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Causes of The Second World War

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Nothando Phologotswana
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29 views

Causes of The Second World War

Uploaded by

Nothando Phologotswana
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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CAUSES OF THE SECOND WORLD

WAR 1939-1945
The Second World War was fought between
1939 and 1945.
The following are suggested as the causes;
• The unfair and harsh Versailles treaty is one of the causes of WW2. The military
and territorial terms of this treaty created a lot of bitterness, anger and vengeance
among the German people. The high reparations led to economic problems of
hunger and starvation in Germany. The Disarmament clause weakened the
German army and created high unemployment. The only way to reverse the
Versailles treaty was through the rearmament of Germany and pursuing an
aggressive foreign policy to reclaim German territories lost through the Versailles
treaty including the invasion of Poland which started the war.
• Another cause of WW2 was the failure of the League of Nations. The league
which was supposed to preserve peace failed to take action against some great
powers who invaded others. The league failed to take military or economic
sanctions against Japan for invading China during the Manchurian crisis. League
sanctions failed against Italy during the Abyssinian crisis. Hitler took advantage of
the league’s failure and embarked on an aggressive foreign policy which led to
WW2.
• Between 1928 and 1932 the world went through a period of economic hardships
known as The Great Depression or The World Economic Crisis. Some countries
invaded others to improve their own economies. For example; Japan invaded China
1932, Italy invaded Abyssinia 1935-6 while Germany looked eastwards invading
Czechoslovakia and Poland. France and Britain had to declare war on Germany to
stop Hitler. This started WW2.
Hitler’s foreign policy. Hitler’s aim was to bring all Germans in Europe under one government,
reclaim the territories that Germany lost and to reverse the Versailles treaty. To achieve this,
Hitler embarked on an aggressive foreign policy which included the invasion of Czechoslovakia
and Poland to create living space for the Germans. His hatred for communism led him to attack
Russia in 1939 in an attempt to destroy communism. Hitler’s aggression forced other
countries like Britain and France to declare war on Germany to stop him therefore starting
WW2.
When dealing with aggressors, Britain and France who were leaders of the LON, decided to
follow the Policy of Appeasement. They believed that by meeting the demands of aggressors
like Japan, Italy and Germany peace will prevail. Aggressors viewed this policy as a sign of being
feared and demanded more. Hitler took advantage of this policy and rearmed Germany,
occupied Rhineland, invaded Czechoslovakia and Poland in the process. When it became clear
that aggressors will never be satisfied, Britain and France abandoned the Policy of
Appeasement and declared war on Germany. This caused WW2.
In 1939 Germany and Russia signed the Nazi-Soviet pact. Hitler and Stalin agreed that Russia
would not interfere when Germany attacks Poland. They agreed to divide Poland between
themselves after Poland is defeated. This gave Germany the confidence to attack Poland. The
attack of Poland forced Britain and France to declare war on Germany marking the start of
WW2.
The Invasion of Poland in 1939 became the immediate cause of WW2. Germany was still
bitter about losing Port Danzig, the Polish Corridor and the railway linking East and West
Prussia due to the Versailles treaty. Danzig population was largely German speakers and Hitler
demanded these territories back. He invaded Poland in 1939 forcing Britain and France to
declare war on Germany thereby starting WW2.
RESULTS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR
• Economic Results
• -WW2 led to the collapse of the economies because factories, roads, mines
and communication lines were destroyed during the war in Europe and
Asia. This led to poverty and starvation as countries used most of their
wealth financing the war.
• -Financial institutions like the International Monetary fund (IMF) and the
World Bank were formed. These were formed to assist countries to revive
their economies after the world war as they gave out loans.

• Political Results
• -Germany was divided into two states of East Germany which was a
Communist state influenced by Russia (USSR) and West Germany. West
Germany became a Capitalist state under the influence of Britain and USA.

• -The WW2 led to the formation of the United Nation Organisation (UN).
The UN was formed in October 1945replacing the League of Nations which
had failed to maintain world peace by failing to deal with aggression.
• At the end of WW2, countries in Africa were decolonised. Countries in Africa
demanded independence from their colonial masters like Britain. A Pan
African congress was held in Manchester in 1945 organised by Kwame
Nkurumah of Ghana. Ghana became the first African country to gain
independence in 1960 from Britain. This paved way for other African
countries to gain independence.

• Social Results
• -The second war led to serious loss of lives. Almost 40 million people were
killed especially Germans, Poles, Chinese and the Japanese. Massive deaths
were caused by the USA dropping the atomic bomb on Japan on 06-09 August
1945 in cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

• -WW2 resulted in displacement of people. About 25 million people were left


homeless, some were taken to Germany to work as slaves while some were
• put in concentration camps. Displacement led to poverty, starvation and
death as people had no means of survival.
• -WW2 led to the spread of diseases. The destruction of health facilities led to
the spread of diseases in Europe and Asia as hospitals were destroyed.

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