What is the reason behind 2nd World war? ( for 4 marks).
Answers
1)Dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Versailles: The Treaty of Versailles was seen as humiliating by Germany since it demanded the annexation of German territories and creation of many States. Germany was forced to sign the Treaty despite the fact that it mandated that all the colonies should be taken away from Germany. Even Germany’s own territory was divided into two parts for the benefit of Poland. She was also burdened with huge war indemnity which she could never pay. Her military power was drastically reduced. This humiliation gave rise to a spirit of revenge which in the ultimate analysis translated into an aggressive foreign policy and re-armament of Germany.
2)Rise of Fascism and Nazism - Italy had suffered a great deal during the First World War and had not been awarded with any significant gains through the Treaty of Versailles. Also, after the War, Italy suffered a great deal of economic distress and stagnation. Italians were looking for a leadership that would steer them out of this difficult situation. Mussolini proved to be that leader since no other political party or organisation provided any alternative.
In Germany, the situation was even worse. Germany was the defeated party in the First World War and since then had been humiliated - politically, economically, militarily - and in every other way conceivable. The frustration and nationalistic aspirations of the Germans thus turned into widespread support for Hitler and the Nazi party.
3)Policy of Appeasement - Appeasement refers to the policy of containing an aggressive power at the expense of some other country. Britain and France followed this policy towards dictatorial powers like Germany and Italy. This was done because it was felt that the leaders of these countries had genuine grievances due to the humiliating terms of the Versailles Treaty and if those were addressed, they would not disturb world peace. England and France also feared that if not allowed to arm herself, Germany would turn to Russian Bolshevism. In order to avoid that eventuality, the two European powers were willing to indulge the ultra-nationalist designs of Hitler.
Answer:
Historians from many countries have given considerable attention to studying and understanding the causes of World War II, a global war from 1939 to 1945 that was the deadliest conflict in human history. The immediate precipitating event was the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany on September 1, 1939, and the subsequent declarations of war on Germany made by Britain and France, but many other prior events have been suggested as ultimate causes. Primary themes in historical analysis of the war's origins include the political takeover of Germany in 1933 by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party; Japanese militarism against China; Italian aggression against Ethiopia; and Germany's initial success in negotiating a neutrality pact with the Soviet Union to divide territorial control of Eastern Europe between them.
Historians from many countries have given considerable attention to studying and understanding the causes of World War II, a global war from 1939 to 1945 that was the deadliest conflict in human history. The immediate precipitating event was the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany on September 1, 1939, and the subsequent declarations of war on Germany made by Britain and France, but many other prior events have been suggested as ultimate causes. Primary themes in historical analysis of the war's origins include the political takeover of Germany in 1933 by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party; Japanese militarism against China; Italian aggression against Ethiopia; and Germany's initial success in negotiating a neutrality pact with the Soviet Union to divide territorial control of Eastern Europe between them.During the interwar period, deep anger arose in Weimar Germany regarding the conditions of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, which punished Germany for its role in the First World War with severe conditions and heavy financial reparations in order to prevent it from ever becoming a military power again. This provoked strong currents of revanchism in German politics, with complaints primarily focused on the demilitarization of the Rhineland, the prohibition of German unification with Austria, and the loss of some German-speaking territories and overseas colonies.