Causes of World War II - Essay Example

?World War II Introduction There were two world wars, World War1 and World War 11 in the 20th century fought across the globe and had dire effects onhumanity and infrastructure. Indeed, the effects of the two wars were felt in almost all countries. World War1 was fought mostly in Europe between 1914 and 1918. The Second World War was fought between 1939 and 1945 in Europe, in Russia, North Africa and in Asia. Indeed, the Second World War was lasted longer, was more volatile than the First World War. Moreover, the effects of the World War 1 contributed to the emergence of the World War 11. Children, women, men, military either participated in the war or was adversely affected by the war. Indeed, World War II was a global war that was under way by 1939 and ended in 1945 and largely involved all great powers and their armies in a show of might and dominance. The reference world powers later grouped themselves into two alliances, the Allies and the Axis. The war was fought using high technological weapons of unpredictable destructiveness in unsurpassed numbers with the ultimate use of the atomic bomb. It remains the most widespread and destructive war in history. Indeed about, 100 million people participated in the war where there was use of nuclear weapons. So significant was the war that the participants sacrificed all their scientific capabilities and economic positions to succeed in the war. This paper will give the background, the causes, the participants, and the sequence of the war, the results, and the impact of the World War 11. Background The First World War led to the defeat of central powers including Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire, which led to political power realignment. As a result, Germany lost fundamental colonial, territorial, and financial footing as dictated by the Treaty of Versailles that required Germany to compensate for the war. On the other hand, Italy, France, Romania Belgium, and Greece gained territories. Additionally, the collapse of the Russian and Ottoman Empires and Austria-Hungary equally led to the emergence of newer territories. Additionally, the Soviet Union was created as a result of the Russian Civil war that followed the World War 1. Under the Treaty of Versailles, German annexation of other states was prohibited, lost significant home territory and all it overseas territories (Marshall Cavendish Corporation 11-14). The treaty equally set out the size and capability of the country's armed forces. Moreover, Benito Mussolini led the Fascist movement in seizing power in Italy between 1921 and 1925. As such, he replaced representative democracy and repressed socialist to force Italy to become a world power. At the same time, there were developments in Germany where Adolf Hitler led in establishing a fascist government in Germany. These developments worried UK and France where they consequently formed the Stresa Front with an aim of containing Germany. However, Italy invaded Ethiopia with Germany being the only major European nation to support the invasion with a trade in that allowed Italy to support Germany in absorbing Austria. Adolf Hitler on the other hand defied the Treaty of Versailles and Locarno by reinstating his military in March 1936. Indeed, Hitler and Mussolini supported the fascists while the soviet supported the Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil war in 1936 where both parties tested their new weapons and methods of warfare in readiness for war. Subsequent attacks followed later with Japan capturing Beijing, China in 1937 as Germany annexed Austria in 1938 (Marshall Cavendish Corporation 12). Additionally, Germany and Slovakia attacked Poland in 1939. As a result of this countries of common wealth were mobilized by France and Britain to declared war on Germany. As such, by 3 September, Britain and France were at war with Germany where Australia, South Africa, Canada, and New Zealand joined them in a weeks’ time. This marked the beginning of the Second World War. The Home front of the war was Britain because the Britons felt that they were part of the war. Causes of the World War II Terms of the Treaty of Versailles The Treaty of Versailles was signed after World War and spelt out very harsh conditions for Germany. This resulted to anger in Germany. According to the treaty, the size of Germany's military was severely restricted allowed only six naval ships. Additionally, Germany was not to have any tanks, submarines, or air force as well as the de-militarization of Rhineland. Moreover, the treaty subjected Germany to accept the blame for starting World War I, and subsequently paid $33 billion in reparations. Most significantly, Germany lost territory in Europe and all overseas colonies. These terms were bitter for Germany and Germany would not afford to pay the damages subject to its deteriorating economic status after the World War 1. There was high rate of unemployment and escalating food prices that led to peoples’ dissatisfaction with the government. Hence, they championed Adolf Hitler to power who promised to rip up the Treaty of Versailles (Marshall Cavendish Corporation 19-21). Hitler's Actions Indeed, Hitler made good his threats and defied all of the charges made on Germany through the Treaty of Versailles. Actually, in 1934 Hitler increased the size of the army, built warships and created a German air force. He also introduced compulsory military service. Moreover, In 1936 Hitler ordered German troops to enter the Rhineland and threatened neighboring states as he prepared for war. In the same year, Hitler made war alliances with Mussolini's Italy in the Rome-Berlin Axis Pact and the Anti-Comitern Pact with Japan (Raum 9-13). Additionally, Hitler went ahead to reclaim any land taken away from Germany through the Treaty of Versailles. As such, Hitler commanded his troops to Austria in 1938. All these actions took place in the knowledge of France, Britain, and America but they chose to keep away. In the same year, Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister of Britain, met with Hitler three times with an aim of preventing war as Hitler threatened to invade the rest of Czechoslovakia. However, despite the agreement not to attack, Hitler went ahead and invaded Czechoslovakia in 1939. Britain again chose not to attack Germany for this. However, when Hitler realized that the world has given him a leeway, he focused his efforts on attacking Poland. It is at this point that both Britain and France promised that they would take military action against Hitler if he invaded Poland. Indeed, the two giant powers thought that their threats would make Hitler would stop his aggression. However, they were wrong as Adolf Hitler did not fear the threats of Britain and France as he invaded Poland on September 1, 1939 (Raum 9-13). This caused the World War 11. Fascism, Nationalism, Totalitarianism, and Collectivist Ideology Italy and Germany were Fascists in Europe that believed in war to achieve national goals. Hence, both nations formed policies and empires that advocated for this hence the Czech crisis. At the same time, Hitler and Mussolini were hard line nationalists who sought to eliminate the Jews. Failure of Appeasement This was one of the major causes of the World War 11 as it involved giving in to demands of leaders with aims of pursuing their interests. Generally, appeasement means giving in to someone’s demands if demands demonstrate a significant level of reasons. This was specifically attached to the harsh conditions spelt on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles. Indeed, in the1930s, many political leaders in Britain and France came to believe that the terms of the Treaty of Versailles were unfair to Germany. Hence, when Hitler staged attacks on the conditions of the treaty, these leaders appeased. Indeed, when Germany began re-arming its military in 1934, other politicians thought that it would only be good for Germany to re-arm itself in order to protect herself and seemingly prevention to the spread of Communism to the west. Again, in 1936, while France signed a new treaty with Russia, Hitler argued that this treaty poses a great thereat to Germany and thus the need to station its forces in Rhineland. Indeed, Britain and France adopted the reasoning of Germany and resolved to keep the peace by taking no action. The success of Hitler in these endeavors pushed him to intensify his campaign in Europe and he subsequently annexed Austria in March 1938. He then went ahead and threatened Czechoslovakia. The British Prime minister bought Hitler’s idea on the Treaty of Versailles thinking that giving in to Hitler's demands would prevent another war. For example, in 1938 Hitler, Britain, France and Italy, signed the Munich Agreement which directed that the Sudetenland would be returned to Germany with no additional territorial from the latter. However, this appeasement failed terribly when Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia in March 1939. Since Britain was not ready for war at the time, the British Prime minister would only guarantee to help Poland if Hitler invaded Poland (Raum 9-13). This caused the World War 11. The US policy of Isolationism The US policy of isolationism in the period leading up to World War II led to the World War 11 as US did not pay any attention to any conflicts occurring outside of their borders. Had they paid some attention, they had the means to prevent the war. Economic Depression and Instability In the 1930s, the Great World Depression was very significant in leading to the war. The Great World Depression led to unemployment, rise in food prices, and inflation. Actually, depression allowed dictators such as Hitler to rise to power with people believing that Hitler would lead them out of the depression. However, Hitler used the effects of the depression to advance his motives of abolishing the Treaty of Versailles, dominating the globe, and expanding German territory. His pursuance of these motives led to the war. Indeed, the formation of alliances with same goals had an impact on causing the war. The treaty between Britain and France treaty with Poland expanded the war. Additionally, the desire by Hitler, Mussolini and the Japanese imperialists to expand and conquer new territories their territories caused the war. Failure of the League of Nations to Keep the Peace The failure of the League of Nations to deal with major international issues was a long-term cause for the war. In the case of Manchuria, Japan and in the case of Abyssinia, Mussolini disobeyed the international law and the League of Nations was unable to deal with them. The weaknesses of the League of Nations emanated from the fact that not all countries joined the League where Republican government of US refused to join, Russia was excluded, Germany was not allowed to join, and while others were refused as, others joined and left. This weakened the support of the League. Indeed, the League had no power as it would only ask member countries to stop trading with aggressive countries a directive which was easily disobeyed (Marshall Cavendish Corporation 22-25). Most significantly, the League had no army to enforce its resolutions as member countries would supply the army though most were reluctant to get involved against other countries. Additionally, the League was ineffective as it was unable to act quickly as it only met four times in its time. Hence, it would not act quickly to stop an act of aggression as posed by Adolf Hitler and Mussolini. Hence, these radicals found a leeway to advance their ideas with the ineffectiveness of the League of Nations thus leading to the war. Participants of World War II The World War 11 was fought between two groups. The groups were classified into the Axis and the Allies. The Axis included Germany, Italy, Japan, Slovakia (Nov. 1940), Hungary (Nov. 1940), Romania (Nov. 1940), Bulgaria (March 1941). The Allies included Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, India, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States, USSR, Yugoslavia, and other common wealth countries (Raum 12). The sequence of the World War II In 1939, Germany invaded Poland and annexed Danzig. As a result Britain and France gave Germany an ultimatum which Hitler did not heed to and thus they declared war on Germany. In 1940, Hitler and his army invaded Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium. While the Germans crossed the French frontier, Britain on the other hand was able to rescue about 335,000 Allied soldiers from Belgium. Additionally, Italy declared and attacked France and Britain with the Nazi entering Paris with no opposition (Hamilton 4-8). In1941, Hitler attacked Balkans, Yugoslavia surrenders as the Nazi tanks enter Athens. In the same year, Hitler attacked Russia as japan attacked the Pearl Harbor forcing U.S. into war. This led to the signing of the Atlantic charter and the U.S. and Britain declaration of war on Japan. At the same time, Germany and Italy declared war on U.S. In 1942, Britain’s Singapore troops and Filipino troops surrendered to Japan as well as U.S. In 1943, the Casablanca Conference was held and agreed on Churchill and FDR unconditional surrendering goal. As a result, Germany soldiers in Russia surrendered while the Nazis in Africa were overpowered by the Britain and US (Hamilton 8-12). Mussolini was disposed while Italy surrendered as the Nazi took control of Rome (Hamilton 16-20). In the same year, the Cairo Conference sought to defeat Japan while the Tehran Conference sought to invade Germany. In 1944, the U.S. and British troops entered Anzio on west Italian coast, while other troops entered Rome. In a planned attack, Hitler was wounded as Paris and Athens were being freed. While the Americans invaded Philippine the Germans reiterated by attacking Belgium. In 1945, the Yalta Agreement was signed between FDR, Churchill, and Stalin. The agreement sought to occupy of Germany and return Soviet Union lands taken by Germany and Japan. In April 28 1945, Mussolini was killed in an attack while the suicide of Hitler was announced in May 1 as Berlin fell on May 2 (Hamilton 18). As a result, Germany surrendered unconditionally on May 7. In 6 August 1945, U.S dropped a bomb on Hiroshima as USSR declared war on Japan. Indeed, in August 8, another bomb was dropped in Nagasaki making Japan to surrender on 14 August 1945 (Hamilton 26-30). This marked the end of the World War 11. Impact of the World War II As a result of the war, many children and women suffered due to the loss of their husbands and fathers who went to war (Leavitt and Fox 5). The war also led to mass death of civilians and about 60 million military fatalities (Hamilton 4). The war equally led to migrations from farms in the Midwest and Northeast to the West and Gulf Coasts. Significantly, the war provided more opportunities for women to show their capabilities. Additionally, the economy of US improved due to the demand for weapons of war. The atomic bombing changed the world’s perception on United States as it became a world power (Blackwell and Callari Web). There were huge losses of merchant shipping to submarines and emphasis on food production. Indeed, Germany and Japan were totally defeated and their leaders tried for capital crimes. The Nazi regime crippled as japan witnessed huge infrastructure losses from the bomb attacks. Germany was equally divided into 4 zones and placed under U.S. military rule on temporary basis. Indeed, U.S and Soviet Union became superpowers. There were new technological advancements during and after the war. Moreover, non-European nations seeking national independence enhanced their struggle. Most, significantly, there was need to establish international organization to regulate world peace. Hence, the United Nations was formed in October 1945 with the full support and leadership of the United States, USSR and other significant nations. Conclusion The world war 11 remains to be one of the fatal wars in the globe. It was fought between 1939 and 1945. There are long term and short-term causes to the war. It was fought between the axis and the allies. The effects of the World War 1 and the treaty of Versailles largely caused the World War 11. Adolf Hitler of Germany and Mussolini of Italy were the main players in the war. The Germany attack on Poland marked the beginning while the bomb attack on Nagasaki marked the end of the World War 11. Works Cited Blackwell, Elizabeth and Callari, Stephen. The Positive Effects of World War II. Web 15, May 2012. < http://schools.nycenet.edu/Region5/ms210/www_two/ww2effects.html> Hamilton, John. World War II: The Final Years. London: ABDO, 2012. Print. Leavitt, Lewis and Fox, Nathan. The Psychological Effects of War and Violence on Children. London: Routledge, 1993. Print. Marshall Cavendish Corporation. History of World War II, Volume 1. London: Marshall Cavendish, 2004. Print. Raum, Elizabeth. World War II: An Interactive History Adventure. London: Capstone Press, 2009. Print. Read More