Causes of WWII: Militarism and Alliances

Causes of War

• Militarism is the aggressive buildup of a nation’s military for war preparation. This often includes the development of advanced weapons systems, training for troops, and mobilization of reserves.
• Post-WWI, the Treaty of Versailles limited Germany’s military, imposing significant restrictions on the size of the army, the production of weaponry, and the overall military capacity of the nation.
• Adolf Hitler ignored these restrictions and rearmed Germany as part of his expansionist strategy, which he believed would restore Germany's power and prestige on the global stage.
• Hitler expanded the Wehrmacht (the German army), Luftwaffe (air force), and Kriegsmarine (navy), which included enhancements in technology, strategic tactics, and troop numbers, directly defying the terms set by the Treaty of Versailles.
• This military buildup increased tensions across Europe, leading to an arms race as other nations felt compelled to respond to Germany's aggressive expansion.
• Japan's expansionist policies in the 1930s saw its military grow swiftly, fueled by the desire for resources and territorial expansion in Asia, further heightening regional tensions.
• Japan's aggression in China and the Pacific contributed to the war in Asia, with conflicts such as the Second Sino-Japanese War leading to widespread devastation and atrocities.
• The rapid military buildup led to military solutions and large-scale conflicts instead of diplomatic resolutions, as nations prioritized military strength over negotiation.
• Germany and Japan sought to assert themselves with military force, driven by ideologies that viewed warfare as a legitimate means of national expansion and survival.
• Alliances are agreements between nations to support each other militarily or politically, often formalized in treaties that outline mutual defense and cooperation.
• The Axis Powers included Germany, Italy, and Japan, who formed military alliances aimed at mutual support in their imperial ambitions.
• The Axis Powers aimed to dominate Europe, Africa, and Asia through aggression, which not only showcased their military might but also threatened global peace and stability, leading to international concern.
• The Allied Powers included Britain, France, the Soviet Union, the United States, and China, uniting in a common cause to stop Axis aggression and restore global order.
• The Allies united to counteract the threatening expansion of the Axis, focusing their military and economic resources to fight against the oppressive regimes.
• Alliances caused local conflicts to escalate into global wars, as treaties bound nations to intervene on behalf of their allies, turning regional disputes into widespread confrontations.
• Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939 led Britain and France to declare war, thereby involving the Allies against the Axis in a significant escalation that marked the official start of World War II.
• Nationalism is extreme pride and loyalty to one’s country, often at the expense of others, fostering a sense of superiority and a desire for territorial expansion.
• Hitler’s ideology of Lebensraum ("living space") sought to expand German territory eastward, promoting the belief that the German people were entitled to more land for settlement and resources.
• Hitler's concept of living space justified the invasions of Poland and other countries, rationalizing aggressive actions as necessary for national survival and growth.
• Japanese nationalism fueled imperial ambitions, with a belief in Japan's divine right to lead Asia and eliminate Western influence from the region.
• Japanese nationalism led to horrific events such as the Rape of Nanking (1937) and a brutal conquest of China, marked by atrocities against civilians and attempts to demonstrate Japanese superiority.
• Japanese believed in their superiority and destiny to dominate East Asia, which was exacerbated by a history of militaristic education and propaganda that emphasized racial and cultural superiority.
• Nationalist sentiments were used in wartime propaganda to encourage total war, instilling a collective emotional drive among citizens to support the war effort, often with dehumanizing portrayals of the enemy.
• Nationalism motivated civilian populations to contribute to the war effort, pushing people into factories and military service while also sparking numerous resistance movements within occupied territories.
• Imperialism is the expansion of a country’s power through military conquest or colonization, often justified under the guise of civilizing missions or spreading influence.
• Germany sought to expand eastward into Poland, the Soviet Union, and Eastern Europe, believing it necessary to secure resources and territory for its growing population and ambitions.
• Italy sought to control North Africa, particularly Ethiopia and Libya, driven by a desire to restore its former imperial glory and establish authority in the Mediterranean.
• Japan aimed to dominate the Pacific and parts of Southeast Asia, establishing a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere to exploit resources and spread Japanese culture throughout the region.
• Imperialist ambitions led to significant military actions, including the invasion of Poland (1939), China (1937), and the annexation of Sudetenland (1938), with each action setting the stage for larger conflicts.
• These territorial disputes were catalysts for WWII, with aggressive actions prompting responses from other nations that ultimately escalated into a full-scale global war.
• Appeasement is the policy of giving in to aggressive demands to maintain peace, often seen as a strategy of concession to avoid conflict.
• At the Munich Conference (1938), Neville Chamberlain allowed Hitler to annex the Sudetenland, believing it would satisfy his expansionist desires and avert war.
• Hitler promised no further territorial expansion after Munich, which was a critical misjudgment by European leaders who underestimated his ambitions and commitments.
• Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia in 1939, breaking his promise and demonstrating that the policy of appeasement had utterly failed.
• Appeasement failed to curb his aggression and delayed the conflict but made war inevitable, as it allowed Axis powers to grow bolder by believing that their actions would go unchecked.

Important People

• Neville Chamberlain was the British Prime Minister (1937–1940), a significant figure in leading Britain during the pre-war period.
• He is known for appeasement at the Munich Conference (1938), where he aimed to negotiate peace and avoid war through concessions.
• Chamberlain gave in to Hitler’s demands to avoid war, adopting a strategy that ultimately proved costly for Europe.
• He resigned after Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939, recognizing that his policy had failed and that war was unavoidable.
• Chamberlain’s approach is widely criticized for enabling Nazi expansion, as it allowed Germany to grow stronger militarily and politically without opposition.
• Winston Churchill was the British Prime Minister (1940–1945), and he became emblematic of British resilience during World War II.
• He was a key figure in Britain’s resistance to Nazi Germany, famously rallying the nation with his speeches and refusal to consider defeat.
• Churchill refused to surrender to Hitler even in the face of overwhelming odds, embodying the spirit of defiance that characterized Britain’s efforts during the war.
• Churchill inspired Britain with speeches like "We shall fight on the beaches," which fortified public morale during dark times.
• He worked with U.S. President FDR and Stalin to plan the war effort and establish post-war peace, initiating crucial alliances that shaped the Allied approach.
• Joseph Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union (1924–1953), playing an influential but complex role during the war.
• He signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with Germany in 1939, a non-aggression treaty that allowed Hitler to invade Poland without fear of Soviet retaliation.
• This pact allowed Hitler to invade Poland without Soviet intervention, setting the stage for collaborative yet tension-filled relations between Germany and the Soviet Union before the war escalated.
• After Operation Barbarossa (1941), the Soviet Union joined the Allies, as Nazi Germany turned against its former ally, leading to a massive conflict on the Eastern Front.
• Stalin played a crucial role in the Soviet victory at Stalingrad (1942-1943), marking a significant turning point in the war that shifted the momentum in favor of the Allies.
• Dwight D. Eisenhower was the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe, orchestrating key military operations that turned the tide against Nazi Germany.
• Eisenhower planned and led D-Day (June 6, 1944), a critical invasion that aimed to liberate Western Europe from Nazi occupation.
• D-Day was the Allied invasion of Normandy, marking the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany as Allied forces established a foothold in Europe.
• Eisenhower’s leadership ensured the success of Operation Overlord, which was pivotal in establishing a second front against the Germans and helping to secure final victory.
• Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) was the U.S. President (1933–1945), whose leadership helped reshape the course of the war through strategic decisions and alliances.
• FDR supported the Lend-Lease Act (1941), a key initiative that allowed the U.S. to provide military aid to Britain and the Soviet Union before formally entering the conflict.
• The Lend-Lease Act allowed the U.S. to provide military aid to Britain and the Soviet Union before entering the war, significantly bolstering the war efforts of Allies and sustaining them during critical periods.
• After Pearl Harbor (1941), FDR declared war on Japan and Germany, leading the U.S. into WWII and shifting the balance of global military power.
• His leadership was instrumental in the Allied victory, as he worked closely with other leaders to coordinate military strategies and post-war planning.
• Hermann Göring was a Nazi leader and head of the Luftwaffe (German Air Force), known for his significant yet controversial role in the German military operations.
• He directed the Battle of Britain but failed to defeat the Royal Air Force (RAF), which was a turning point in the air war over Britain.
• Göring was convicted at the Nuremberg Trials but committed suicide in 1946, embodying the tragic downfall of the Nazi leadership following their defeat.
• Adolf Hitler was the dictator of Nazi Germany (1933–1945), whose aggressive policies and ideologies led to the outbreak of WWII.
• Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939 marked the beginning of WWII, fundamentally altering the landscape of international relations and warfare.
• He is responsible for the Holocaust, which led to the genocide of 6 million Jews, a testament to the devastating consequences of his regime's ideology.
• Hitler committed suicide in April 1945 as Soviet forces closed in on Berlin, marking the collapse of the Third Reich and concluding a dark chapter in history.

Contributions of the Colonies

• Africa
• African soldiers fought in key campaigns across North Africa, Italy, and Burma, contributing significantly to the Allied war efforts on various fronts.
• Colonial resources from Africa were vital to the war effort, with both manpower and natural resources being used extensively.
• Africa supplied oil, rubber, and manpower essential to Allied logistics and production, underscoring the importance of colonial contributions to the overall success of the Allies.
• Caribbean
• The Caribbean contributed raw materials like sugar and bauxite, both of which were critical for military production and logistics.
• Bauxite, in particular, was important for aircraft production, as it is a vital component in the manufacturing of aluminum used in planes.
• The Caribbean provided vital labor for the Allied war effort, with many individuals joining the military or working in support of military operations.
• Caribbean troops served in the British Royal Air Force (RAF), participating actively in various air campaigns during the war.
• India
• India had over 2.5 million soldiers, making it the largest volunteer army in history, a testament to the widespread willingness to support the Allied cause.
• They fought on multiple fronts in North Africa, Italy, and Burma, contributing to strategic victories and supporting Allied forces in critical theaters of war.
• India’s contribution led to increased demands for independence post-war, with returning soldiers advocating for self-governance and the end of colonial rule.
• Indian nationalist movements gained momentum, fueled by the experiences of soldiers during the war and the desire for political change in the wake of conflict.