬
‭the‬‭exclusion‬‭or‬‭detriment‬‭of‬‭the‬‭interests‬‭of‬‭other‬‭nations.‬

‭Europe‬‭was‬‭dominated‬‭by‬‭five‬‭Great‬‭Powers:‬

‭Great‬‭Britain‬‭:‬‭(Greatest‬‭of‬‭‘Great‬‭Powers’)‬‭Great‬‭Britain,‬‭with‬‭a‬‭population‬‭of‬‭40.8‬‭million,‬
‭ as‬‭the‬‭largest‬‭of‬‭the‬‭great‬‭powers,‬‭ruling‬‭a‬‭vast‬‭empire‬‭of‬‭56‬‭colonies‬‭stretching‬‭27‬‭million‬
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‭square‬‭kilometers.‬‭Although‬‭its‬‭army‬‭of‬‭700,000‬‭soldiers‬‭was‬‭considered‬‭small‬‭by‬‭European‬
‭standards,‬‭it‬‭possessed‬‭the‬‭largest‬‭navy‬‭in‬‭the‬‭world‬‭with‬‭388‬‭ships.‬‭As‬‭an‬‭industrial‬
‭powerhouse,‬‭it‬‭produced‬‭292‬‭million‬‭tons‬‭of‬‭coal‬‭annually.‬‭However,‬‭Britain‬‭was‬‭concerned‬
‭about‬‭the‬‭growth‬‭of‬‭Germany,‬‭which‬‭was‬‭beginning‬‭to‬‭challenge‬‭its‬‭industrial‬‭and‬‭naval‬
‭superiority.‬
‭France‬‭:‬‭France,‬‭with‬‭a‬‭population‬‭of‬‭39.6‬‭million,‬‭has‬‭29‬‭colonies‬‭covering‬‭11‬‭million‬‭km²,‬
‭mainly‬‭in‬‭Africa‬‭and‬‭Asia.‬‭Its‬‭army‬‭is‬‭formidable,‬‭with‬‭3,700,000‬‭soldiers,‬‭and‬‭its‬‭navy‬
‭consists‬‭of‬‭207‬‭ships.‬‭Industrial‬‭production‬‭is‬‭significant,‬‭with‬‭40‬‭million‬‭tons‬‭of‬‭coal‬‭annually.‬
‭France's‬‭greatest‬‭rival‬‭is‬‭Germany,‬‭especially‬‭due‬‭to‬‭the‬‭humiliating‬‭defeat‬‭in‬‭1870‬‭that‬‭left‬
‭the‬‭French‬‭determined‬‭to‬‭seek‬‭revenge.‬‭Russia‬‭is‬‭its‬‭greatest‬‭ally.‬
‭Germany‬‭:‬‭Germany,‬‭with‬‭a‬‭population‬‭of‬‭65‬‭million,‬‭boasted‬‭a‬‭formidable‬‭military‬‭force,‬
‭comprising‬‭4,200,000‬‭soldiers‬‭and‬‭a‬‭navy‬‭consisting‬‭of‬‭281‬‭ships.‬‭Additionally,‬‭the‬‭nation‬
‭held‬‭sway‬‭over‬‭10‬‭colonies‬‭and‬‭stood‬‭as‬‭an‬‭industrial‬‭powerhouse,‬‭producing‬‭292‬‭million‬
‭tonnes‬‭of‬‭coal‬‭annually.‬‭In‬‭the‬‭geopolitical‬‭arena,‬‭Germany‬‭found‬‭itself‬‭in‬‭rivalry‬‭with‬‭both‬
‭ reat‬‭Britain,‬‭particularly‬‭in‬‭terms‬‭of‬‭naval‬‭power,‬‭and‬‭Russia,‬‭amid‬‭concerns‬‭of‬‭potential‬
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‭westward‬‭expansion.‬
‭Russia‬‭:‬‭Russia‬‭boasted‬‭a‬‭population‬‭of‬‭159‬‭million‬‭people,‬‭commanding‬‭a‬‭formidable‬
‭army‬‭of‬‭1,200,000‬‭soldiers‬‭and‬‭maintaining‬‭a‬‭navy‬‭comprising‬‭166‬‭ships.‬‭Despite‬‭its‬‭vast‬
‭territory,‬‭Russia‬‭lacked‬‭overseas‬‭colonies.‬‭However,‬‭it‬‭possessed‬‭significant‬‭coal‬‭resources,‬
‭with‬‭an‬‭output‬‭of‬‭36.2‬‭million‬‭tons.‬‭Its‬‭geopolitical‬‭landscape‬‭was‬‭defined‬‭by‬‭antagonism‬‭with‬
‭Austria-Hungary‬‭and‬‭Germany,‬‭while‬‭forming‬‭alliances‬‭with‬‭France.‬
‭Austria-Hungary‬‭:‬ ‭Had‬‭a‬‭population‬‭of‬‭50‬‭million‬‭and‬‭no‬‭overseas‬‭colonies,‬‭maintained‬‭a‬
‭formidable‬‭army‬‭of‬‭800,000‬‭soldiers,‬‭although‬‭its‬‭navy,‬‭consisting‬‭of‬‭only‬‭67‬‭ships,‬‭was‬
‭considered‬‭relatively‬‭small.‬‭With‬‭coal‬‭production‬‭of‬‭47‬‭million‬‭tons,‬‭it‬‭reflected‬‭a‬‭limited‬
‭industrial‬‭economy.‬‭Its‬‭main‬‭rivals‬‭were‬‭Russia,‬‭while‬‭its‬‭main‬‭ally‬‭was‬‭Germany.‬

‭ hich‬‭was‬‭the‬‭Greatest‬‭power?‬
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‭Great‬‭Britain‬‭emerges‬‭as‬‭the‬‭greatest‬‭power‬‭among‬‭the‬‭others‬‭countries,‬‭boasting‬‭the‬
‭world's‬‭largest‬‭navy,‬‭extensive‬‭colonial‬‭holdings,‬‭and‬‭significant‬‭industrial‬‭output.‬‭This‬‭naval‬
‭supremacy,‬‭coupled‬‭with‬‭its‬‭expansive‬‭empire‬‭and‬‭robust‬‭industrial‬‭capacity,‬‭grants‬‭Great‬
‭Britain‬‭unparalleled‬‭global‬‭influence.‬‭In‬‭contrast,‬‭Austria-Hungary‬‭appears‬‭to‬‭be‬‭the‬‭weakest‬
‭power‬‭due‬‭to‬‭its‬‭lack‬‭of‬‭significant‬‭overseas‬‭colonies,‬‭relatively‬‭small‬‭navy,‬‭and‬‭limited‬
‭industrial‬‭capacity‬‭compared‬‭to‬‭its‬‭rivals,‬‭coupled‬‭with‬‭a‬‭challenging‬‭geopolitical‬‭position.‬

‭3.‬‭The‬‭Assassination‬‭of‬‭Archduke‬‭Franz‬‭Ferdinand:‬
‭Why‬‭was‬‭there‬‭so‬‭much‬‭tension‬‭in‬‭Europe‬‭by‬‭1914?‬

‭The‬‭Black‬‭Hand:‬
‭ n‬‭22‬‭May‬‭1911,‬‭in‬‭Serbia,‬‭ten‬‭young‬‭men‬‭created‬‭a‬‭secret‬‭society‬‭called‬‭‘Unity‬‭of‬‭Death’.‬
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‭Their‬‭aim‬‭=‬‭Unite‬‭all‬‭Slav‬‭people‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Balkans‬‭into‬‭a‬‭single‬‭country.‬ ‭They‬‭planned‬‭to‬‭use‬
‭Terrorism‬‭and‬‭their‬‭symbol‬‭was‬‭a‬‭black‬‭hand!‬ ‭Before‬‭long‬‭they‬‭had‬‭over‬‭2500‬‭members.‬
‭Their‬‭aim‬‭was‬‭to‬‭encourage‬‭NATIONALISM‬‭in‬‭Bosnia.‬ ‭They‬‭arranged‬‭that‬‭the‬‭guards‬‭on‬
‭that‬‭border‬‭would‬‭be‬‭Black‬‭Hand‬‭members,‬‭this‬‭meant‬‭the‬‭men‬‭could‬‭cross‬‭the‬‭border‬
‭without‬‭fear‬‭of‬‭arrest.‬
‭Once‬‭in‬‭Bosnia‬‭=‬‭carry‬‭out‬‭terrorist‬‭activities‬‭and‬‭slip‬‭back‬‭to‬‭Serbia.‬
‭Austria-Hungary‬‭was‬‭furious‬‭that‬‭Serbia‬‭was‬‭encouraging‬‭nationalism‬‭in‬‭Bosnia.‬
‭In‬‭a‬‭very‬‭tense‬‭situation‬‭the‬‭Austrians‬‭made‬‭a‬‭very‬‭foolish‬‭decision.‬
‭They‬‭announced‬‭in‬‭newspapers‬‭that‬‭the‬‭heir‬‭to‬‭the‬‭Austrian‬‭throne‬‭Archduke‬‭Franz‬
‭Ferdinand,‬‭would‬‭visit‬‭Bosnia‬‭in‬‭June‬‭1914.‬‭After‬‭watching‬‭army‬‭exercises‬‭he‬‭would‬‭go‬‭to‬
‭Bosnia’s‬‭capital,‬‭Sarajevo,‬‭on‬‭the‬‭28‬‭th‬ ‭June.‬
‭They‬‭quickly‬‭made‬‭plans.‬
‭3‬‭students‬‭were‬‭given‬‭bombs‬‭and‬‭trained‬‭to‬‭use‬‭weapons.‬‭Their‬‭leader‬‭was‬‭Gavrilo‬‭Princip‬
‭(19).‬‭4‬‭weeks‬‭before‬‭the‬‭visit‬‭they‬‭slipped‬‭across‬‭the‬‭border‬‭into‬‭Sarajevo.‬

‭The‬‭Archduke’s‬‭Visit:‬
I‭t‬‭was‬‭a‬‭hot‬‭and‬‭sunny‬‭June‬‭day.‬‭Archduke‬‭Franz‬‭Ferdinand‬‭and‬‭wife,‬‭Sofie,‬‭came‬‭off‬‭the‬
‭train‬‭and‬‭climbed‬‭into‬‭an‬‭open‬‭topped‬‭car‬‭headed‬‭for‬‭the‬‭town‬‭hall.‬
‭As‬‭crowds‬‭lined‬‭the‬‭streets‬‭the‬‭car‬‭sped‬‭along‬‭a‬‭riverside‬‭street‬‭called‬‭Appel‬‭Quay.‬ ‭One‬‭of‬
‭the‬‭Black‬‭Hand‬‭members‬‭threw‬‭a‬‭grenade‬‭at‬‭it!‬
‭Ferdinand‬‭saw‬‭it‬‭coming‬‭managed‬‭to‬‭deflect‬‭it‬‭onto‬‭the‬‭road‬‭and‬‭it‬‭exploded‬‭under‬‭the‬‭car‬
‭behind.‬‭Ferdinand’s‬‭chauffeur‬‭sped‬‭away‬‭to‬‭the‬‭town‬‭hall.‬
‭Countdown‬‭to‬‭War:‬
‭ he‬‭assassination‬‭of‬‭Austrian‬‭Archduke‬‭Franz‬‭Ferdinand‬‭(June‬‭28,‬‭1914)‬‭was‬‭the‬‭main‬
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‭catalyst‬‭for‬‭the‬‭start‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Great‬‭War‬‭(World‬‭War‬‭I).‬

‭After‬‭the‬‭assassination,‬‭the‬‭following‬‭series‬‭of‬‭events‬‭took‬‭place:‬

‭‬
● ‭ uly‬‭28‬‭-‬‭Austria‬‭declared‬‭war‬‭on‬‭Serbia.‬
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‭●‬ ‭August‬‭1‬‭–‬‭As‬‭Austria’s‬‭ally,‬‭Germany‬‭declares‬‭war‬‭on‬‭Russia,‬‭an‬‭ally‬‭of‬‭Serbia‬
‭●‬ ‭August‬‭3‬‭–‬‭Germany‬‭declares‬‭war‬‭on‬‭France,‬‭an‬‭ally‬‭of‬‭Russia‬‭and‬‭immediately‬
‭begins‬‭an‬‭invasion‬‭of‬‭neutral‬‭Belgium‬
‭●‬ ‭August‬‭4‬‭–‬‭Great‬‭Britain,‬‭an‬‭ally‬‭of‬‭France,‬‭declares‬‭war‬‭against‬‭Germany.‬

‭4.‬‭Trench‬‭conditions:‬

‭The‬‭Western‬‭Front:‬
‭ etween‬‭1914‬‭-‬‭1918,‬‭most‬‭of‬‭the‬‭fighting‬‭between‬‭the‬‭British‬‭and‬‭French‬‭Allied‬‭Armies,‬‭and‬
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‭the‬‭German‬‭Army‬‭took‬‭place‬‭on‬‭the‬‭‘Western‬‭Front’‬‭in‬‭North‬‭France.‬

‭ he‬‭German‬‭Army‬‭struck‬‭first‬‭by‬‭invading‬‭France‬‭via‬‭Belgium,‬‭with‬‭the‬‭aim‬‭of‬‭taking‬‭Paris‬
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‭as‬‭quickly‬‭as‬‭possible.‬

‭ ritain‬‭declared‬‭war‬‭on‬‭Germany,‬‭and‬‭together‬‭with‬‭the‬‭French‬‭Army‬‭slowed‬‭the‬‭German‬
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‭advance‬‭by‬‭the‬‭River‬‭Marne.‬

‭The‬‭Trench‬‭Network:‬
‭ he‬‭German‬‭Army‬‭were‬‭the‬‭first‬‭to‬‭hold‬‭their‬‭position‬‭and‬‭dig,‬‭in‬‭order‬‭to‬‭defend‬‭the‬‭ground‬
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‭they‬‭had‬‭already‬‭taken.‬
‭The‬‭German‬‭Army‬‭therefore‬‭had‬‭possession‬‭of‬‭the‬‭higher‬‭ground‬‭which‬‭gave‬‭them‬‭a‬‭huge‬
‭advantage.‬
‭This‬‭made‬‭made‬‭the‬‭British‬‭and‬‭French‬‭live‬‭in‬‭worse‬‭conditions.‬

‭Allied‬‭Trenches:‬
‭ he‬‭Allies‬‭were‬‭forced‬‭to‬‭build‬‭trenches‬‭only‬‭a‬‭few‬‭feet‬‭above‬‭sea‬‭level‬‭after‬‭digging,‬‭as‬‭a‬
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‭result‬‭they‬‭found‬‭water‬‭2-3‬‭feet‬‭below‬‭the‬‭surface.‬
‭Waterlogged‬‭trenches‬‭were‬‭a‬‭constant‬‭problem.‬

‭ onditions:‬
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‭Trench‬‭Foot:‬
‭ his‬‭was‬‭an‬‭infection‬‭(not‬‭disease)‬‭of‬‭the‬‭feet‬‭caused‬‭by‬‭cold,‬‭wet‬‭and‬‭unsanitary‬
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‭conditions.‬
‭Men‬‭stood‬‭for‬‭hours‬‭in‬‭waterlogged‬‭trenches‬ ‭without‬‭being‬‭able‬‭to‬‭remove‬‭socks‬‭or‬‭boots.‬
‭The‬‭feet‬‭would‬‭go‬‭numb‬‭and‬‭skin‬‭would‬‭turn‬‭red‬‭or‬‭blue.‬
‭If‬‭untreated‬‭would‬‭turn‬‭gangrenous‬‭and‬‭have‬‭to‬‭be‬‭amputated‬‭.‬
‭Body‬‭Lice:‬
‭ lothes‬‭and‬‭hair‬‭quickly‬‭became‬‭INFECTED‬‭BY‬‭LICE.‬
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‭Soldiers‬‭spent‬‭hours‬‭‘CHATTING’‬‭or‬‭hunting‬‭lice‬‭&‬‭eggs‬‭in‬‭clothes.‬
‭Eggs‬‭were‬‭often‬‭found‬‭along‬‭seams‬‭of‬‭clothing‬‭and‬‭popped‬‭using‬‭a‬‭candle.‬
‭Bites‬‭caused‬‭horrible‬‭itchy‬‭sores,‬‭especially‬‭around‬‭neck,‬‭wrists‬‭&‬‭ankles‬‭&‬‭outbreaks‬‭of‬
‭deadly‬‭disease‬‭TYPHUS‬‭.‬

‭Flies:‬
‭Flies‬‭covered‬‭everything‬‭in‬‭the‬‭summer‬‭months.‬
‭The‬‭smell‬‭of‬‭dead‬‭bodies‬‭and‬‭unhygienic‬‭conditions‬‭attracted‬‭them‬‭in‬‭their‬‭millions!‬

‭Rats:‬
‭ he‬‭trenches‬‭were‬‭infested‬‭with‬‭rats‬‭which‬‭tormented‬‭the‬‭soldiers,‬‭nibbling‬‭on‬‭both‬‭the‬‭living‬
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‭and‬‭the‬‭dead.‬
‭ hey‬‭scavenged‬‭on‬ ‭decomposing‬‭bodies‬‭in‬‭‘no-man’s‬‭land’,‬‭growing‬‭massive‬‭in‬‭size;‬‭about‬
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‭the‬‭size‬‭of‬‭cats.‬

‭Dysentery:‬
‭ ‬‭disease‬‭which‬‭affects‬‭lining‬‭of‬‭large‬‭intestine‬‭causing‬‭stomach‬‭cramps,‬‭nausea‬ ‭&‬
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‭diarrhoea.‬
‭It‬‭can‬‭be‬‭fatal‬‭if‬‭the‬‭body‬‭dehydrates.‬
‭It‬‭was‬‭rife‬‭due‬‭to‬‭lack‬‭of‬‭proper‬‭sanitation.‬
‭Toilets‬‭were‬‭pits‬‭dug‬‭4-5‬‭feet‬‭deep;‬‭they‬‭spread‬‭filth‬‭and‬‭disease.‬

‭Shell‬‭Shock:‬
‭By‬‭1914‬‭doctors‬ ‭working‬‭in‬‭hospitals‬‭were‬‭noticing‬‭patients‬‭suffering‬‭from‬‭‘‬‭shell‬‭shock‬‭’.‬
‭Symptoms‬‭:‬‭tiredness,‬‭irritability,‬‭giddiness,‬ ‭lack‬‭of‬‭concentration,‬‭tremors‬‭&‬‭headaches.‬
‭ ventually‬‭men‬‭suffered‬‭mental‬‭breakdowns‬‭making‬‭it‬‭impossible‬‭for‬‭them‬‭to‬‭remain‬‭on‬‭front‬
E
‭line.‬
‭Now,‬‭this‬‭condition‬‭is‬‭better‬‭understood:‬‭Post‬‭Traumatic‬‭Stress‬‭Disorder‬‭(PTSD).‬

‭5.‬‭The‬‭Battle‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Somme:‬

‭Summer‬‭1916:‬
‭By‬‭the‬‭end‬‭of‬‭1915‬‭Lord‬‭Kitchener’s‬‭recruits‬‭were‬‭trained‬‭and‬‭ready‬‭for‬‭battle.‬
‭The‬‭generals‬‭now‬‭had‬‭enough‬‭men‬‭to‬‭attempt‬‭a‬‭massive‬‭attack‬‭against‬‭the‬‭Germans.‬
‭This‬‭was‬‭perfect‬‭timing‬‭as‬‭the‬‭French‬‭were‬‭almost‬‭at‬‭breaking‬‭point‬‭at‬‭Verdun.‬
‭July‬‭1‭S‬ T‬ ‭1916:‬
‭ he‬‭Battle‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Somme‬‭started‬‭on‬‭July‬‭1st‬‭1916.‬‭It‬‭lasted‬‭until‬‭November‬‭1916‬‭.‬
T
‭The‬‭battle‬‭was‬‭planned‬‭by‬‭General‬‭Haig.‬‭The‬‭battle‬‭line‬‭stretched‬‭some‬‭19‬‭miles.‬
‭The‬‭battle‬‭was‬‭the‬‭first‬‭major‬‭British‬‭attempt‬‭to‬‭break‬‭through‬‭German‬‭lines.‬

‭ ummer‬‭1916‬‭–‬‭It‬‭was‬‭agreed‬‭Haig‬‭would‬‭lead‬‭a‬‭British‬‭offensive‬‭around‬‭the‬‭River‬‭Somme.‬
S
‭He‬‭devised‬‭a‬‭plan‬‭and‬‭with‬‭strategic‬‭tactics‬‭–‬
‭1.‬ ‭There‬‭would‬‭be‬‭huge‬‭artillery‬‭bombardment‬

‭2.‬ ‭Enemy‬‭barbed‬‭wire‬‭would‬‭be‬‭cut;‬‭German‬‭trenches‬‭smashed.‬

‭3.‬ ‭Attacking‬‭troops‬‭would‬‭simply‬‭walk‬‭across‬‭No‬‭Man’s‬‭Land.‬

‭4.‬ ‭Soldiers‬‭would‬‭rebuild‬‭the‬‭German‬‭trenches‬‭&‬‭make‬‭their‬‭own.‬

‭5.‬ ‭British‬‭cavalry‬‭would‬‭charge‬‭the‬‭gaps‬‭in‬‭the‬‭German‬‭line.‬

‭STAGE‬‭1-‬‭BOMBARDMENT:‬
‭ he‬‭battle‬‭at‬‭the‬‭Somme‬‭started‬‭with‬‭an‬‭8‬‭day‬‭artillery‬‭bombardment‬‭of‬‭the‬‭German‬‭lines.‬
T
‭1.6‬‭million‬‭shells‬‭were‬‭fired‬‭at‬‭the‬‭German‬‭Army.‬‭The‬‭logic‬‭behind‬‭this‬‭was‬‭so‬‭that‬‭the‬
‭artillery‬‭guns‬‭would‬‭destroy‬‭the‬‭German‬‭trenches,‬‭barbed‬‭wire‬‭placed‬‭in‬‭front‬‭of‬‭the‬
‭trenches,‬‭and‬‭the‬‭German‬‭machine‬‭guns‬‭and‬‭heavy‬‭artillery.‬

‭July‬‭1‭S‬ T‬ ‭1916:‬
‭ t‬‭7.20am‬‭40,000‬‭pounds‬‭of‬‭explosive‬‭was‬‭detonated‬‭under‬‭a‬‭German‬‭machine‬‭gun‬
A
‭position‬‭at‬‭Beaumont‬‭Hamel.‬
‭This‬‭was‬‭the‬‭largest‬‭man‬‭made‬‭sound‬‭ever.‬
‭The‬‭explosion‬‭rose‬‭55‬‭metres‬‭into‬‭the‬‭air.‬

‭STAGE‬‭2-‬‭OVER‬‭THE‬‭TOP:‬
‭ t‬‭7.30am‬‭the‬‭order‬‭was‬‭given‬‭to‬‭go‬‭‘over‬‭the‬‭top’‬
A
‭The‬‭British‬‭were‬‭told‬‭to‬‭WALK‬‭across‬‭No‬‭Man’s‬‭Land‬‭as‬‭the‬‭generals‬‭were‬‭so‬‭confident‬‭that‬
‭nothing‬‭could‬‭have‬‭survived‬‭the‬‭bombardment-‬‭‘not‬‭even‬‭a‬‭rat’‬

‭ owever,‬‭as‬‭the‬‭British‬‭climbed‬‭out‬‭of‬‭their‬‭trenches‬‭they‬‭were‬‭slaughtered‬‭by‬‭machine‬‭gun‬
H
‭and‬‭shell‬‭fire.‬‭It‬‭was‬‭hell‬‭on‬‭earth‬‭with‬‭20,000‬‭British‬‭soldiers‬‭being‬‭killed‬‭on‬‭the‬‭first‬‭day‬
‭alone.‬

‭SO‬‭WHY‬‭HAD‬‭IT‬‭ALL‬‭GONE‬‭SO‬‭WRONG?‬
‭The‬‭plan‬‭had‬‭gone‬‭terribly‬‭wrong:‬

‭‬
■ ‭ he‬‭barbed‬‭wire‬‭had‬‭not‬‭been‬‭cut.‬
T
‭■‬ ‭The‬‭German‬‭Army‬‭and‬‭their‬‭machine‬‭guns‬‭had‬‭been‬‭sheltering‬‭in‬‭very‬‭deep‬
‭dugouts.‬
‭■‬ ‭The‬‭German‬‭artillery‬‭had‬‭not‬‭been‬‭destroyed.‬
‭CONSEQUENCES:‬
‭ or‬‭many‬‭years‬‭those‬‭who‬‭led‬‭the‬‭British‬‭campaign‬‭have‬‭received‬‭a‬‭lot‬‭of‬‭criticism‬‭for‬‭the‬
F
‭way‬‭the‬‭Battle‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Somme‬‭was‬‭fought‬‭–‬‭especially‬‭General‬‭Sir‬‭Douglas‬‭Haig.‬
‭ his‬‭criticism‬‭was‬‭based‬‭on‬‭the‬‭appalling‬‭casualty‬‭figures‬‭suffered‬‭by‬‭the‬‭British‬‭and‬‭the‬
T
‭French.‬
‭There‬‭is‬‭debate‬‭about‬‭whether‬‭Haig‬‭was‬‭a‬‭‘hero’‬‭or‬‭a‬‭‘butcher’.‬
‭–‬ ‭One‬‭view‬‭is‬‭that‬‭the‬‭brave‬‭&‬‭courageous‬‭soldiers‬‭were‬‭betrayed‬‭by‬‭their‬‭leaders.‬
‭–‬ ‭Others‬‭believe‬‭it‬‭was‬‭not‬‭the‬‭disaster‬‭it‬‭is‬‭painted.‬

‭6.‬‭Armistice,‬‭November‬‭1918:‬

‭Armistice‬‭/‬‭Ceasefire:‬
‭ y‬‭1918‬‭most‬‭of‬‭Europe,‬‭the‬‭Middle‬‭East,‬‭and‬‭North‬‭Africa‬‭had‬‭been‬‭embroiled‬‭in‬‭four‬
B
‭long‬‭years‬‭of‬‭harrowing‬‭warfare.‬‭In‬‭addition,‬‭the‬‭war‬‭had‬‭spilled‬‭into‬‭the‬‭Pacific‬‭and‬
‭parts‬‭of‬‭Asia.‬‭Many‬‭citizens‬‭from‬‭Britain’s‬‭global‬‭Empire‬‭and‬‭allies‬‭were‬‭involved‬‭too,‬
‭including‬‭South‬‭Africa,‬‭Australia,‬‭New‬‭Zealand,‬‭Canada‬‭and‬‭the‬‭United‬‭States.‬
‭ he‬‭leaders‬‭of‬‭each‬‭country‬‭knew‬‭they‬‭could‬‭not‬‭afford‬‭to‬‭go‬‭on‬‭fighting‬‭for‬‭much‬‭longer,‬
T
‭and‬‭began‬‭hatching‬‭a‬‭plan‬‭to‬‭call‬‭for‬‭an‬‭Armistice‬‭,‬‭or‬‭ceasefire…‬

‭The‬‭Armistice‬‭was‬‭signed‬‭in‬‭November‬‭of‬‭1918,‬‭stating‬‭that‬
‭ the‬‭Germans‬‭evacuate‬‭occupied‬‭territory‬‭in‬‭France‬‭and‬‭Belgium.‬‭The‬‭Allies‬‭occupied‬‭the‬
…
‭area‬‭ten‬‭kilometres‬‭east‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Rhine‬‭and‬‭declared‬‭the‬‭rest‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Rhineland‬‭region‬‭a‬
‭demilitarised‬‭zone.‬‭They‬‭also‬‭insisted‬‭that‬‭the‬‭German‬‭military‬‭surrender‬‭war‬‭material‬‭such‬
‭as‬‭planes,‬‭ships‬‭and‬‭machine‬‭guns.‬‭The‬‭Allies‬‭wanted‬‭to‬‭ensure‬‭that‬‭the‬‭Germans‬‭could‬‭not‬
‭resume‬‭the‬‭war‬‭if‬‭the‬‭long-term‬‭peace‬‭negotiations‬‭broke‬‭down.‬
‭ he‬‭ceasefire‬‭took‬‭effect‬‭at‬‭11am‬‭on‬‭the‬‭morning‬‭of‬‭the‬‭11th‬‭day‬‭of‬‭the‬‭11th‬‭month‬‭of‬‭1918.‬
T
‭To‬‭this‬‭day,‬‭people‬‭around‬‭the‬‭world‬‭still‬‭pay‬‭respect‬‭to‬‭this‬‭moment‬‭with‬‭a‬‭2‬‭minutes’‬
‭silence.‬

‭Major‬‭Global‬‭Changes‬‭by‬‭1918:‬
‭ he‬‭aftermath‬‭of‬‭World‬‭War‬‭I‬‭sparked‬‭significant‬‭changes‬‭across‬‭continents,‬‭reshaping‬
T
‭societies,‬‭economies,‬‭and‬‭political‬‭landscapes.‬‭Four‬‭empires‬‭crumbled,‬‭leading‬‭to‬‭the‬
‭formation‬‭of‬‭new‬‭nations‬‭and‬‭redrawn‬‭boundaries.‬‭Key‬‭figures‬‭like‬‭Kaiser‬‭Wilhelm‬‭II‬‭of‬
‭Germany,‬‭Emperor‬‭Franz‬‭Joseph‬‭II‬‭of‬‭Austria-Hungary,‬‭and‬‭Tsar‬‭Nicholas‬‭II‬‭of‬‭Russia‬‭faced‬
‭abdication‬‭or‬‭demise,‬‭marking‬‭the‬‭end‬‭of‬‭centuries-old‬‭dynasties.‬‭Political‬‭transformations‬
‭ensued,‬‭with‬‭countries‬‭like‬‭Germany,‬‭Great‬‭Britain,‬‭and‬‭Turkey‬‭adopting‬‭electoral‬
‭democracies‬‭with‬‭near-universal‬‭suffrage.‬‭The‬‭war's‬‭impact‬‭was‬‭profound,‬‭ushering‬‭in‬‭a‬‭new‬
‭era‬‭characterized‬‭by‬‭unprecedented‬‭political,‬‭social,‬‭and‬‭cultural‬‭shifts,‬‭fundamentally‬
‭altering‬‭the‬‭world‬‭as‬‭it‬‭was‬‭known‬‭before.‬

‭ y‬‭the‬‭end‬‭of‬‭the‬‭war‬‭nine‬‭million‬‭people‬‭had‬‭died‬‭in‬‭total.‬‭Many‬ ‭began‬‭to‬‭refer‬‭to‬‭the‬
B
‭conflict‬‭as‬‭‘The‬‭Great‬‭War’‬‭and‬‭said‬‭it‬‭was‬‭the‬‭war‬‭to‬‭end‬‭all‬‭wars.‬‭21‬‭years‬‭later‬‭Europe‬
‭was‬‭at‬‭war‬‭again.‬
‭1.World‬‭War‬‭two-‬‭The‬‭MAIN‬‭causes:‬

‭ otal‬‭deaths‬‭worldwide:‬‭62‬‭million‬‭people‬‭.‬
T
‭The‬‭deadliest‬‭conflict‬‭,‬‭not‬‭only‬‭in‬‭the‬‭20‬‭th‬ ‭Century,‬‭but‬‭in‬‭human‬‭history.‬
‭Civilian‬‭deaths:‬‭approx.‬‭double‬‭the‬‭number‬‭of‬‭military‬‭deaths.‬
‭More‬‭than‬‭⅓‬‭of‬‭civilian‬‭deaths‬‭were‬‭deliberate‬‭killings‬‭committed‬‭by‬‭fascist‬‭regimes.‬
‭CONTEXT:‬‭GERMANY:‬

I‭t‬‭all‬‭goes‬‭back‬‭to‬‭1918…‬
‭Germany‬‭was‬‭in‬‭ruins‬‭at‬‭the‬‭end‬‭of‬‭WWI.‬
‭Before‬‭the‬‭war‬‭ended,‬‭German‬‭soldiers‬‭had‬‭already‬‭started‬‭deserting‬‭their‬‭posts.‬‭Sailors‬‭at‬
‭Kiel‬‭mutinied‬‭(refused‬‭to‬‭obey‬‭orders).‬
‭People‬‭throughout‬‭the‬‭country‬‭were‬‭starving‬‭due‬‭to‬‭British‬‭Naval‬‭Blockade.‬
‭On‬‭the‬‭9th‬‭of‬‭November‬‭the‬‭Kaiser‬‭(King)‬‭abdicated.‬‭A‬‭new‬‭government‬‭was‬‭created.‬
‭Between‬‭1918‬‭-‬‭1933‬‭Germany‬‭became‬‭the‬‭‘‭W ‬ eimar‬‭Republic‬‭’.‬‭The‬‭new‬‭leader‬‭was‬
‭Friedrich‬‭Ebert‬‭.‬
‭This‬‭was‬‭a‬‭new‬‭democratic‬‭government,‬‭but‬‭it‬‭was‬‭not‬‭popular‬‭from‬‭the‬‭beginning.‬
‭In‬‭1919‬‭they‬‭made‬‭a‬‭fatal‬‭mistake‬‭from‬‭which‬‭they‬‭would‬‭never‬‭recover…‬
‭The‬‭new‬‭leaders‬‭signed‬‭a‬‭devastating‬‭peace‬‭treaty:‬‭the‬‭Treaty‬‭of‬‭Versailles‬‭.‬

‭This‬‭meant:‬
‭●‬ ‭Germany‬‭was‬‭blamed‬‭100%‬‭for‬‭causing‬‭World‬‭War‬‭I.‬
‭●‬ ‭They‬‭had‬‭to‬‭pay‬‭$33‬‭Billion‬‭in‬‭reparations‬‭to‬‭France‬‭and‬‭Belgium.‬
‭●‬ ‭They‬‭lost‬‭all‬‭of‬‭their‬‭colonies‬‭and‬‭land‬‭to‬‭Poland,‬‭Denmark,‬‭France.‬
‭●‬ ‭The‬‭Army‬‭was‬‭limited‬‭to‬‭100,000‬‭soldiers,‬‭6‬‭battleships,‬‭and‬‭NO‬‭airforce.‬

‭●‬
‭The‬‭Treaty‬‭of‬‭Versailles.‬

‭ he‬‭German‬‭people‬‭were‬‭very‬‭angry,‬‭and‬‭they‬‭blamed‬‭the‬‭Weimar‬‭politicians.‬‭Democracy‬
T
‭was‬‭associated‬‭with‬‭weakness.‬
‭In‬‭the‬‭years‬‭to‬‭come,‬‭Germany‬‭would‬‭suffer‬‭major‬‭economic‬‭problems‬‭because‬‭of‬‭the‬
‭reparations‬‭bill.‬
‭E.g.‬‭Hyperinflation‬‭in‬‭1923,‬‭which‬‭destroyed‬‭the‬‭value‬‭of‬‭the‬‭currency.‬
‭The‬‭U.S.‬‭Government‬‭agreed‬‭to‬‭help‬‭Germany‬‭rebuild‬‭its‬‭economy‬‭through‬‭loans.‬

‭Worldwide‬‭Economic‬‭Depression:‬
‭ fter‬‭WWI‬‭many‬‭European‬‭economies‬‭were‬‭unstable.‬
A
‭The‬‭boom‬‭in‬‭the‬‭U.S.‬‭throughout‬‭the‬‭1920s‬‭helped‬‭sustain‬‭worldwide‬‭trade.‬
‭In‬‭1929,‬‭the‬‭U.S.‬‭stock‬‭market‬‭crashed,‬‭and‬‭as‬‭a‬‭result‬‭a‬‭Great‬‭Depression‬‭spread‬
‭throughout‬‭the‬‭world.‬‭U.S.‬‭restrictive‬‭tariff‬‭policies‬‭worsened‬‭the‬‭depression.‬
‭As‬‭economies‬‭plummeted‬‭and‬‭unemployment‬‭rose,‬‭many‬‭people‬‭turned‬‭to‬‭powerful‬‭leaders‬
‭and‬‭governments‬‭who‬‭promised‬‭success‬‭through‬‭military‬‭buildup‬‭and‬‭the‬‭conquest‬‭of‬
‭territory.‬
‭As‬‭the‬‭Great‬‭Depression‬‭spread‬‭through‬‭the‬‭industrialised‬‭world‬‭from‬‭1929,‬‭Germany‬‭was‬
‭most‬‭severely‬‭affected.‬
‭The‬‭German‬‭currency,‬‭the‬‭Rentemark,‬‭depended‬‭on‬‭American‬‭loans‬‭since‬‭1924.‬
‭Foreign‬‭loans‬‭dried‬‭up,‬‭investment‬‭fell.‬‭By‬‭1932‬‭six‬‭million‬‭Germans‬‭were‬‭unemployed.‬
‭People‬‭were‬‭desperate.‬
‭Rise‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Nazis:‬
‭ hen‬‭the‬‭Depression‬‭hit,‬‭Germany’s‬‭coalition‬‭government‬‭wanted‬‭to‬‭raise‬‭taxes‬‭on‬‭the‬‭rich‬
W
‭to‬‭maintain‬‭payments‬‭to‬‭the‬‭unemployed.‬‭The‬‭non-socialist‬‭parties‬‭opposed‬‭this,‬‭so‬‭the‬
‭coalition‬‭split‬‭and‬‭the‬‭government‬‭collapsed.‬
‭The‬‭communist‬‭party‬‭was‬‭becoming‬‭increasingly‬‭popular,‬‭as‬‭was‬‭the‬‭Nazi‬‭party.‬
‭People‬‭who‬‭feared‬‭communism‬‭saw‬‭this‬‭party‬‭as‬‭a‬‭good‬‭alternative.‬

‭Anti-Communism:‬
‭ nder‬‭communism,‬‭all‬‭means‬‭of‬‭production‬‭are‬‭controlled‬‭by‬‭the‬‭government,‬‭as‬‭are‬
U
‭property,‬‭the‬‭media,‬‭and‬‭all‬‭other‬‭aspects‬‭of‬‭society.‬‭The‬‭1930s‬‭saw‬‭the‬‭rise‬‭of‬‭many‬
‭totalitarian‬‭regimes;‬‭but‬‭most‬‭people‬‭chose‬‭fascism‬‭over‬‭communism.‬
‭Hitler‬‭exploited‬‭people’s‬‭fear‬‭of‬‭a‬‭communist‬‭takeover‬‭in‬‭Germany‬‭to‬‭rise‬‭to‬‭power‬‭in‬‭1933.‬

‭Appeasement:‬
‭ ppeasement‬‭is‬‭the‬‭act‬‭of‬‭giving‬‭in‬‭to‬‭an‬‭enemy’s‬‭demands‬‭in‬‭hopes‬‭of‬‭avoiding‬‭further‬
A
‭conflict.‬‭In‬‭1938,‬‭Hitler‬‭demanded‬‭that‬‭Czechoslovakia‬‭cede‬‭the‬‭Sudetenland‬‭to‬‭Germany.‬
‭He‬‭claimed‬‭that‬‭the‬‭German‬‭population‬‭living‬‭there‬‭was‬‭being‬‭mistreated.‬‭The‬‭British‬‭and‬
‭French‬‭prime‬‭ministers‬‭agreed‬‭to‬‭Hitler’s‬‭demands‬‭without‬‭consulting‬‭Czechoslovakian‬
‭leaders,‬‭in‬‭the‬‭hopes‬‭that‬‭this‬‭would‬‭avoid‬‭a‬‭war‬‭in‬‭Europe.‬

‭Militarism:‬
‭ he‬‭glorification‬‭of‬‭war,‬‭in‬‭which‬‭a‬‭nation‬‭strengthens‬‭its‬‭military‬‭and‬‭stockpiles‬‭weapons‬‭in‬
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‭preparation‬‭for‬‭war.‬‭An‬‭important‬‭aspect‬‭of‬‭militarism‬‭is‬‭that‬‭the‬‭glorification‬‭of‬‭war‬‭is‬
‭incorporated‬‭into‬‭all‬‭levels‬‭of‬‭society,‬‭including‬‭education‬‭of‬‭the‬‭nation’s‬‭youth.‬‭Militaristic‬
‭societies‬‭have‬‭existed‬‭throughout‬‭human‬‭history.‬

‭Nationalism:‬
‭ ationalism‬‭is‬‭the‬‭belief‬‭in‬‭the‬‭superiority‬‭of‬‭one’s‬‭own‬‭nation‬‭over‬‭all‬‭others.‬‭In‬‭the‬‭extreme,‬
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‭it‬‭can‬‭lead‬‭to‬‭major‬‭conflicts‬‭between‬‭nations.‬‭Hitler,‬‭Mussolini,‬‭and‬‭Japan’s‬‭Tojo‬‭each‬‭touted‬
‭their‬‭nation’s‬‭ability‬‭to‬‭dominate‬‭all‬‭others‬‭in‬‭the‬‭years‬‭leading‬‭up‬‭to‬‭WWII.‬

‭2.‬‭The‬‭Rise‬‭of‬‭Fascism:‬
‭Germany:‬‭The‬‭Nazis’‬‭Rise‬‭to‬‭Power:‬
‭Three‬‭factors‬‭in‬‭particular‬‭helped‬‭the‬‭rise‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Nazis:‬

‭1)‬ ‭Resentment‬‭against‬‭the‬‭Treaty‬‭of‬‭Versailles.‬

‭2)‬ ‭The‬‭myth‬‭that‬‭Germany‬‭had‬‭been‬‭betrayed.‬

‭3)‬ ‭The‬‭Great‬‭Depression.‬

‭Hitler‬‭and‬‭the‬‭Nazi‬‭Party:‬
‭In‬‭1919,‬‭Adolf‬‭Hitler,‬‭a‬‭former‬‭soldier,‬‭joined‬‭the‬‭German‬‭Workers'‬‭Party‬‭(DAP),‬‭a‬‭small‬
‭ olitical‬‭group‬‭led‬‭by‬‭Anton‬‭Drexler‬‭in‬‭Munich.‬‭The‬‭party‬‭lacked‬‭concrete‬‭ideas,‬‭except‬‭its‬
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‭discontent‬‭with‬‭the‬‭Weimar‬‭Republic‬‭and‬‭its‬‭desire‬‭to‬‭restore‬‭Germany's‬‭greatness.‬‭Hitler‬
‭soon‬‭gained‬‭influence‬‭in‬‭the‬‭party‬‭and‬‭marginalized‬‭Drexler.‬‭I‬‭learned‬‭to‬‭speak‬‭in‬‭public‬‭and‬
‭say‬‭what‬‭people‬‭wanted‬‭to‬‭hear.‬‭In‬‭1920,‬‭he‬‭changed‬‭the‬‭name‬‭of‬‭the‬‭party‬‭to‬‭the‬‭National‬
‭Socialist‬‭German‬‭Workers‬‭Party‬‭(NSDAP),‬‭abbreviated‬‭as‬‭the‬‭Nazi‬‭Party.‬
‭Political‬‭Terms:‬
‭ ationalist:‬‭Supreme‬‭importance‬‭of‬‭the‬‭nation‬‭in‬‭identity,‬‭prioritizing‬‭its‬‭interests‬‭over‬‭those‬
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‭of‬‭others.‬
‭Socialist:‬‭Political,‬‭social‬‭and‬‭economic‬‭equality‬‭through‬‭workers'‬‭ownership‬‭and‬
‭management‬‭of‬‭the‬‭means‬‭of‬‭production.‬
‭Racist:‬‭Belief‬‭in‬‭the‬‭superiority‬‭of‬‭certain‬‭races,‬‭such‬‭as‬‭the‬‭Aryan/Germanic‬‭race‬‭according‬
‭to‬‭Hitler.‬

‭Early‬‭Nazi‬‭Beliefs:‬
I‭n‬‭1920,‬‭Hitler‬‭drafted‬‭a‬‭25-point‬‭program‬‭outlining‬‭Nazi‬‭beliefs.‬‭This‬‭program‬‭combined‬
‭nationalist‬‭values,‬‭with‬‭the‬‭aim‬‭of‬‭restoring‬‭the‬‭greatness‬‭of‬‭Germany,‬‭socialist‬‭aspects,‬‭with‬
‭the‬‭intention‬‭of‬‭protecting‬‭the‬‭working‬‭class,‬‭and‬‭racist‬‭elements,‬‭showing‬‭a‬‭strong‬‭rejection‬
‭towards‬‭any‬‭non-German‬‭ethnic‬‭group,‬‭especially‬‭Jews.‬

‭‘Der‬‭Führer’:‬
I‭n‬‭1921,‬‭Hitler‬‭ascended‬‭as‬‭leader‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Nazis‬‭and‬‭appointed‬‭several‬‭powerful‬‭men,‬
‭including‬‭Hermann‬‭Goering,‬‭Rudolf‬‭Hess,‬‭Ernst‬‭Rohm,‬‭and‬‭Josef‬‭Goebbels,‬‭to‬‭support‬‭him.‬
‭Additionally,‬‭they‬‭developed‬‭their‬‭own‬‭personal‬‭army‬‭known‬‭as‬‭the‬‭SA‬‭(Storm‬‭Troops/Brown‬
‭Shirts)‬‭to‬‭protect‬‭their‬‭events‬‭and‬‭confront‬‭opponents.‬

‭Creating‬‭the‬‭Nazi‬‭Dictatorship‬‭1933-1934:‬
‭ resident‬‭Hindenburg‬‭appointed‬‭Hitler‬‭chancellor‬‭of‬‭Germany‬‭on‬‭January‬‭30,‬‭1933,‬
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‭following‬‭the‬‭electoral‬‭victory‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Nazi‬‭party.‬‭Hitler‬‭planned‬‭to‬‭turn‬‭Germany‬‭into‬‭a‬‭Nazi‬
‭dictatorship‬‭and‬‭secured‬‭his‬‭position‬‭by‬‭preventing‬‭other‬‭chancellors‬‭from‬‭leading‬
‭successfully.‬‭Hindenburg‬‭had‬‭no‬‭choice‬‭but‬‭to‬‭appoint‬‭him‬‭chancellor.‬
‭At‬‭first,‬‭Hitler‬‭did‬‭not‬‭have‬‭enough‬‭power‬‭to‬‭be‬‭a‬‭dictator‬‭because:‬

‭ .‬‭Democracy‬‭in‬‭Germany‬‭with‬‭several‬‭parties,‬‭the‬‭communists‬‭being‬‭a‬‭threat.‬
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‭2.‬‭Freedom‬‭of‬‭the‬‭press‬‭that‬‭allowed‬‭criticism.‬
‭3.‬‭The‬‭Nazi‬‭Party‬‭did‬‭not‬‭have‬‭a‬‭majority‬‭in‬‭the‬‭Reichstag.‬
‭4.‬‭President‬‭Hindenburg‬‭could‬‭remove‬‭Hitler.‬
‭5.‬‭The‬‭German‬‭army‬‭distrusted‬‭Hitler's‬‭SA.‬