World War ll- Causes

Causes of WW2

Causes of WW2

The Treaty of Versailles, Hitler’s foreign policies, appeasement, the Munich conference, and the Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact

Treaty of Versailles

Under the Treaty of Versailles, Germany - had to take blame for WW1, had to pay £6.6 billion (£300b today) in reparations to Britain, France and others, lost territory, had to reduce its army to 100,000 men and 6 naval ships, not make agreements with other countries, and demilitarise the Rhineland.

Hitler’s foreign policies

Rebuilding the German navy and army (Anglo-German Naval Agreement), re-occupying the Rhineland, the Anschluss (Agreement joining Austria and Germany), and the Sudetenland (the majority German-speaking region of Czechoslovakia)

Lebensraum

Hitler’s ideal ‘living space’ for ethnic Germans, where he wanted to join all German-speaking people by expanding the German empire. Hitler wanted to create a race of tall, blue-eyed blondes. He believed that Germans and other Nordics were of a superior ‘master race’ known as Aryans.

The Anschluss

Austria was a German-speaking country. Hitler wanted to join all German-speaking countries. In February of 1938, Hitler threatened the Austrian Chancellor with war unless he let Nazis into government. He was replaced, and the Nazis immediately invited German troops to enter Austria.

Reasons for Appeasement of Hitler defying the Treaty of Versailles

France did not want to risk war with Germany because of the Rhineland, France believed the Maginot line would be enough to prevent German invasion, many citizens felt sorry for German citizens, and the memory of WW1

The Munich conference

In September of 1938, Chamberlain, Hitler, Mussolini and Daladier met in Munich. Under this agreement, Hitler could take over the Sudetenland, but not the rest of Czechoslovakia. In March 1939, Hitler broke this agreement.

Britain and France - Poland

Biritain and France agreed that they would come to Polands aid if Germany invaded Poland.

The Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact

Signed between Stalin and Hitler in August of 1939, this meant that Poland would be split evenly between the two countries, and a 10 year period where they would not attack one another or help eachothers enemies.

Beginning of WW2

On the 1st September, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. Two days later, Britain and France declared war on Germany, marking the beginning of WW2.