Between World War One and World War Two: Preparing for World War Again

WWI was supposed to be "The war to end all wars" due to its brutality. We explore why war reengages again and other transitions concurring with countries in the world as a result of the Great Depression. Some historians argue that WWI and WWII are the same war with an intermission of 20 years in between. Central Question for the Unit: How can one war encourage the next one?

Course Lecture PowerPoint Slides and Other Materials

• Instructor Master PP Slides

• Student PP Slides

Course Lecture Video Recordings

• Music Video Overview of the Unit (2:30 minutes) Music: "Between the Wars" performed by Billy Bragg. The lyrics focus on average Americans as they work to survive the Great Depression and hope there will be no more wars for young men.

• (Video) Part One

• (Video) Part Two

• (Video) Part Three

• (Video) Part Four

• (Video) Part Five

• (Video) Part Six

Required Readings and Media

• Study Guide Questions for Assigned Readings and Media (PDF)

• Citno, Meet the Freikorps (PDF)

• Kelley, Taking the blitz to America (PDF)

• Kemal, Speech to the Turkish Assembly (PDF)

• Kingoro, The need for Japan emigration and expansion (PDF)

• President Roosevelt, Great arsenal of democracy speech (PDF Transcript)

• President Roosevelt, Great arsenal of democracy speech (Audio)

Supplemental Learning Materials (Not required for major exams)

• President Roosevelt, The only thing we have to fear is fear itself (PDF Transcript)

• President Roosevelt, The only thing we have to fear is fear itself (Audio)

• Datillo, U.S. veterans of WWI march to demand bonus salary denied to them (Audio)

• President Roosevelt, The four freedoms (PDF Transcript)

• President Roosevelt, The four freedoms (Audio)

• Impact of the Great Depression in the U.S. (Audio)

• Datillo, Germany annexes Austria (PDF Transcript)

• Datillo, Germany annexes Austria (Audio)

• Historpedia, Childhood and early adulthood of Adolf Hitler (Web Page)

• Murray, Making of Hitler's army (PDF)

• Talking History Podcast, Rise of Nazism in Germany (Audio)

• Talking History Podcast, Rise of the German Third Reich (Audio)

• Historpedia, Development of the airplane between WWI and WWII (Web Page)

• History Network Podcast, Development of the tank between WWI and WWII (Audio)

• Historpedia, Post WWI France (Web Page)

• Chamberlain and Churchill, The Munich Conference (PDF)

• Secrets of the German Third Reich (Audio)

• We Hold These Truths: Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of Approval of the U.S. Bill of Rights (Audio) This radio program had been planned for months and then was aired on all U.S. radio networks one week after the Pearl Harbor attack. Note the numerous Hollywood Actors including Jimmy Stewart who joined the military much earlier in 1941.

• Make Mine Freedom: Avoid Seduction of Socialism (Animated Cartoon Video) During the Great Depression, in the U.S. many people were desperate for relief, even voting in large numbers for Socialist candidates. This propaganda cartoon sought to alert the negative consequences of such a change.