World War Two began in 1939 as a result of many things. Tension began to build from the end of World War One due to many things, such as the effects of the Treaty of Versailles and the Great Depression, Adolf Hitler’s new role of Führer (succeeding Paul von Hindenburg) and his exploitation of the League of Nations and the Treaty of Versailles through his Nazi army. These causes are closely tied with the increase of fascism throughout Europe and Nazi Germany’s foreign policy, along with the policy of appeasement and its repercussions. Finally, the immediate events before the war in the late 1930s, and especially, the German invasion of Poland in 1939.
The Treaty of Versailles, a treaty made to declare peace between Germany and the Allies on June 28 1919, was an early cause of World War Two. The idea of the treaty (for the Big Three: Great Britain, the United States and France) was to punish Germany for starting World War One. This was done by reducing Germany’s army to 100,000 men, banning tanks and conscription for the German army, forbidding an air force, and diminishing Germany’s naval force to six battleships.1 There were also financial reparations; Germany was forced to pay 6.6 billion pounds. The War Guilt Clause (Clause 231) forced Germany to accept responsibility for sparking World War One, which, on top of the military and financial burdens and the significant loss of land, angered the Germans to a great degree, as the Roaring Twenties began. Of course, the Great Depression followed this. The worldwide debt was especially noticeable in Germany, who still owed millions to other countries. This debt, along with a nationwide sense of insecurity due to the military restrictions, caused a great loss of pride within Germany, which gave a window of opportunity for Hitler to become Führer, and dictate what was soon to become Nazi Germany.2 The League of Nations was formed as one of Woodrow Wilson’s fourteen points, a part of the Treaty of Versailles. The principle on which the League of Nations was based is simple: a new world order that would prevent future wars. Unfortunately, the League of Nations lacked two key things: the United States (whose idea the league was), and an army.5 This meant the League of Nations was rendered useless. The league did nothing to prevent Hitler from breaking various clauses of the Treaty of Versailles, by seizing parts of land that had previously been removed from Germany’s possession through the use of the fact that there were many Germans in now-foreign territory. Countries other than Germany were not prepared to go to war at this stage, thus they were forced to allow Hitler to effectively do whatever he wanted.5 This lack of resistance against Hitler ultimately led to Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939, one of the direct causes of World War Two. The severe increase of fascism under Hitler’s direction and the Foreign Policy and Appeasement of Nazi Germany also had large influences in the start of World War Two. On 2 August, 1934, Hitler took over from Hindenburg as Führer [The History Place, 1997]. This allowed Hitler full power over Germany, which he made use of by first getting the public to trust him. This happened because the public voted for Hitler and the Nazi …show more content…
The Anschluss occurred when German troops entered Austria, forcing Austria to unite with Germany. Half a year later, Hitler returned to his expansion plan and turned his focus to Czechoslovakia. This demand of the Sudetenland was reluctantly allowed by Chamberlain on the condition that the remaining land in Czechoslovakia would not be invaded. Several months later, Hitler once again went against his word and invaded Czechoslovakia months later. France and Britain still refused to stand in Hitler’s way, in fear of another war. Eventually, when it became obvious that Hitler’s next attempted “expansion” would be directed at Poland, Britain and France threatened Hitler with war. Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, agreed to sign a pact, allowing Hitler freedom, as this removed the possibility if facing a war on two fronts. The threat was therefore no deterrent; thus World War Two began when Hitler invaded Poland in
The Treaty of Versailles, a treaty made to declare peace between Germany and the Allies on June 28 1919, was an early cause of World War Two. The idea of the treaty (for the Big Three: Great Britain, the United States and France) was to punish Germany for starting World War One. This was done by reducing Germany’s army to 100,000 men, banning tanks and conscription for the German army, forbidding an air force, and diminishing Germany’s naval force to six battleships.1 There were also financial reparations; Germany was forced to pay 6.6 billion pounds. The War Guilt Clause (Clause 231) forced Germany to accept responsibility for sparking World War One, which, on top of the military and financial burdens and the significant loss of land, angered the Germans to a great degree, as the Roaring Twenties began. Of course, the Great Depression followed this. The worldwide debt was especially noticeable in Germany, who still owed millions to other countries. This debt, along with a nationwide sense of insecurity due to the military restrictions, caused a great loss of pride within Germany, which gave a window of opportunity for Hitler to become Führer, and dictate what was soon to become Nazi Germany.2 The League of Nations was formed as one of Woodrow Wilson’s fourteen points, a part of the Treaty of Versailles. The principle on which the League of Nations was based is simple: a new world order that would prevent future wars. Unfortunately, the League of Nations lacked two key things: the United States (whose idea the league was), and an army.5 This meant the League of Nations was rendered useless. The league did nothing to prevent Hitler from breaking various clauses of the Treaty of Versailles, by seizing parts of land that had previously been removed from Germany’s possession through the use of the fact that there were many Germans in now-foreign territory. Countries other than Germany were not prepared to go to war at this stage, thus they were forced to allow Hitler to effectively do whatever he wanted.5 This lack of resistance against Hitler ultimately led to Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939, one of the direct causes of World War Two. The severe increase of fascism under Hitler’s direction and the Foreign Policy and Appeasement of Nazi Germany also had large influences in the start of World War Two. On 2 August, 1934, Hitler took over from Hindenburg as Führer [The History Place, 1997]. This allowed Hitler full power over Germany, which he made use of by first getting the public to trust him. This happened because the public voted for Hitler and the Nazi …show more content…
The Anschluss occurred when German troops entered Austria, forcing Austria to unite with Germany. Half a year later, Hitler returned to his expansion plan and turned his focus to Czechoslovakia. This demand of the Sudetenland was reluctantly allowed by Chamberlain on the condition that the remaining land in Czechoslovakia would not be invaded. Several months later, Hitler once again went against his word and invaded Czechoslovakia months later. France and Britain still refused to stand in Hitler’s way, in fear of another war. Eventually, when it became obvious that Hitler’s next attempted “expansion” would be directed at Poland, Britain and France threatened Hitler with war. Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, agreed to sign a pact, allowing Hitler freedom, as this removed the possibility if facing a war on two fronts. The threat was therefore no deterrent; thus World War Two began when Hitler invaded Poland in