Causes of World War II

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Causes of World War II

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A complex confluence of treaty failures, economic collapse, and aggressive nationalism.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The causes of World War II have been given considerable attention by historians. The immediate precipitating event was the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany on September 1, 1939, the subsequent declarations of war on Germany made by Britain and France. The secret protocol of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of August 1939 helped make the invasion of Poland possible by establishing German and Soviet spheres of influence in Eastern Europe and providing for the division of Poland; the Soviet Union invaded eastern Poland on September 17. 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, which led to the Japanese invasion of Manchuria and the Second Sino-Japanese War; Italian aggression against Ethiopia, which led to the Second Italo-Ethiopian War; or military uprising in Spain, which led to the Spanish Civil War.

Career & Major Achievements

During the interwar period, deep anger arose in the Weimar Republic over the conditions of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, which punished Germany for its role in World War I with heavy financial reparations and severe limitations on its military that were intended to prevent it from becoming a military power again. The demilitarisation of the Rhineland, the prohibition of German unification with Austria, and the loss of its overseas colonies and some 12% of its pre-war land area and population all provoked strong currents of revanchism in German politics. During the worldwide economic crisis of the Great Depression in the 1930s, many people lost faith in liberal democracy and countries across the world turned to authoritarian regimes. In Germany, resentment over the terms of the Treaty of Versailles was intensified by the instability of the German political system, which splintered into a large number of parties and made it increasingly difficult to form lasting governing coalitions. The most successful political aspirant to emerge from the situation was Adolf Hitler, the leader of the Nazi Party.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The Nazis took totalitarian power in Germany from 1933 and demanded the undoing of the Versailles provisions. Their ambitious and aggressive domestic and foreign policies reflected their ideologies of antisemitism, unification of all Germans, the acquisition of "living space" (Lebensraum) for agrarian settlers, the elimination of Bolshevism and the hegemony of an "Aryan"/"Nordic" master race over "subhumans" (Untermenschen) such as Jews and Slavs. Other factors leading to the war included the aggression by Fascist Italy against Ethiopia, militarism in Imperial Japan against China, and Nationalists fighting against Republicans for control of Spain. At first, the aggressive moves met with only feeble and ineffectual policies of appeasement from the other major world powers. The League of Nations proved helpless, especially regarding China and Ethiopia.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1919: 1919 Milestone — During the interwar period, deep anger arose in the Weimar Republic over the conditions of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, which punished Germany for its role in World War I with heavy financial reparations and severe limitations on its military that were intended to prevent it from becoming a military power again.
2. 1933: 1933 Milestone — 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, which led to the Japanese invasion of Manchuria and the Second Sino-Japanese War; Italian aggression against Ethiopia, which led to the Second Italo-Ethiopian War; or military uprising in Spain, which led to the Spanish Civil War.
3. 1939: 1939 Milestone — The immediate precipitating event was the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany on September 1, 1939, the subsequent declarations of war on Germany made by Britain and France.

Notable Quotes by Causes of World War II

“The world's social and geopolitical circumstances had fundamentally and irrevocably changed.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Causes of World War II

True or False: “The Treaty of Versailles was universally accepted by all major European powers as a fair resolution to the Great War.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The treaty was heavily criticized by many nations, including Germany, for being overly punitive and failing to guarantee long-term peace.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ada Yonath — Historical peer (Born in 1939) (1939): Pioneering crystallographer known for elucidating the structure and function of the ribosome.
• Alan Ayckbourn — Historical peer (Born in 1939) (1939): Prolific British playwright and director known for domestic farce and ensemble pieces.
• 13th Dalai Lama — Historical peer (Died in 1933) (1933): Spiritual leader of Tibet who championed national independence and modernization.
• Abolhassan Banisadr — Historical peer (Born in 1933) (1933): Iranian politician who served as the first president following the Islamic Revolution.
• Adelina Patti — Historical peer (Died in 1919) (1919): Legendary Spanish-Italian soprano renowned for her bel canto technique and lyrical voice.
• Ahmed Abdallah — Historical peer (Born in 1919) (1919): Comorian politician who served as President of the Comoros from 1978 to 1989.

Frequently Asked Questions about Causes of World War II