CAUSES OF WORLD WAR II
1. Treaty of Versailles
a) The suddenness of the Treaty of Versailles. It was all carried out in a hurry since without preparation and further considerationàGermany’s army were still intact, Germany were not occupiedà German people never thought they were defeated but were “stubbed in the back”. à Weimar Republic which accepts Treaty of Versailles was very unpopularàHitler’s rise.
b) It is an incoherent treaty (cocktail) carrying different ideas of the USA’s idealism (League of nation, self-determinations), Britain’s pragmatism (temporary occupation of Saar and Rhineland) and France’s revenge (reparations). à It is neither soft enough to reconcile Germans nor hard enough to cripple them forever. à Germany still have predominant advantages in Europe.
c) Split Germans, German in Poland, Czechoslovakia and Austria regenerate and perpetuate the racial pride à Gave Hitler a excuse of Anschluss with Austria, invasion of Czechoslovakia and Poland.
d) The chaos created in central and eastern Europe around German, i.e. weak neighbors Austria, Hungaria, Poland etc.) àpower vacuum conductive to German’s expansion.
e) Inconsistence, American’s absence from the League of nations, Britain’s change of policy.
2. Hitler’s role
a) Hitler’s will to create a strong Germany and unite all Germany then domain the world as seen in Mein Kampf.
b) Rearmament of Germany military expansionà remilitarize of Rhineland, Anschluss with Austria and invasion of Czechoslovakia and Poland.
c) Hitler’s racismàwant to eliminate all subordinate race i.e. Jaws Czechs, Slavs, etc.
d) Hitler’s hate of Communistàplan to attack Soviet Union.
3. Appeasement
a) Anglo-Nazi Naval Pact undermine Treaty of Versailles à allow Germany’s rearmament.
b) No action during Germany’s Anschlussà allow Germany’s expansion of Territory
c) Shows Western power’s inability promoted Hitler’s invasion and push him forward to war.
d) Cause the failure of “Stresa Front”
4. Other causes
a) US isolationism
b) Weakness of Western power
c) Italy’s invasion of Abyssinia
d) Japan’s invasion of Manchuria
e) Soviet Union’s role
Key events timeline
1933 Oct German withdrew from Disarmament Conference and League of Nations start rearmament.
1935 Jan Saarland returned to Germans under a plebiscite under Treaty of Versailles
March German declared a decree of conscription
April Stresa Front
June Anglo-German Naval Pact
Oct Italy invaded Abyssinia
1936 March Remilitarized Rhineland
Nov Rome-Berlin Axis
Anti-Comintern Pact: formed between Germany and Japan
1938 March German’s Anschluss with Austria
Sept Munich Agreement with Britain, France, Italy and Germany
1939 March Rest of Czechoslovakia invaded.
Aug Nazi-Soviet Pact
Sept Invasion of Poland
Sept 2 Out break of the war