Explanations for World War Two Flashcards
Individual-level explanations
Hitler’s ambitions and racist ideology, Hitler’s personality, Chamberlain’s unwillingness to acknowledge war.
“Hitler’s ambitions and racist ideology” is an example of?
An individual-level explanation.
Hitler’s ambitions and racist ideology
- Hitler was a corporal in World War One in which he was hospitalised in a gas attack.
- He blamed German loss on Jewish and socialist treason and was determined to reverse the Treaty of Versailles.
“Hitler’s personality” is an example of?
An individual-level explanation.
Hitler’s personality
- Strong charisma and a great orator.
- Developed interest and faith in him by the German public.
- He was underestimated by the allies.
- Intent on his own gratification and destroying the people whom he considered lesser.
“Chamberlain’s unwillingness to acknowledge war” is an example of?
An individual-level explanation.
Chamberlain’s unwillingness to acknowledge war
- So desperate to avoid war, the thought of it was inconceivable.
- Hitler knew how to take advantage of Chamberlain’s unwillingness and general Western feeling that the Versailles treaty had been too harsh on Germany.
- Partly responsible for British military weakness so established a policy of appeasement.
Unit-level explanations
Collective action/security was not in the national interest, domestic challenges of states, the spread of pacifist attitudes, economic collapse, social and economic cleavages
“Collective action/security not in the national interest” is an example of?
A unit-level explanation.
Collective action/security was not in the national interest
- Widespread belief on the part of revisionist states.
- Germany, Italy and Japan were dissatisfied with the outcomes of World War One.
- Led to the rise of fascism in Italy, Nazism in Germany and militarism in Japan.
- These governments then used threats and violence to achieve political changes in the global system.
Collective security
- Wilson’s League of Nations was based on this principle.
- The invasion of any country would lead to the intervention of every country.
- Assumed that all states had a common interest in global peace and stability, and was thus in their interest to aid victims of aggression.
- Required states to surrender autonomy to the League.
“Domestic challenges of states” is an example of?
A unit-level explanation.
Domestic challenges of Italy
- In Italy, the Fascist party was established by Mussolini creating domestic turmoil.
- Later democracy was abandoned when King Victor Emmanuel III handed Mussolini power.
Domestic challenges of Japan
- In Japan, democracy ended when military officers assassinated democratic politicians and military dictatorship established.
- Japan set out to establish an Asian empire and in 1941, it waged war with UK and USA.
Domestic challenges of Germany
- In Germany, the Great Depression led to an invocation of emergency powers and then parliamentary elections.
- Saw the rise of the Nazi party and increased nationalism.
- Thereafter, Hitler was appointed Chancellor, he outlawed opposition parties and became a dictator.