causes of ww2 Flashcards
hitlers aims
destroy comminuism- hated jews for this
anchluss to be reunited
lebenshraum
rearm germany*
unite volkduetsche*
overturn tov
steps to war SCRAMCUP
saar plebiscite-regained sar, powered hitlers industry and gained for weapons
consctription and rearment-openly defied tov, built a 1mil army and airforce
Rhineland-hitler said he felt threatened by the pact of FR and USSR so ordered his troops into rhineland
austria-overthrew the chancellor and another plebisicte which voted for anshcluss, which 99% voted in favour
munich agreement-hitler was allowed to have sudentenland and
czech-Czech lost 70% industrial lands, Munich border, and mountain defences, also lost sudentenland which was their strng physical border.15 March- Hitler took the rest of Czech claiming he was “restoring order”
USSR-Germany & Russia agree not to attack each other (non-aggression pact) & to divide Poland
between them/ USSR mad over gb being slow and not being invited to munich
Poland-Gained confidence thanks to appeasement and success during Sudetenland crisis/Munich. gb and fr had to protect poland
main causes for ww2
tov-
great depression
failure of league
nazi soviet pact
hitlers actions
appeasement
appeasement (sucesses)
many felt germany were reasonable
destructuion from ww1 made people fear another
many of hitlers actions were backed by people
people feared communism more than hitler, thought a strong germany would be a buffer agaisnt ussr
USA did not want to involve in british affairs, the lack of a strong ally made GB and FR reluctant to go to war
against appeasement
oppurtunities to challenge hitler were missed when germany was weak
more hitler was given, more he demanded
morally wrong to abandon czech and austrains to nazis, people suffered, esp jews
stalin felt threatened by hitler but appeasement showed him that he was unable to rely on GB and FR
hitler mad ehis ideals known that he would use force to make germany strong again
ww2 causes- LEAGUE
weakened from the start by the absence of USA, a strong ally and trading member as effect of trade sanctions were reduced
key powers were not members so important diplomacy took place outside the league weakening its position
failed to take action in manchuria showing how it could not standup against stronger countries
failed to take action in abyssinia which had a lack of army
hoare laval pact showed britain and france would undermine LON if it benefited them
ww2 causes great depression
increased USA policy of isolationism which weakened international cooperation
extreme poverty and high unemployment meant dictators began to appeal to people
caused economic and social problems, so gov was more focused on own affairs rather than international politics
LON could not impose effective sanctions as members were reluctant to damage trade
no country afforded to take part in military action
ww2 cause- treaty of versailles
seen as too harsh, caused resentment
people has sympathy was hitlers desire and allowed him to get away with do much
creation of poland caused resentment as land was taken from ussr and germany leading to nazi soviet pact
new states created (czech and poland) contained many germans which hitler aimed to reunite
ww2 causes- appeasement
majority supported appeasement in GB as everyone did not want war after ww1
oppurtunities to stop hitler was missed eg remilitarisation of rhineland
chamberlain should not have trusted hitler as hitler made his plans clear from 1920s
appeasement was mainly motivated by the fear of communism which made stalin lose faith in the allies
munich agreement was the final straw for stalin which led to nazi soviet pact
ww2-hitlers policies
agressive from the start, stated himself to regain germany strength was by violence
hated communism and wanted to destroy it
to achieve lebenshraum he had to invade other countries
overturning the tov
nazi soviet pact ww2 cause
the pact with stalin meant hitler did not have to worry about a war on two fronts
as stalin was not going to support hitler he did not want to support the allies either
the pact made the invasion of poland inevitable and as gb and fr had promised to support poland it led directly to the outbreak of war
