INTERNATIONAL HISTORY 1900 – 1990
1. Modern Total War
World War I: 1914-1919
Origins of WWI unclear
Relevant parties: Allies vs. Central Power
Allies: Great Britain, France, Russian Empire (and allies); Japan joined in 1914;
America joined in 1917
Central Powers: Germany, Austro-Hungary (and allies)
WWI: 1914-1919
Long term causes:
Germany’s aggression
Alliance system
Masses of the nations shared nationalist beliefs and patriotic values – war was
thought of as short, victorious and glorious. That was not the case
In the end, Germany agreed to an armistice and Versailles Peace Treaty was
signed
Versailles Peace Treaty
Treaty signed at the Paris Peace Conference
One of the treaties that led to the end of WWI
Signed in by the League of Nations
Failed to tackle the threat of a united and frustrated Germany (effects will later be
revealed)
, The Great Depression
Triggered by the Wall Street Crash 1929
Weakened support for liberal democracy, strengthened appeal for Communist,
Fascist and Nazi parties
Effects: unemployment, poverty, deflation
Significant effect on the German society
Political and economic instability provided ground in which support for Nazis took
root
1933 Hitler achieved power; transformation of German state began
Hitler and Nazism
Nazism dictated racial supremacy with territorial expansion
Great Britain and France attempted to negotiate with Hitler
Munich Agreement of 1938
Appeasement
Nazi Germany:
Anti-Semitism and concentration camps
1942: Final Solution of the Jewish Question
Holocaust: Jewish Genocide
Word War II: 1939-1945
By 1939 the defensive military technologies of WWI gave way to armoured
warfare and air power
Relevant parties: Allies vs. Axis
Allies: Anti-German coalition of France, Poland, Great Britain; joined by British
Commonwealth (Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa, Canada);
USA joined in 1941 following Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour
Axis: Germany, Italy and Japan
1. Modern Total War
World War I: 1914-1919
Origins of WWI unclear
Relevant parties: Allies vs. Central Power
Allies: Great Britain, France, Russian Empire (and allies); Japan joined in 1914;
America joined in 1917
Central Powers: Germany, Austro-Hungary (and allies)
WWI: 1914-1919
Long term causes:
Germany’s aggression
Alliance system
Masses of the nations shared nationalist beliefs and patriotic values – war was
thought of as short, victorious and glorious. That was not the case
In the end, Germany agreed to an armistice and Versailles Peace Treaty was
signed
Versailles Peace Treaty
Treaty signed at the Paris Peace Conference
One of the treaties that led to the end of WWI
Signed in by the League of Nations
Failed to tackle the threat of a united and frustrated Germany (effects will later be
revealed)
, The Great Depression
Triggered by the Wall Street Crash 1929
Weakened support for liberal democracy, strengthened appeal for Communist,
Fascist and Nazi parties
Effects: unemployment, poverty, deflation
Significant effect on the German society
Political and economic instability provided ground in which support for Nazis took
root
1933 Hitler achieved power; transformation of German state began
Hitler and Nazism
Nazism dictated racial supremacy with territorial expansion
Great Britain and France attempted to negotiate with Hitler
Munich Agreement of 1938
Appeasement
Nazi Germany:
Anti-Semitism and concentration camps
1942: Final Solution of the Jewish Question
Holocaust: Jewish Genocide
Word War II: 1939-1945
By 1939 the defensive military technologies of WWI gave way to armoured
warfare and air power
Relevant parties: Allies vs. Axis
Allies: Anti-German coalition of France, Poland, Great Britain; joined by British
Commonwealth (Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa, Canada);
USA joined in 1941 following Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour
Axis: Germany, Italy and Japan
