The Causes of the Second World War

Direct Causes of WWII

• It has been said that World War II was just a continuation of World War I, yet there are some specific causes to the Second World War, all of which could not have been possible without the rise of Hitler and his Nazis.
• When WWI ended, Germany was made into a republic. Chancellor Hindenburg was its leader. The country had to report regularly to the Allies.
• Being “controlled” by the Allies left a bitter taste with most Germans.

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The Treaty of Versailles

• After WWI, the Treaty of Versailles laid almost impossible conditions upon the German volk (people).
• Reducing the army to 100,000 men and taking land from Germany, especially the Rhineland, greatly reduced morale.
• Forcing responsibility upon the Germans for starting the War was also painful.
• But the most disastrous condition was the war reparations they had to pay—a big fine (33 BILLION).

The League of Nations

• One positive thing came out of Versailles. It was the creation of an international “government” that would prevent wars by settling disputes between nations through peaceful talks.
• Unfortunately, the League of Nations fell apart because of a number of problems, all of which are another direct cause of WWII.
• WHOSE Idea was L. of N.??

Problems With the League of Nations

• The League did not include every nation. Nations could choose to join or not.
• Decisions required that all countries agree, a rare occurrence.
• The League could not raise an army to enforce its decisions.
• It was unable to prevent major incidents like Japan invading Manchuria, or Italy from attacking Ethiopia.

The Great Depression

• Another cause to the Second World War was the Great Depression.
• The stock-market crash of 1929 was a global event.
• Governments also fell as people chose rulers that promised hope and prosperity—dictatorships.
• Germany thus accepted Hitler because he promised not to pay the war fine (33 BILLION) and to create jobs.

Hyperinflation

Germany Under the Fuhrer

• After Hitler became Fuhrer of Germany in 1934, he began to dismantle Versailles.
• He came good on his promise and began not paying for the war damages.
• In 1936 he began to deploy 30 000 soldiers into the demilitarized zone (or Rhineland), as well as re-arm Germany; he started training 1 million troops.
• France and Britain did nothing. They feared another costly war.

Controlling People’s Minds

• Once Hitler had complete control of the government, he began to control all aspects of life. Germany became a police state.
• 2 million Nazis now made up the SA, Hitler’s army of Stormtroopers.
• He also had his SS (Schutzstaffe). These men had sworn eternal life to Hitler as the protectors of his Aryan race. They were trained, ruthless killers who did whatever Hitler asked.
• Hitler used propaganda to instill fear in his people.

Controlling People’s Minds

• Once he was certain he had control of the country, Hitler began restructuring the government to prepare for his master race.
• In 1935, he created the Nuremberg Laws that denied inferiors, specifically Jews, rights in Germany. These laws would ultimately destroy the Jewish culture by systematically eliminating their identity, beginning with their history.

Outside of Germany…

• The Great Depression made many nations abandon democracy for totalitarianism.
• In the Far East, increased population in Japan made the need for more space for the Japanese inviting. In 1931, their army invades Manchuria, a Chinese-controlled territory to the north of Korea.

The Manchurian Incident

• The Chinese asked for the League of Nations to do something. The League told the Japanese Army to withdraw, but it did not.
• The invasion of Manchuria positioned the Japanese as a major military power in South-East Asia.
• Between 1933 and ’36, the USSR felt threatened by the Japanese and asked China to support them if there were a war (Comintern Pact).

Japan invades China

• The Japanese respond by signing an Anti-Comintern Pact with Germany in 1936.
• In July 1937, the Japanese invade China and attack Beijing with a million soldiers. They loot, rape, torture, murder and caused pointless destruction. Millions of Chinese civilians died.

Back to Germany

• In 1936, Hitler and Mussolini became allied through the Rome—Berlin Axis.
• Hitler also wanted to re-establish the Anchluss (UNION) with Austria, but the Treaty of Versailles forbade it. However, because of Britain’s concern over events in China, Hitler took a gamble that they would do nothing and on March 12, 1938 he began “invading” Austria.

Anchluss

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• “Not a shot was fired, and the German army entered Austria with bands playing and soldiers smiling.”

Czechoslovakia

• Only weeks after Germany invaded Austria, Hitler set his sights on taking-over Czechoslovakia.
• Czechoslovakia was a country that rose after WWI. It was made up of various ethnic groups including Czechs, Slovaks and Germans, who lived mostly in the Sudeten province near Germany.

The Sudeten Question

• The Sudetenland was an obvious region to acquire for the Nazis: Germans lived there, and there was an abundance of natural resources.
• Of course, once this province was invaded, it was only a matter of time before Hitler would set his sights on all of the country.

What is Europe doing during all of this?

• As mentioned, Britain was concerned with their ports in China.
• France feared a war with Germany.
• The Soviet Union was at war with Japan.
• Once it became clear that the League of Nations was about to do nothing, Britain decides to act.
• British PM, Neville Chamberlain agrees to appease Hitler.

Appeasement

• Appeasement means to agree to whichever demands seem reasonable in order to prevent war.
• The British understood that a war with Germany would cause appalling damage.
• Also, many believed that Hitler’s demands were just demands, and many Britons believed that Versailles was too harsh.
• So off Chamberlain goes to Munich to sign an agreement with Hitler.

The Munich Agreement

• In September, 1938, Britain, France, Italy and Germany met to discuss Hitler’s aims in Munich.
• Hitler said he would only take the Sudentenland and if Czechoslovakia falls apart, then he would govern it. The other three agreed to this.
• Chamberlain went back to London with “the piece of paper, securing Peace in our Time.”

Nazi—Soviet Pact

• On August 23, 1939, Hitler and Stalin signed the SECRET- Nazi—Soviet Pact.
• Though Hitler hated Communism, the need for his lebrensraum made it necessary for him to have land. He chose Poland.
• Hitler promised Stalin that if he invaded Poland, he would eliminate the “undesirables” and give Stalin the eastern part of the country. Stalin agreed, and actually invades Poland from the east.

September 1, 1939

• On this date, Hitler invades Poland- BLITZKRIEG!!
• The world is shocked.
• Chamberlain is appalled.
• Britain and France declare war on Germany two days later, but do not immediately act. They waited to see if Hitler would do more, which he did not for 3 months
• This becomes known as the Phoney War- (SITZKRIEG).

In September 1939, that peace was shattered by Hitler’s invasion of Poland. Chamberlain declared war against Germany but during the next eight months showed himself to be ill-equipped for the daunting task of saving Europe from Nazi conquest. After British forces failed to prevent the German occupation of Norway in April 1940, Chamberlain lost the support of many members of his Conservative Party. On May 10, Hitler invaded Holland, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The same day, Chamberlain formally lost the confidence of the House of Commons……...Winston Churchill