The Origins and Nature of World War II

The Historical Roots of Anti-Semitism and the Definition of Genocide

The Nazi regime took the concept of anti-Semitism, defined as the mistreatment of Jewish people, to genocidal extremes through the systematic murder of millions of Jews. A genocide is defined as the deliberate killing of a large group of people who belong to a particular racial, political, or cultural group. While the Nazi actions were extreme, they were part of a history of anti-Semitism in Europe that spanned nearly 2,000 years. Throughout this history, Jewish people were victims of various false accusations, including the killing of children, poisoning wells, and cheating non-Jews in financial matters. They were even held responsible for catastrophic events such as the Black Death.

In the 19th century, the situation for Jewish people worsened with the rise of the nation-state in Europe. As new countries emerged based on specific ethnic identities from former multinational kingdoms and empires, Jewish people often found themselves nationless. This period saw the development of political parties in Germany and Austria that were specifically dedicated to anti-Semitism. In Russia, the levels of violence against Jews became so high that many attempted to migrate to the United States.

German Territorial Expansion and the Annexation of Austria

Adolf Hitler’s plan to expand the German empire initially involved the seizure of Austria. An early attempt in 1934 involved the murder of the Austrian chancellor; however, while the assassination was successful, Austria remained independent at that time. Hitler’s second attempt to capture the nation was more successful because he had the support of Italy and found greater internal support for unity with Germany within Austria itself. In March 1938, German troops marched into Austria and declared it part of the German empire, facing no resistance during the process.

Following the annexation of Austria, Hitler focused on Czechoslovakia, particularly regions that contained large populations of ethnic Germans. Although other European countries attempted to use diplomatic means to halt German expansion, Germany responded by increasing pressure on the Czech government to join the German empire.

The Munich Conference and the Failure of Appeasement

In 1938, the leaders of Great Britain, France, and Italy met with Adolf Hitler at the Munich Conference to address his efforts to take parts of Czechoslovakia. During this meeting, British prime minister Neville Chamberlain and French premier Édouard Daladier adopted a policy of appeasement. This policy involved agreeing to give Hitler a portion of Czechoslovakia in the hope of securing peace and halting further German expansion. This agreement became known as the Munich Agreement. However, the policy failed when Germany invaded the remainder of Czechoslovakia in 1939.

The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact and the Invasion of Poland

Following the failure of the Munich Conference, Hitler turned his attention toward Poland. To ensure that the powerful army of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) would not invade Germany from the east during a Polish campaign, Hitler signed a non-aggression agreement with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in August 1939. Although Stalin opposed Hitler, he agreed to the pact to gain time to build up his own military forces and to acquire territory. A secret part of the agreement promised Stalin control over eastern Poland.

This pact shocked many Europeans because Hitler and Stalin had previously been bitter opponents. With the threat to its eastern borders removed, Germany was free to move against Western Europe. In response to the Nazi-Soviet agreement, Great Britain and Poland formed an alliance. Only days later, Hitler ordered the invasion of Poland. In September 1939, German forces invaded Poland from the west, an event that marked the official start of World War II. Shortly after, the Soviet Union moved into eastern Poland as per their secret agreement. Despite the efforts of Polish troops to defend their nation, Poland fell in approximately one month, leading to its annexation by Germany in the west and occupation by the Soviet Union in the east.

The Formation of the Tripartite Pact and Global Alliances

In September 1940, while the war was already in progress, Germany and Italy established a formal alliance with Japan by signing the Tripartite Pact on September 27, 1940. Japan had already been expanding aggressively, having taken control of Korea and parts of China. Hideki Tojo, Japan's minister of war, was a major supporter of closer relations with the European Axis powers. The pact recognized Germany and Italy as the dominant powers in Europe, while Japan was recognized as the major power in Asia. The three nations hoped this alliance would discourage the neutral United States from entering the conflict. The United States had already condemned the actions of these nations and had imposed economic sanctions against Japan in response to its aggression in China and the Pacific.

World War II as a Total War

World War II is characterized as the most destructive war in history, occurring only 20 years after the end of World War I (then known as the Great War). World War II involved more countries, larger armies, and deadlier weapons than its predecessor, including the first use of weapons capable of destroying entire cities in seconds. It was a "total war," meaning that almost every part of society was involved in the war effort. Civilians increasingly became targets of enemy fire, and citizens in Great Britain, the United States, Japan, Germany, and the Soviet Union were asked to make significant sacrifices to sustain the conflict.

In the European theater, the rise of fascism in Italy and Germany was fueled by nationalism and the economic instability caused by the Great Depression. In the East, Japan built an empire by invading Korea and China before aligning with Germany and Italy to expand its control over Asia and the Pacific.

The Diverse Roles of Women During the War

Women’s roles during the war varied significantly based on the specific needs of their respective nations. In Great Britain, women served as air-raid wardens and assisted on antiaircraft gun crews, working to keep civilians safe during German air bombardments. In the United States, women worked in civil defense and were deployed to the battlefront in support roles, though they were not permitted to participate in direct combat. Conversely, because the Soviet Union was under intense assault by Germany, women served in direct combat roles as snipers, tank-crew members, and pilots.

Economically, women were vital to wartime industries. As men were drafted or enlisted, a labor shortage occurred in factories producing equipment, weapons, and ammunition. Women stepped in to fill these vacancies. In the United States, "Rosie the Riveter" became the iconic symbol representing the achievements of these women. In the Soviet Union, women made up more than half of the total labor force by the end of the war. Women were involved in every imaginable type of production, including building airplanes and tanks, manufacturing medicine, and growing food for the troops.

Questions & Discussion

Question: In 35 words or fewer, why do you think leaders in Great Britain and France were interested in appeasing Hitler? Answer: Leaders in Great Britain and France were interested in appeasing Hitler because they desperately wanted to avoid the repeat of the death and destruction seen in World War I and believed diplomacy could ensure peace.

Question: Why do you think World War II was even worse than World War I? Answer: Technological advancements increased deaths and destruction, and atomic weapons had been developed and were used.

Question: Why didn't American women serve on the front lines like Soviet women did? Answer: America wasn't under direct attack, whereas the Soviet Union faced an intense assault on its own territory and could not afford to exclude anyone from combat.

Question: Who were the four main Allied forces? Answer: The four main Allied forces were Great Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union, and China (with France also being a key ally before its occupation and during its liberation).