Causes of WW2

1. Causes of WW2 “This is not a peace, its an armistice for 20 years” Ferdinand Foch Long term

2. Problems with Paris Peace Conference • Germany gets dictated peace when they believed peace w/o victory would be standard – Treaty of Versailles • Russia not invited • Self determination not followed consistently • Power vacuum in E. Europe – many small states

3. German grievances with Treaty of Versailles • Art 231 – War guilt clause • Lost territory – German nationals now part of : • Poland (Danzig Corridor) • Czechoslovakia ( Sudetanland) • Neutered Militarily – severe restrictions • Demilitarized Rhineland • “Excessive” reparations

5. US • Isolation dominates • Entry into war caused by industrialists and British propaganda • Anti British feeling permeates US administration after Wilson • Senate rejects Versailles • Return to normalcy • Pre 1898 foreign policy • Focus on domestic issues – roaring 20’s then Great Depression

6. Great Britain • Revisionism dominates political and academic thought • Great war could have been prevented • German aggression not sole cause of war • Tragic scale of death and destruction moves policy makers to want to avoid war at all costs • Rapid demobilization of armed forces • Could not afford to maintain armed forces • Domestic priorities move toward social welfare programs • Belief that militarism had been primary cause of war

7. GB cont. • Distrust of France and French intentions • France did not demobilize • Empire becoming too large and unwieldy • Nationalist movements emerge – India and Gandhi • Put faith in collective security • Take lead in League of Nations

8. France • Security and economic recovery two immediate goals • Treaty of Versailles supposed to provide both • US and GB abandon security commitments • France seeks security via alliances with unstable eastern European nations – Little Entente • Domestic politics volatile • Governments shift between left and right • Foreign policy ineffectual – forced to follow GB

9. France cont. • French insecurity eventually leads to inaction • Defensive mentality leads to Maginot line.

10. USSR • Bolsheviks consolidate power by 1921 • Foreign policy conducted at first by Trotsky • Formation of Comintern • Socialism at home first then assist spread • Weakness of Soviet Union means timid foreign policy • Stalin takes over in 1928 • Domestic consolidation from 28 to 36 • Spanish Civil War first major foreign policy move • Opposition to fascism primary motivation • Later decided to wait out “inevitable” war between capitalist powers…saw no difference between Fascist states and western liberal democracies – They were weak and decadent

11. Italy • Discontent with war and economic dislocation lead to instability in government • Mussolini comes to power(1922) and proclaims fascism as ideology • Intends to rebuild Roman Empire • Pursues aggressive foreign policy • North Africa, Ethiopia, Yugoslavia, Spain

12. Germany • Primary goal is to revise treaty • Avoids payments – refuses to make necessary actions to make payments manipulates economy • Regain Ger. Territory • Rapallo agreements • Splits western powers • Weimar republic takes blame at home although had no real choice • Lacks credibility domestically • Self inflicted economic problems reinforce image problems

13. Ger. Cont. • Radical parties gain power • Left wing parties destroyed • Rightwing parties gain more support especially among middle class • Democracy discredited – life better under Kaiser • Weimar government sustains myth that Ger. Not defeated • Great Depression of Early 30’s brings destruction of Weimar republic with Rise of Hitler and the Nazis

14. Major Themes • Influence of Ideologies • Marxism vs. Fascism • Western liberal Democracies seen as discredited in newly formed countries • Belief in Collective Security • Militarism and alliances need to be avoided • Arms control agreements such as London Naval conference and similar agreements seen as answer • International cooperation • Attempts at international disarmament

15. Events of the 1920’s • Ruhr Crisis 1921-22 • Germany defaults France occupies • US GB force France to with draw with Diplomatic pressure • Dawes plan 1922 • Provides aid to Germany • Locarno Agreements 1925 • Major German diplomatic victory • French security needs not really met • Germany essentially given ability to move on east

16. International Pacts • Washington conference • London Conference • Kellogg-Briand pact • All attempts at disarmament and renunciation of war • Groundwork laid for aggressive actions of totalitarian dictatorships in the 30’s

17. Road to war • I.   Manchurian incident 1931 • a.     League fails to intervene invokes K-B pact • b.     US invokes Stimson doctrine • c.      Japan leaves league

18. Hitler comes to power 1933 • Nazis gain plurality in 1932 election • Hitler appointed chancellor 1/33–Brunner believes controllable • Hitler made dictator in 3/33 • Hitler w/d from League 10/33 • a.     Begins rearmament • Hitler attempts Anschluss denied by Mussolini

19. Italian adventurism 1935-36 • Laval (French) accord • Italy invades Ethiopia • US and LoN apply ineffectual sanctions • Italy Conquers Ethiopia • Mussolini aids nationalists in Spanish Civil war

20. Spanish Civil War 1936 - 1939 • Ger. Italy support nationalists – USSR supports Republicans • Demonstrates lack of will by Liberal Democracies to act • USSR/Stalin only real opposition to fascists • Nationalists win –Stalin loses faith in LD’s to act

21. Hitler makes his moves 1936 to 1939 • Hitler moves troops into Rhineland 3/36 • British believe somewhat justified • French already hampered by defensive mentality • Anschluss with Austria • Bullied Austrian Chancellor to put Nazis in charge • Allies do nothing

22. Japanese aggression • Attacks China 1937 over manufactured incident • Wanted to create “Co-Prosperity Sphere” • Dependant on imported resources • Occupies French Indo China in 1940 • This prompts US Embargo on oil and steel • Japan decides to go to War with US to secure resources

23. Czech Crisis/ Munich Agreement • GB, Fr appeasement from weakness • Hitler surprised by success • German Soviet non Aggression pact • Stalin does not trust west • Poland divided • Germany invades Poland 9/39

24. Things to consider • Collective Security is rendered ineffectual by lack of will by LoN to respond effectively • GB’s desire to avoid war at all cost + economic troubles + vulnerability of empire leads to rationalization for appeasement • Germany well on way to restoring position before Hitler comes to power • USSR distrusts LDs and sees no diff between LDs and Fascist Dictators- both capitalist • France hindered by defensive mentality