Patrick Tretina
History 425: WWII
Midterm
Professor: Lawless
Question 1)
For years historians have attempted to explain a centralized aspect for the cause of World War 2. Many have firmly placed this main cause in the hands of Adolf Hitler and his actions within Nazi Germany. This central idea that Hitler was the main cause of WWII is the simple and quick answer to the question. The reality is, when looked at more in depth, the cause to WWII is much more complex than that.
In order to better understand the complex causes behind the Second World War we must first look at the causes of the First World War.
The four main causes that lead to the First World War can be directly linked to; Alliance between nations, Militarism, Nationalism, and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungry.
During the late 19th century most of Europe was engaged in political talks between nations in order to maintain a comfortable balance in power throughout. The Dual Alliance was signed on October 7, 1879, between Germany and Austria-Hungry. The treaty was to defend one another in case a Russian conflict broke out, since the Ottoman Empire was on the down turn and Austria-Hungry was in play for the Balkan Territory. The treaty also gave Germany support in case turmoil with France brewed over. The treaty later included Italy as a counter measure to The Triple Entente Treaty between France, Britain, and Russia. The clear signs that war was on the horizon can clearly be seem by the massive divide in power between Russia, Britain, and France occupying one side and Germany, Austria-Hungry, and Italy occupying the other.
Militarism is another major factor to the cause of the First World War. With the result of the split between European nations, military buildup was becoming each government’s main priority. France and Germany both doubled their armies by the time the war broke out. The British launched the massive and most technological advanced HMS Dreadnought as a counter measure to Germanys rising Imperial Naval fleet. As a result of Germany and France building their military, it caused a domino effect throughout the remaining European powers to quickly follow suit. Just years before the war broke out, each nation had built up their military to such extend that the thought of a stand down rather than war was not an option.
The third aspect of Nationalism as a support to the cause to WWI is a bit straight forward than the previous two aspects. Rather than expressing patriotic interest in ones country within their country, most of Europe and more importantly France and Germany wanted the interest of their country to extend far beyond the borders of their nation. They wanted all of Europe to believe in their centralized ideas that have, in their eyes, made their country so successful. Of course this idea cannot work within Europe at the time since most of the continent was complied of powerful nations in balance rather than one singular power to obtain this ideology. The lead to the conflict between Russia and Austria-Hungry in which Russia stated they were the protectors of all the Slovak people within Europe regardless of which government they call home or live by. This created turmoil within independent Serbia over Austrian-Hungry influence versus Russian influence. This would then lead Poland and Czechoslovakia to search for independence from Austria-Hungary rule. By 1914 most of Europe was torn by nationalism which would ultimately lead to the 4th and most detrimental aspect of the cause to World War I.
The spark that would light the fire to World War I would come at the hands of a 19 year a Serbian nationalist when he assassinated the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary.
The assassination of the Archduke and his wife were a result of a protest over Bosnia under Austria-Hungry rule since the Serbian’s wanted to take over and unite themselves with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Archduke also selected a Serbian national holiday to parade through Bosnia which also greatly upset the Serbian’s. The assassination would lead Austria-Hungry to declare war on Serbia, which then would require Russia to move in on Austria-Hungry because of their alliance. This would then give Germany the cause needed to declare war on Russia intern would cause France and Britain to declare war on Germany and the rest of Europe would follow through in their treaties officially starting “the War to End All Wars” in 1914.
The main reason for this conflict can be traced back to Nationalism and the desire to be the central influence in Europe. The conflict cannot be particularly related to anyone single country since they were all engaged in Nationalist feuds from Germany and France to Austria-Hungry and Serbia. One can make the assumption that German and Britain’s race for arms is to blame for the main cause for World War I depending on which perspective you decide to take, but ultimately Nationalism was the primary reason behind the start of this war.
The lead up to World War I was very similar to the lead up to World War II since the Austria-Hungry occupation of Bosnia was the focal point to the start of the First World War through the assassination of the Archduke. The Germans military occupation of the Rhine Land, lead to the start of the Second World War through the breaking of the Versailles Treaty, which German was forced to sign because of their defeat in WWI. You could also make the connection that both wars were a fight for Nationalism in the sense the Second World War was a result of Hitler’s rise to power by spreading the ideas that German was wronged by the French and the First World War left them weak and humiliated in the eyes of the rest of the world’s powers. The main difference in how the two wars came about was the principal on which they were fought.
WWI was based on political ties and required nations to get involved because of signed treaties and allies being formed. WW II was based on Nazi German’s plan to expand its ideology to as many nations as possible and was initially started through the invasion of Poland after German assured them no invasion was imminent. You can also look at WWII as an extension of WW I, and can be linked the Treaty of Versailles being the spark that started the Second World War.
Question 2)
The two major contributing factors that ultimately lead German to the Second World War are the Paris Peace Conference and more importantly The Treaty of Versailles.
The Treaty of Versailles was signed exactly five-years after the Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist, and marked the end to First World War.
The treaty would lay the ground work for peace between nations throughout all of Europe. In light of the Germans forced absence from the Paris Peace Conference, the Allies issued the Treaty of Versailles, which would be a mandatory document that required the immediate attention of German officials. The document was to be agreed on or else the Allies would be forced to invade and overthrow Germany as a result. The purpose of the treaty was to ensure peace throughout Europe but clearly the intentions of the 400 page document tell a different story.
As promised by the Allies, U.S President Woodrow Wilson and British Prime Minister David Lloyd George would implement their “Fourteen Points” as the foundation for the Treaty of Versailles. The Fourteen Points promoted everything from open diplomacy to absolute freedom of the seas. A public statement was given days before the Allies met with the central powers for the Treaty of Versailles. The specifics were released and ensured German and the remaining enemy powers of a neutral treaty that promised peace and equality.
This however isn’t exactly how the meeting for treaty went about. The treaty did not include the Fourteen Points and made post-war peace an unimportant aspect within the document. The major issues contained in the lengthy document were not intended to promote peace but intended for German to pay for the war in more ways than one. The German colonies were given to specific nations from the Allies side and were delegated by the newly formed League of Nations, which did not include German or Russia. The Lorraine and Alsace providences were to be returned to France as soon as the document was signed. Poland would be reestablished as a free and independent nation with full access to the sea without German interruption. The most notable of the Treaty demands was German must accept “war Guilt,” which stated they must openly accept full responsibility for the war and any damages that resulted in from the war. The treaty also contained an article that stated German disarm, which required German to abide by military specifics which included; the demilitarization of the Rhine Land, military draft is forbidden, German army limited to 100,000 troops, German Navy and Air force to be reduced by 50 percent, many German officials are to be tried as war criminals, Manufacture of armored aircrafts, tanks, and vehicles are prohibited as well as a blockade of ships. To add insult to injury the Germans had to pay reparations of approximately 132 billion Reich-marks or $31.4 billion dollars.
The most significant provision to the Treaty of Versailles would be the repaying of reparations which lead to the free fall in German economy and the first sighting of hyperinflation in 1920. The German’s now had to payback their debt in the form of goods and raw materials because their currency became worthless. The treaty outlined that German was responsible for the destruction of several coal mines within France, which intern required the Germans to supply them and parts of Italy with millions of tons of coal in a given year. The French also gain full control over the coal mining in German as a result of the treaty. These reparations resulted in poverty sweeping through the country and essentially the Germans for nothing more than to repay a debt from a war that lasted only 4 years.
The Treaty of Versailles was largely important for which direction German would head for the next 100 years or so, since the debt would be repaid in full by 2025 if all demands were met. This type of repression is a perfect playing field for a radical group like the National Socialists to sprout up. Germany had no direction after the war and not to mention the rapidly declining economy. It’s quite comical how the Allies believed that by repressing the German people, by stripping them of all had would, they would succeed in delivering repayment for their actions. In fact this is what gave Hitler steam to rise to power and bring the National Socialists or the Nazi party to the front lines of German government. Hitler’s rises to power was based off encouraging nationalism throughout all of German and introduced the Volk or the idea of a pure Germany without flaws. Hitler used the oppression Germany was feeling, from the effect of the Versailles Treaty, to his advantage by spreading Nazi propaganda and this idea of a new post-WWI Germany. This idea that the Versailles Treat was the single factor in Hitler’s rise to power maybe a little farfetched, but the strong reality is that Hitler used the negative effects of the treaty to his advantage in order to rally the people to his side.
It’s clear to see the nature of general attitudes of the British, France and the U.S during the time of war by what the Treaty of Versailles entailed. It obvious the treaty wasn’t enacted to promote peace and acceptance between the Allies and German. The attitudes are captured perfectly on each line of the 400 page treaty. The League of Nations knew exactly what they were doing when they created the document. If the intern was to promote peace then the aspects of the reparations would have been paid much less and over a longer period of time. The acceptance of “War Guilt” is a bit ridiculous and is the clearest example of the League of Nations overall intent with the treaty. Europe at the time, was ready to self destruct at any moment they were just waiting on who would blink first. We can see Frances opinion of German through the taking over of Germans mining production after they blame the Germans for their mines being demolished. We can also see Britain and the U.S.A’s feelings of German, with the complete demilitarizing and consolidations of troops. This is easy to see since the U.S and Britain have always been about protection of domestic soil when it comes to its enemies.
The postwar settlement of 1919 was shaping out to be just a dangerous as the pre-war settlement of 1913. The Treaty of Versailles and the Paris Peace Conference only ignited the fire that was the radicals of the German people. Oppression following massive losses in a war can only lead to instability and a rise of non-traditional rule regardless of what part of the world we are speaking of. This could have very well happened anywhere in the world with the exception of Hitler’s view of “Volk” or a pure Germany. The tensions between France and German only heighten when the League of Nations threw the hammer down that was the Treaty of Versailles and all that it entailed. The Nazi propaganda mixed with the idea that the rest of the world was against them, was indeed a sign of much larger problems to come even much larger than the “War to End All Wars.”
