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International Relations 1900–1939

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Why did War Break Out in 1939?

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Learning objectives

What we will learn in this presentation:

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Lea

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How important were the peace treaties in causing the outbreak of war?

How important was the failure of the League of Nations in causing the outbreak of war?

How important was Hitler’s foreign policy in causing the outbreak of war?

How important was the policy of appeasement in causing the outbreak of war?

Why did war break out in 1939?

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Think

History is about being critical about events, not storytelling.

Some issues may be long-term causes, whilst others may be triggers for an event.

The Second World War was not caused simply by the German invasion of Poland – that was just the final straw in a long series of developments.

In this presentation we will look at the different causes and attempt to answer the question:

Why did war break out in 1939?

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Chronology

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Were the peace treaties to blame?

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An analysis of the peace treaties

The German view of the Treaty of

Versailles.

The treaties of 1919–23 reflected the conflicting aims of the peacemakers. They created conditions in Europe which meant that another world war was possible, if not likely.

Punishing Germany with territorial dismemberment, reparations, disarmament and war guilt created a climate in German politics which bred nationalism and extreme views.

At the same time, the terms were not harsh enough to permanently damage Germany’s ability to wage war.

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Failure of the League of Nations

If the treaties following the First World War sowed the seeds of militarism and expansionist aims in Germany, then the League of Nations (a result of the Treaty) can be seen to have allowed them to grow unchecked.

The League had aimed to end war through collective action, but it failed to bring together the major world powers to confront aggressors.

Germany was allowed to rearm, reoccupy the Rhineland and join with Austria. By 1938 the League was universally ignored.

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Failure of the League of Nations

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Failure of the League of Nations

The League’s successes were all achieved in conflicts involving smaller nations – for example, the border dispute between Greece and Bulgaria.

Crises such as those over Manchuria and Abyssinia showed up the inability of the League to take action against bigger world players like Italy and Japan.

These failures did not go unnoticed by Hitler.

Burning Abyssinian village

Dead children in Manchuria

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The depression

The depression contributed to the outbreak of war in several ways.

Economic melt-down in Germany was a major factor in the rise of the Nazi party, as destitute Germans turned to the Nazis for radical solutions.

The depression also meant that Britain and France were less able and willing to involve themselves in world affairs. Britain became preoccupied with managing and protecting the empire and the French economy lurched from crisis to crisis.

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Hitler’s foreign policy

Hitler provided the League and the international community with the ultimate test – he was a leader intent on ruthlessly implementing an expansionist foreign policy.

He planned to conquer neighbouring countries to obtain Lebensraum (living space) for the German people.

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Hitler’s foreign policy

Hitler implemented his foreign policy carefully.

HitlerPhotograph courtesy of the

Imperial War Museum, London.

At first I took care to justify my aggressive actions to the

international community.

By the 1930s, other countries, especially Britain, thought the peace treaties were too harsh. Many of my

demands at first appeared reasonable to them.

Versailles had laid down the principle of self-determination.

I used this to demand that all Germans should live in Germany.

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Hitler’s foreign policy

HitlerPhotograph courtesy of the

Imperial War Museum, London.

After I reoccupied the Rhineland in 1936, it

was clear to me that Britain and France had no stomach for a fight.

They were so desperate to avoid war that I only needed the flimsiest of

excuses, like the supposed persecution of the Sudeten Germans, in order to

get away with attacking other countries.

Their so-called appeasement played right into my hands.

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HitlerPhotograph courtesy of the

Imperial War Museum, London.

Hitler’s foreign policy

As soon as I came to power I began German re-armament.

I could not have done this if the other nations had not sat back and let me break the limits outlined in the Treaty of Versailles.

I told the other nations I wanted parity, but that was a simple lie. I

wanted the tools to achieve my aims.

By 1938 the German army was a force to be feared by all nations!

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Hitler’s foreign policy

1. Was Hitler’s success in achieving his foreign policy aims between 1936 and 1939 due to German actions or favourable conditions in Europe at this time?

[10]

To answer this, you need to consider both the skill with which Hitler pursued his goals, and the various external factors that combined to help him.

The essence of this question is, could Hitler have achieved his goals if he had not been helped by external factors?

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How important was Hitler?

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The policy of appeasement

Did the policy of appeasement lead to the Second

World War?

My critics have often said that by appeasing Hitler I allowed him to gain lands at very little cost and

grow to see international borders and treaties as easily altered.

But did I have much choice? By the late 1930s, the German

army was far superior to the British and French. We needed

time to rearm.

Neville Chamberlain

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The policy of appeasement

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The policy of appeasement

Some people argue that Chamberlain never really thought that Hitler could be appeased, and was just buying time for British and French rearmament.

Judging by his speech, did Chamberlain think Hitler could be appeased?

This clip shows Chamberlain as he arrived home from the Munich Conference in

1938.

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The policy of appeasement

Anti-war feeling in Britain, and Chamberlain’s belief that Hitler could be reasoned with and bought off, led to Hitler being allowed to strengthen his position between 1933–38.

By the time that both Britain and Chamberlain had finally realized that Hitler was a brutal and ruthless expansionist, he was too powerful to confront easily.

Chamberlain must take some of the blame for failing to realize sooner that Hitler posed such a threat.

However, confronting Hitler would have meant going against public opinion – something that can be very hard for an elected leader.

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Why did war break out in 1939?

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Exam question

2. Was Hitler to blame for the outbreak of war in September 1939?

[10]This question looks quite simple, but to get high marks, you need to look at both sides of the argument.

Just looking at one side in detail with good explanation will only get you a C at best. You must look at both sides in detail if you want to get a B or an A grade. Your points must be supported with evidence.

Don’t forget to come to a decision at the end about just how much Hitler was to blame. This conclusion needs to refer back to the evidence you have presented in your answer.