Nationalism and Economic Distress the Causes of World War II Essay

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Causes of World War II

World War II was generated by a combination of worldwide economic distress, nationalism, and ineffective attempts to stem the tide of fascism. The unsatisfactory solution of the Versailles Treaty laid the groundwork for political unrest which eventually led to another mass upheaval throughout Europe, Asia, and most of the European colonies. The failure of appeasement to contain Hitler combined with the lack of an effective international governing structure to broker an agreement due to the weakness of League of Nations further exacerbated the existing problems simmering beneath the surface.

Although all nations suffered in the wake of the worldwide Great Depression of the 1930s, in Germany the suffering was particularly acute. Despite then-President Woodrow Wilson's desire for a peace without victors after World War I, France insisted that Germany be heavily penalized. The Treaty of Versailles humiliated Germany by forcing it to assume responsibility for starting the war and pay over 6,600 million pounds in reparations.[footnoteRef:1] The German Army was decimated and Germany was forced to cede critical territories to France. In the wake of the postwar economic crisis, hyperinflation and mass unemployment and starvation resulted. The Germans were looking for someone or something to blame, which made Hitler's ideology persuasive.

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[1: "World War II: Causes," History on The Net, August 14, 2014, http://www.historyonthenet.com/ww2/causes.htm (accessed December 28, 2014).]

The rise of Adolph Hitler and the Nazi Party created a popular narrative many Germans wished to believe: that they were a superior nation and that they had been denied their rights thanks to threats from without and from within. Hitler took power swiftly, "secretly building up Germany's army and weapons" and using fear and intimidation to quell his political opposition. [footnoteRef:2] Hitler also forged alliances with both Mussolini's Italy and Japan, both of which were led by nationalist, xenophobic governments. The rise of fascism worldwide thus further supported Hitler's goals. [2: Ibid.]

The reaction of the European powers to these developments merely strengthened Hitler. By refusing to mount an aggressive opposition to Hitler when, for example, he forged the Anschluss (compelling the legitimate leader of Austria to put to popular vote the question if Austria's citizens wished to become part of Germany) Germany was able to consolidate its military might and expand its territorial reach.[footnoteRef:3] War may have been inevitable but the appeasement policies of Neville Chamberlain's government likely prolonged the war. For example,….....

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