1 / 26

Causes of WW2

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

Download Presentation

Causes of WW2

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. 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

  21. 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

  22. 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

  23. 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

More Related