UNPACKING HISTORY: WHAT WERE THE CAUSES OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR?


By akirschbaum
What Were the Causes of the Second World War

It has already been 85 years since World War II happened; sometimes, what occurred during those years still haunts us. Many Soldiers from both sides lost their lives, and they are being honored as heroes to this day. We might not know the exact feelings those people felt, but we can still look back and explore the events that happened during those years. But the question that comes into the minds of many is, what were the causes of the Second World War? There are a few that you can think of, but these specific reasons triggered the war to explode.

The war did not start because a country felt like it. One nation felt the need for power, and then Germany invaded Poland in 1939, which sparked the Second World War. At that time, France and Britain declared war against Germany. While these three countries were at war, Japan's power started to grow in the Pacific, and by 1941, Japanese troops were sent to Southeast Asia to invade the European colonies. As a result, the U.S. and Britain established an oil embargo against Japan. Then, the conflict grew and became more intense.

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What Were the Causes of the Second World War?

It may be difficult to point out the leading causes of World War II as there are many social and political reasons. But, most of the root causes can be traced back to the First World War and the creation of the Treaty of Versailles to promote peace.

The sad thing is that Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party grew in power due to the sanctions that Germany received. Some of the reasons that triggered the Second World War are as follows:

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The Treaty of Versailles

This pact had good intentions for the benefit of the many, but it backfired. The terms of this agreement include that Germany would accept the blame for starting World War 1, limit its armed forces, lose all their European territory and overseas colonies, and pay reparations.

With these sanctions, the German people and leaders felt they needed to redeem themselves as a nation.

Economic Crisis

Aside from the treaty, what were additional causes of the Second World War? One huge factor would be the economic catastrophe. There was a crash in the stock market during 1929 that extended through 1930. When this happened, Germany could not get a loan to the U.S., and there was a negative perspective amongst many states as the global trade collapsed.

The United States was the world's crucial money lender, yet pursued an isolationist approach, and France and Britain only looked after their empires. This gave birth to protectionism and trade tariffs.

The policy encouraged the Germans to become self-sufficient so they would not rely on others for help. This approach would only require acquiring natural resources via military occupation.

Japanese Imperialism

With Japan's growing power, they invaded some territories in their nearby provinces, one significant invasion being with Manchuria. Manchuria's invasion arguably marks the Second World War's first salvo. After a few years, the conflict escalated, bringing war between Japan and China.

During this conflict, Japanese forces committed a lot of gruesome acts against military prisoners and civilians. It was estimated that there were around 20 million Chinese people who died between 1937 and 1945.

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Weaknesses in International Diplomacy

Another potential cause of the Second World War would be the weakness in global diplomacy. There have already been hints about the plans of Hitler, but politicians from France, Britain, and the United States are not willing to take the first steps to contain his goal of expansionism. Their goal overshadowed this to find a better economic solution during the Great Depression.

Many lessons can be learned from the dark past of the Second World War. It reminds us of the importance of diplomacy and the disastrous effects of dictatorship and militaristic activities. The war gave birth to the reexamination of international relations and paved the way for the creation of the United Nations. It also offered opportunities to the U.S. and the Soviet Union to become dominant global powers.

Aside from this, it also ushered in a new outlook to nations that this kind of war should always be stopped for innocent lives to be protected.

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