Causes of WWII
Hitler's Foreign Policy
Appeasement
Great Depression 1929
Peace treaties 1919-1923
Failures of LON 1930s
Nazi-Soviet Pact 1939
The treaties, especially the TOV was highly condemned in Germany and never gained wide acceptance. Even many in Britain had felt the TOV was unfair and was unwilling to enforce it when Germany broke its terms.
There were a variety of reasons for this failure, many connected to general weaknesses within the organization, such as voting structure that made ratifying resolutions difficult and incomplete representation among world nations. Additionally, the power of the League was limited by the USA’s refusal to join. The victors such as Britain and France prioritised themselves over the League and did not really care much about the League but was more of taking advantage of it.
Spanish Civil War 1936-1939
During the 1930s, politicians in Britain and France began to believe that the Treaty of Versailles was unfair to Germany and that Hitler’s actions were understandable and justifiable. It allowed Germany to break the TOV and grow stronger which threatened the peace in Europe again.
All the countries affected by the Depression were in an economic crisis, especially since after WWI, it was still a time of recovery. Therefore, some invaded other countries for resources to revive their own economies.
Mukden Railway Incident, Manchuria 1931
Disarmament; reparations; loss of all colonies; significant territorial losses (i.e Polish Corridor, and territory ceded to Poland; Danzig); War Guilt Clause; Diktat
The massive unpopularity of the TOV was a critical reason for Hitler's rise to power in Germany and soon after taking power, he proceeded to deliberately expand German power, violating the terms of the TOV. Hitler getting away with this further emboldened him and Nazi expansion (foreign policy) because it made the western powers look weak.
The Non-Aggression Pact between Germany and the Soviet Union was a win-win situation for both countries.
Hitler's reintroduction of conscription to German military kept other countries such as Britain and France on high alert however they did not do anything in particular to stop it. Britain only justified Germany's rearmament due to fear of communism.
Anglo-German Naval Agreement June 1935
This legalised German's naval rearmament. But, this was done without the agreement from Italy and France. Mussolini therefore felt he could also carry out equally selfish ideas.
Japan was hit hard by the Depression. The government did little to help the economy and was seen as weak and powerless hence, the people favoured the army. The army saw Manchuria as a solution to all their problems as it was vast and not thinly populated.
Munich Agreement Sept 1938
In the Agreement, Britain and France allowed Germany to annex areas in Czechoslovakia where German-speakers lived. Germany agreed not to invade the rest of Czechoslovakia or any other country. In March 1939, Germany broke its promise and invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia. Neither Britain nor France was prepared to take military action. Then, on September 1, 1939, German troops invaded Poland. Britain and France immediately declared war on Germany. World War II had begun in Europe.
During a depression, people look for a strong political leader to resolve their problems. In 1933, Hitler became the leader of Germany by promising to restore German wealth and power.
The pact ended any chance of the USSR siding with the British and French in 1939. This was a major success for Hitler and it allowed him to begin the attack on Poland. It also allowed the USSR the time to build up their military strength.It gave Hitler a free hand to invade Poland and go to war against its Western allies without intervention by the Soviet Union.
Hoare-Laval Pact; Disarmament Conference; Abyssinian Crisis
The League failed to intervene in many conflicts leading up to WWII, including the Italian invasion of Abyssinia and the Spanish Civil War. When the League tried to stop conflicts, Japan left after the Lytton Report, Germany in 1933 and Italy during the Abyssinian Crisis. The failure to handle the situations properly led to many believing the League was powerless and therefore the countries started acting with more aggression. This would have increased tensions between countries.
A long civil war would distract the West from affairs in Central Europe as Hitler pursued his goals in Austria and Czechoslovokia. Hitler and Mussolini would also grow closer while Italy's relations with West worsened. Germany was also able to make use of its armed forces to be tested.
Anschluss; Luftwaffe
Hitler kept Mussolini by his side, telling him to commit troops in the war, straining French-Italian relationships and Germany's testing of armed forces during the war allowed it to be improved for a larger scale war (WWII). Britain and France however did not show any signs of involvement and only banned foreign volunteers in 1917.