The Causes of WWII

[Perikles]

In my opinion, WWII was not just caused by the invasion of Poland by Hitler in 1939 but a series of events since WWI.

One of the reasons was WWI, it economically paralysed Europe and it left quite a lot of resentment the various countries. Vast swathes of Europe had been devastated by the war, leaving bitterness on all sides. Also during this war Communism became prevelant in Russia, resulting in a rivalry with the Facist State in Germany in the 1930's.

Another cause in the lead up to WWII was the Treaty of Versaille, forced on the Germans by the victorious allies. The conditions of the treaty were very harsh and forced the once proud nation of Germany to have no more than 100,000 men in it's army. The Germans were also banned from having any war plane, tanks or submarines and from having their army enter the de-militarized Rhineland. Germany was also forced to pay all Britain and France war cost's. Germany also lost 13% of it's land, mainly on the border with France. These land were some of it's most profitable and indutrialised, crippiling it's ability to pay back it's debts. This treaty caused even more German resent towrds the allies, saying that it had been forced upon them.

Because of the treaty, Germany's economic problems worsened. They had lost the Rhur to the French, the industrial heartland of Germany, when they had failed to keep up debt repyments. To keep up the repayments the government printed more bank note, causing inflation to soar. These new bank notes became worthless, you needed wheel barrows of money to buy a loaf of bread and unemplyment rose sharply.

The Nazi's came to power with the promise of more prosperity, jobs and glory for the German People. German's saw Hitler as a saviour, a man who would restore them to their rightful place in the world. Hitler built up the German economy and then broke the Treaty of Versailles by rebuilding the armies and moving them into the de-militarized Rhine-lands, bordering France. In a bid to unite the German people under one banner he said that the Aryan race (Blonde hair, Blue eyes) was superior to all others and that they were the rightful overlords of the other races. Attacks on Jews began resulting in 'Crystal Night', where Jewish shops were broken into and smashed (Crystal) and thousands of Jews were either rounded up or killed. later, when the war was raging, the Nazi's began the final soloution to the Jewish problem....

The League of Nations, which had been set up after WWI, seemed incapable of stopping any wars at all. It was weak and did not act upon it's word. This was seen in 1931-33 when Japan invaded Manchuria in Northern China, to gain natural resources of which Japan had not many. The Chinese appealed to the LoN, the League blamed Japan but the member states did not want to help. More undermining of the League happened in 1935 when Mussolin attacked Abyssina, which is now Ethiopia. The LON imposed sanction upon Italy on all goods except steel, copper and oil - the materials it needed to fight a war. By not acting the LoN showed it's weakness to the rest of the world, including Germany, who now knew that the League would not react to any offensive move they make, and would probably rather make concessions than cross them and then trigger another war.

Another cause in the lead up to WWII was the British and French policy of appeasement towards Germany. Chamberlain believed that by giving Germany everything it wanted, even if it broke treaties, war might be avoided. The German's defied the Treaty of Versailles by uniting with Austria but they allowed it in the name of peace. The German's were also given the Sudtenland in Czechosolvakia to avert war. But all this did was show the Germans that the 2 major powers in Western Europe were weak and would always appease Germany, rather than force war.

But when the German's attacked Poland this was a step too far for the British and French, they did not concede any more and instead went to war for the 2nd time in a Generation, resulting in the deaths of millions of people around the world.

In conclusion, WWII was not just caused by the invasion of Poland but a number of factors steming back to WWI, including the Treaty of Versailles and the weakness of the League of nations.

[Sidus Preclarum]

Versailles, the rise of communism (to which the rise of fascism was a response), the reparations, &c &c.
Ultimately, a lot of it comes back to WWI...

Another cause in the lead up to WWII was the British and French policy of appeasement towards Germany. Chamberlain believed that by giving Germany everything it wanted, even if it broke treaties, war might be avoided. The German's defied the Treaty of Versailles by uniting with Austria but they allowed it in the name of peace. The German's were also given the Sudtenland in Czechosolvakia to avert war.

one of the main reason behind appeasement, was that the entre deux guerres was not a 2 players game, but a *3* players game. At times, Fascism seemed to the Liberals a possible ally against Communism (and Trotsky thought in 1931 that an eventual rise of Hitler to power in Germany would lead to the Liberals using him as a tool to destroy the USSR, ie as "the super-Wrangel of the world bourgeoisie".)

On the topic, I would advise reading this (if only it would come in an English translation, which title would be "The European Civil War, 1917-1945, national-socialism and bolchevism ")

[mafiawarlord]

The people to blame for Hitlers rise to power are the French and Brits who made Germany pay heavy taxes. Which caused inflation to go sky high. People burned money instead of fire wood.

[Perikles]

The people to blame for Hitlers rise to power are the French and Brits who made Germany pay heavy taxes. Which caused inflation to go sky high. People burned money instead of fire wood.

Chidren also playd with money in the streets and people filled wheel barrows with money just to go to the shop and buy a loaf of bread! I can't find the picutres though.....

[Carach]

The people to blame for Hitlers rise to power are the French and Brits who made Germany pay heavy taxes. Which caused inflation to go sky high. People burned money instead of fire wood.

dont make me laugh, the reparation money was easily reachable target for germans to reach, they jsut chose not to reach it.

You know we even reduced the reperation sum by some 1/3 1/4 or so? and germany still pretended they couldnt pay it by inflating their economy into a bad state on purpose. there were actually 2 incidents of high inflation i ngermany, one was because of this (which was fixed by a man i cant remember his name) and then the wall street crash causing the great depression - which hit germany hardest because they had borrowed a lot of money from america in the 20's.

wall street crash happened and they got screwed..leading to uber hyper inflation, the whole money in wheelbarrows thing etc etc..

Hitler eventually gets into power, hindenburg dies, hitler takes president for himself, sneakily moves into one after another country, britain and france being politically weak in leadership at this time says 'ok! but the buck stops with poland'

Hitler goes into poland thinking it will be another walk over..britain and france declare war, ww2.

Although, you were kind of right in saying britain and france caused ww2 (although not for your reasons), Weakness in leadership (yay for politicians eh?), this 'global peace' and 'peace in our time!' rubbish dominating the political scene crippled and blinded us.

by the time we grew a pair it was already too late, such is the way with britain at least, we let htings get screwed THEN try fixing it...millions die in ww2, when there could of been a lot less if we put our foot down much earlier on.

LoN was pathetic in dealingwith military problems, abysinia showed us that, manchuria showed us that, italian bombarding of greek islands showed us that, some other incidents also..again this relates to the lack of willingness to enforce sanction threats, caused by political (and economical) weaknesses.

at the end of the day as ive said so many times, there hasnt been and will not be in the far future, total peace, because there are always 'aggressors', always people wanting to break the rules. Its nature. WW2 and hitler should of showed people this (theres other examples too but this is about ww2), How can you deal with a man/nation that cannot be negotiated with? Not by negotiating (the way LoN tried), they understand one language, and thats the barrel of a gun.

Dont forget about the holocaust that ****** of many countries

Holocaust occured during the war, not before (well, relatively speaking)

while the net got tighter on the germans they actually sped up executing :/
many claimed they had no idea the holocaust was going on, yet who supplied the masive ovens etc for these camps? Who designed them etc etc? Of course they didnt know what was going on

[Ahlerich]

dont make me laugh, the reparation money was easily reachable target for germans to reach, they jsut chose not to reach it.

You know we even reduced the reperation sum by some 1/3 1/4 or so? and germany still pretended they couldnt pay it by inflating their economy into a bad state on purpose. there were actually 2 incidents of high inflation i ngermany, one was because of this (which was fixed by a man i cant remember his name) and then the wall street crash causing the great depression - which hit germany hardest because they had borrowed a lot of money from america in the 20's.

the reperations were way too high. if germany would have payed them and ww2 never happenend they had to pay until way in the 1980s..it was insane

combine with other humilations, like rhineland occupation and all those things that are not in historybooks, like frenchmen grenade fishing and clearing out german rivers, created a very aggressive attitude towards the winning countries, especially french.

so clearly this way to harsh peace treaty provided a situation in germany that made it possible for hitler to become powerfull. there were many ppl that didnt take hitler serious on his way to power from 1918-33. if the situation in germany had not been like it was he had never gotten enough seats to block the reichstag..and eventually come to power.

Again, no.

seeing as we could of smashed germany to the ground (infact maybe we sould of gone right into germany to show the people they were actually losing, as they were being told otherwise - causing the problems of the future).

i dont know what you are talking about? germany has been smasched after ww1. trains have been taken away, even tracks have been removed and melted down...as much industry as possible has been removed and later the main industrial area occupied by france. in peacetime. ppl were starving also. then the reperations after removing lots of industry, forcing a inflation more unemployment poverty and starving. how could you ever smash germany more then that? also allowing no army only 100000 soldiers and set limits on fleet and other weapons.

Don't double post. -- Mimirswell

[Carach]

the reperations were way too high. if germany would have payed them and ww2 never happenend they had to pay until way in the 1980s..it was insane

combine with other humilations, like rhineland occupation and all those things that are not in historybooks, like frenchmen grenade fishing and clearing out german rivers, created a very aggressive attitude towards the winning countries, especially french.

so clearly this way to harsh peace treaty provided a situation in germany that made it possible for hitler to become powerfull. there were many ppl that didnt take hitler serious on his way to power from 1918-33. if the situation in germany had not been like it was he had never gotten enough seats to block the reichstag..and eventually come to power.

reperations were high yes, but what do you expect after a 4 year long war which devestated northern france and belgium (and the word devastated i think is an understatement, the place was completely trashed), crippled several major powers, and killed millions of people..

the reparations were ment to be paid up to 1989, so was easily within reach to meet. (even more so after the treaty later on decreasing the reperations by a third).

The treaty was not harsh, you think it is because your german, and you all thought u could of won ww1 (somehow). Your nation's propaganda during ww1 up until the last days saying you were winning made people think your leaders betrayed you when the treaty of versailles was signed.

i dont know what you are talking about? germany has been smasched after ww1. trains have been taken away, even tracks have been removed and melted down...as much industry as possible has been removed and later the main industrial area occupied by france. in peacetime. ppl were starving also. then the reperations after removing lots of industry, forcing a inflation more unemployment poverty and starving. how could you ever smash germany more then that? also allowing no army only 100000 soldiers and set limits on fleet and other weapons.

germany was doing well in the mid 20s.

Some industry areas had been taken away yes, but like i said, reperations were still reachable.

Naval treaties were signed later on allowing germany to build bigger/more ships.

What i ment was that we should of driven on deep into germany to show the german people (who thought/were being told their nation was winning) that they were infact a defeated people.

[allmighty_phate]

dont make me laugh, the reparation money was easily reachable target for germans to reach, they jsut chose not to reach it.

You know we even reduced the reperation sum by some 1/3 1/4 or so? and germany still pretended they couldnt pay it by inflating their economy into a bad state on purpose. there were actually 2 incidents of high inflation i ngermany, one was because of this (which was fixed by a man i cant remember his name) and then the wall street crash causing the great depression - which hit germany hardest because they had borrowed a lot of money from america in the 20's.

wall street crash happened and they got screwed..leading to uber hyper inflation, the whole money in wheelbarrows thing etc etc..

many claimed they had no idea the holocaust was going on, yet who supplied the masive ovens etc for these camps? Who designed them etc etc? Of course they didnt know what was going on

well actualy the wheelbarrows of money was the pre-depression hyperinflation in 1923 caused by poor management of the german economy by the weimar goverment. as you say to some extent they ignored the fact to make a point to the allies. however it was also the fact that the issue was delt with poorly (ie printing more money and rapidly decreasing the value of currency in the process)

however this taught them a lesson, when the Depression struck europe in 1929 (which can be argued was caused by germanys poor economy, germany is a central trading nation in europe, trade to and from the middle east and other european countries pass through germany alot of the time so a weak german economy effects the rest of europe.. but i wont go into that as i only know some basics of it) the germans were by far the quickest to recover from the great depression.. "the hunger chancelor" Bruning's actions lead to him becoming very unpopular with the people but his actions (or lack there of, the book i checked this in contradicted itself slightly) lead to a quickend recovery of the economy, which Hitler claimed credit for.

im still studying this period so my knowledge is a little sketchy in places

Germany was embarassed that they lost WW1, making them go through a "depression" (like the U.S.'s in the '30's), making them even more desperate to find someone who would get them out of the hole quickly. Here comes Hitler. Promising cars for every man, making the economy strong, and giving people the ability to blame WW1 on a religious group so they don't have to be ****** themselves.
Then WW2 happens, Hitler Youth, etc. etc. etc., and a lot of people don't really know what went on at the camps and have many questions. But I'm getting too far ahead.

there was anti-semitism to varying degrees throughout Europe and even in amweica i believe pre-war, which contributed to the actions of germany. Hitler actualy planed to emigrate large numbers of jews out of germany, but no-one would take them

[removeduser_426582376423734]

there was anti-semitism to varying degrees throughout Europe and even in amweica i believe pre-war, which contributed to the actions of germany. Hitler actualy planed to emigrate large numbers of jews out of germany, but no-one would take them

This is very true. No-one ever remembers the anti-Semitism in places like Russia. Tsar Nikolas II was a firm believer in the rumour that Jews were the problem of everything bad in the world. Stalin exterminated millions of Jews, when he sent them to Siberia to starve or sunk them under ice.

[Sidus Preclarum]

The people to blame for Hitlers rise to power are the French and Brits who made Germany pay heavy taxes. Which caused inflation to go sky high.

if you want to play that game, blame it on the US , who wouldn't alleviate the debt both the UK and France had contracted during WWI, rendering said reparations a vital matter ...

[Last Roman]

if you really wanted it to boil it down to one reason, it was WWI. It was WWI that led to collapse of the Russian Empire to the communists, it was WWI that led to the dismemberment of the AH and Ottoman empires as well as the abdication of the Kaiser and the dissolution of the German empire. It was WWI that led to the Versailles conference. It was WWI tht led to the rise of extreme right politics (fascism/nazism). I think you get the point

[Lee1026]

If you boil it down far enough, WWII came about because there were humans......

[Last Roman]

If you boil it down far enough, WWII came about because there were humans......

I suppose if you want to get technical about it (which it seems you like to do )

[Scarecrow]

Dont forget about the holocaust that ****** of many countries

[Lee1026]

No, I just like to apply the logic uniformly.

[.Socrates]

Germany was embarassed that they lost WW1, making them go through a "depression" (like the U.S.'s in the '30's), making them even more desperate to find someone who would get them out of the hole quickly.
Here comes Hitler. Promising cars for every man, making the economy strong, and giving people the ability to blame WW1 on a religious group so they don't have to be ****** themselves.
Then WW2 happens, Hitler Youth, etc. etc. etc., and a lot of people don't really know what went on at the camps and have many questions. But I'm getting too far ahead.

[QuackyNC]

World war II was caused by the treaty of versaille and the ambitions of power hungry men. Versaille left the german state in a dispicable situation and left a vacum of power and want that allowed hitler to come to power. It was then the ambitions of Hitler to further the german state and race that led to Europe being plunged into war. The pacific war was caused becasue Japan was basically a military dictatorship and the generals and leaders of Japan thought it was necessary to fight the US to keep and expand their empire.

[Carach]

World war II was caused by the treaty of versaille and the ambitions of power hungry men. Versaille left the german state in a dispicable situation and left a vacum of power and want that allowed hitler to come to power. It was then the ambitions of Hitler to further the german state and race that led to Europe being plunged into war. The pacific war was caused becasue Japan was basically a military dictatorship and the generals and leaders of Japan thought it was necessary to fight the US to keep and expand their empire.

Again, no.

Versailles treaty didnt help things but then the allies (france and britain especially) had been decimated by this war, america came in for the last few months and some how got a major place in the negotiation tables (why?)

Germany made a very very harsh peace with russia, so the allies thought they were going to get the same if they surrendered, they actually gave quite nice surrender terms, seeing as we could of smashed germany to the ground (infact maybe we sould of gone right into germany to show the people they were actually losing, as they were being told otherwise - causing the problems of the future).

Vacuum of power was not caused by versailles. the weimar republic were actually quite successful and destroyed numerous uprisings with ease (one of which being hitler's failed coup), they failed when the great depression occured, and the problems presented by the german governmental system allowed for people like hitler to gain considerable influence - he was only given chancellorship because conservatives etc thought they could control him - they failed.

hitler took a lot of power through a series of laws, but only after hindenburg died did he take full power.

Pacific war was an extension of ww2, it was not the begining of ww2, and japan didnt only attack the US..they invaded several british, french, and other allies' terriroties in quick succession (much like blitzreig jungle style).

British commonwealth troops were ill equiped (much like in europe), and were overwhelmed, the war leadership also underestimated japanese power in the area (air power especially).

Its quite amazing how fast japan actually took a lot of these provinces, obviously had been planned for some time.

[Last Roman]

america came in for the last few months and some how got a major place in the negotiation tables (why?).

because (I'm convinced anyway) America's entering the war broke up the stalemate that was going on. Also before they entered the war, they invested both in France and the UK (even though officially they were neutral)

[Carach]

because (I'm convinced anyway) America's entering the war broke up the stalemate that was going on. Also before they entered the war, they invested both in France and the UK (even though officially they were neutral)

The stalemate was broken nearly a year before america entered the war, roman.

America played it good in both ww's tbh, hanging back and making tidy profits while the others battered each other to death, then came in and took the gold medal (aka the win)..

got to give credit for that, eventhough it did cost a lot more lives that way.

Wilson's 15 points or whatever were probably seen as an insult to clemencau at least...after having his nation go through 4 years of total war (annihilating northern france and causing untold amount of damage), and have some american who had played a part for mere months and hadnt experienced such devestation, come in and demand the treaty be based on these very leniant (and actualy threatening points towards britain and france)...