The Causes of World War II

1
The Causes of World War II

• Long Term Causes
• 1) Discontent about the Treaty of Versailles
• 2) Worldwide economic depression
• 3) Rise of totalitarian governments
• A. Axis Totalitarianism desire to destroy
  democracy
• B. Axis Militarism - vast sums spent on war
  preparations war a glorious adventure death
  for the Fatherland the highest honor
• C. Axis Nationalism - Japan, Italy, and Germany
  destined to rule over lesser peoples
• D. Axis Imperialism - lacked land and resources
  were have-not nations

2
The Causes of World War II (contd)

• Subsidiary Causes of World War II
• A. Failure of Appeasement Neville Chamberlain
• Final application ? Munich Conference
• B. Failure of Collective Security - democratic
  nations shrank from any military action US ?
  neutral UK FR delay a firm alliance until
  1939
• Note USSR urged collective security (fear of
  Nazi Germany) democratic nations reluctant
• C. American Neutrality Legislation - no help to
  ill- equipped victims of Axis no US
  intervention to check Axis

3
AJP Taylor WWII

• 1961 Argued Hitler should not shoulder sole or
  major responsibility for the war
• Claimed Hitler was a typical German statesman
  pursuing typical German ends simply took
  advantage of situations (not evil)
• Hitler did not want war in 1939 (accidental)
• Functionalists Hitler NOT in control of all
• Intentionalists Hitler in CONTROL (Most
  historians) German FP a refelction of his goals

4
AJP Taylor WWII

• WWI had neither satisfied nor crushed Germanys
  expansionist ambitions
• Taylor blamed the Versailles peacemakers
  claimed WWII was implicit since the settlement
  left Germany embittered but failed to reduce its
  latent power