Week 9: Word War II

Question 1

What were the driving forces that led to the onset of WW2 in Europe?

Answer 1

”* Hitler’s aggressive expansionist policies, motivated by his vision of a German-dominated Europe, led to the invasion of Poland, which Britain and France had pledged to defend.
* Economic turmoil stemming from the Great Depression, coupled with resentment over the Treaty of Versailles, fueled nationalist and expansionist sentiments in Germany, Italy, and Japan.
* The failure of the League of Nations to effectively counter aggression, hampered by the appeasement policies of Britain and France, emboldened the Axis powers and contributed to the outbreak of war.
“

Question 2

How were these different than the forces that led to the onset in the Pacific?

Answer 2

”* The belief in Tokyo that a swift victory could be achieved if war began soon differed from the situation in Europe, where no such belief existed in Berlin.
* The lack of oil facing Japan influenced their decision to go to war, while access to resources was less of a problem for Germany.
* Unlike in Europe, the United States took an active role in attempting to deter Japan by enacting an oil embargo. “

Question 3

Which theory best explains the causes of WW2?

Answer 3

”* The failure of deterrence, as exemplified by the ineffectiveness of the oil embargo in deterring Japan in the Pacific, and the miscalculations and appeasement that failed to deter Hitler in Europe, best explains the causes of WW2.
* The rise of aggressive, revisionist powers like Germany, Italy, and Japan, seeking to overturn the existing international order, provides a compelling explanation for the global conflict.
* While economic factors contributed to instability, the primacy of political and ideological factors, such as Hitler’s expansionist ambitions and the failure of collective security through the League of Nations, ultimately drove the world to war. “

Question 4

How did WW2 change the strategic dynamic of US in the int. system?

Answer 4

”* The global nature of World War II forced the United States to abandon its long-held isolationist policies and take on a more active role in international affairs, transforming the country into a global superpower.
* By the end of the war, the United States had taken over Britain’s role as the dominant global power, shaping the international system through its economic and military strength.
* The war demonstrated the importance of American military power in shaping international outcomes, leading to a permanent shift away from the pre-war reliance on economic power and moral suasion. “

Question 5

Summarize “Origins of the Pacific War” Scott D. Sagan

Answer 5

”* Sagan argues that the Japanese government’s decision to go to war with the United States in 1941 was a calculated but ultimately disastrous gamble, driven by the belief that Japan could secure a limited victory despite the vast disparity in military power between the two countries.
* Sagan challenges the common perception that Japan acted irrationally in attacking the United States and instead presents a detailed analysis of the internal debates and strategic miscalculations within the Japanese government, particularly the misjudgment of American resolve and the overestimation of Japan’s ability to sustain a prolonged war.
* The article highlights the role of the oil embargo imposed by the United States in 1941, arguing that while it was intended to deter Japanese aggression, it unintentionally created a sense of urgency in Tokyo and contributed to the decision to launch a preemptive attack. “

Question 6

Summarize Origins of the Second World War Ch1

Answer 6

”* The first chapter of ““The Origins of the Second World War”” suggests that to understand the start of World War II, it is necessary to consider the global international structure, its weaknesses and strengths, as well as the motives and characters of the major powers within it.
* The chapter points out that Britain and France, both possessing global empires, had complex interests and motives for declaring war on Germany, going beyond upholding the League of Nations and collective security.
* The chapter emphasizes the rapid political, economic, and diplomatic changes in the decades leading up to World War II, comparing these changes to the pre-World War I era and the unstable context they created for international relations. “

Question 7

Summarize Origins of the Second World War Ch2

Answer 7

”* The collapse of the world economy in 1929 led to the rise of nationalist groups in Germany and Japan that exploited the economic crisis and demanded an active foreign policy.
* The League of Nations was ineffective as a peacekeeping organization because it lacked the resources to force Japan to give up its occupation of Manchuria or to force Italy to give up its invasion of Ethiopia.
* While Japan, Italy, and Germany were united in rejecting the existing international order, the United States and the Soviet Union remained largely isolated from international affairs, leaving Britain and France to offer concessions from a position of relative weakness.
“

Question 8

Summarize Origins of the Second World War Ch3

Answer 8

”* Economic grievances, stemming from the Great Depression, fueled the rise of ““have-not”” nations like Germany, Italy, and Japan, who felt resentment towards the established imperial powers like Britain and France and sought to expand their own empires.
* Despite being viewed as a source of strength, British and French empires were a growing liability, facing increasing nationalist movements and internal conflicts, which made defending them challenging and contributed to their appeasement policies towards the aggressor nations.
* While economic appeasement was attempted by Britain and France to quell the ambitions of Germany, Italy, and Japan, the aggressor nations saw economic concessions as insufficient and sought to overturn the political order in pursuit of empire, ultimately leading to war. “

Question 9

Summarize Origins of the Second World War Ch4

Answer 9

”* The expectation of future total war, which would require the mobilization of a nation’s entire resources, shaped rearmament strategies and led to a long and complex process for the major powers.
* Concerns over domestic political and economic stability influenced the pace and scale of rearmament in Britain and France, particularly regarding the potential impact on living standards and labor relations.
* Despite limitations imposed by financial pressures and access to raw materials, all the major powers, including Germany, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union, significantly increased their military spending and production throughout the 1930s.
“

Question 10

Summarize Origins of the Second World War Ch5

Answer 10

”* After the Munich Agreement, Hitler, misinterpreting the appeasement of Britain and France as weakness, intensified his aggressive expansionist policies, leading to the invasion of Poland and the outbreak of war.
* Britain and France, initially hesitant to confront Hitler, ultimately decided to risk war over Poland, motivated by their determination to contain German expansion and preserve their status as great powers.
* The signing of the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, granting Hitler Soviet neutrality and a sphere of influence in Eastern Europe, emboldened him to invade Poland, while also convincing him that Britain and France would not intervene.
“

Question 11

Summarize Origins of the Second World War Ch6

Answer 11

”* By attacking the Soviet Union in June of 1941 and the United States in December of 1941, Germany and Japan transformed the war from a primarily European conflict into a true world war, fought across continents and oceans.
* Hitler’s decision to invade the Soviet Union, driven by his desire for Lebensraum and the elimination of the ““Jewish-Bolshevik”” enemy, proved to be a strategic miscalculation, as it drew the Soviet Union into the war on the side of the Allies.
* Despite American efforts to avoid direct involvement in the war, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and Hitler’s subsequent declaration of war on the United States forced America to abandon its isolationist policies and enter the conflict, ultimately tipping the balance of power in favor of the Allies. “

Question 12

Summarize Origins of the Second World War Ch7

Answer 12

”* While Hitler’s actions were a major factor, the Second World War was caused by a complex interplay of general factors like nationalism, imperialism, and the failure of the post-World War I international order, along with specific ambitions of revisionist powers like Germany, Italy, and Japan.
* The reluctance of the United States and the Soviet Union to actively participate in upholding the international system in the 1930s contributed to the instability and allowed aggressive powers to exploit the weakness of Britain and France.
* Germany and Japan’s pursuit of territorial empires ultimately led them to attack the Soviet Union and the United States, respectively, transforming the conflict into a global war and ironically bringing in the two powers capable of defeating them. “

Question 13

What was involved in Japan’s decision for war?

Answer 13

”* The Japanese government launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 because they believed victory was possible if they acted quickly and decisively against the United States and Great Britain before they had fully mobilized for war.
* The Japanese government sought to stabilize a turbulent region and ensure access to natural resources through a policy of expansion, culminating in the invasion of Manchuria and the establishment of a puppet state, Manchukuo.
* By 1941, the Japanese navy had almost exhausted its oil supply due to an American embargo on oil exports, leading the Japanese government to choose between a humiliating withdrawal from China or a desperate war to secure the oil resources of Southeast Asia.
“

Question 14

What is Chain Ganging & Buck Passing?

Answer 14

”* Chain-ganging is when states in multipolarity are drawn into conflict due to their extensive alliance commitments, even if they would prefer to remain neutral.
* Buck-passing occurs in multipolarity when states attempt to avoid conflict by passing the responsibility for confronting an aggressor to other states.
* These alliance strategies can be influenced by states’ misperceptions of whether offensive or defensive strategies have the advantage in a given international system. “

Question 15

What factors contributed to adoption of appeasement by Britain and France

Answer 15

”* British and French leaders were motivated by a desire to preserve their global empires and maintain peace while avoiding the financial costs and potential domestic instability associated with a large-scale military buildup.
* A widespread fear of communism, particularly in conservative circles, led to a muted response to fascist aggression in Spain and a belief that Hitler could be a bulwark against Soviet expansion.
* A belief that Germany and Japan had legitimate economic grievances, stemming from the Treaty of Versailles and the unequal distribution of resources, led to a policy of economic appeasement, which sought to address these grievances through trade and financial concessions. “

Question 16

Summarize Japan’s invasion of Manchuria

Answer 16

”* The Japanese Kwantung Army, tasked with protecting Japan’s economic interests in mainland China, invaded and occupied the Chinese province of Manchuria in September 1931, taking advantage of China’s political instability and the weakness of the League of Nations.
* The Japanese invasion of Manchuria was a calculated risk designed to stabilize a turbulent region and secure access to natural resources, as it proved successful due to the limited response from the Soviet Union and the ineffectiveness of the League of Nations.
* Following the invasion, Japan established a puppet state called Manchukuo in Manchuria, further solidifying its control over the region and expanding its imperial ambitions in East Asia. “

Question 17

Summarize Italy’s invasion of ethiopia

Answer 17

”* In 1935, hoping to expand their empire, Italy invaded Ethiopia, a nation that had previously joined the League of Nations with Italy’s support in 1923.
* The League of Nations, in response to Italy’s invasion, condemned the action and imposed economic sanctions against Italy.
* However, the League’s actions against Italy proved ineffective and ultimately broke down as the United States, Japan, and Germany were not members of the League and did not participate in the sanctions. “

Question 18

Munich Crisis of 1938

Answer 18

”* During the Munich Crisis of 1938, Hitler threatened to use force to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia, home to a large population of ethnic Germans, leading to a confrontation with Britain and France who sought to appease Hitler and avoid war.
* British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain believed he could achieve a ““Grand Settlement”” by granting Hitler’s demands in the Sudetenland in return for guarantees of peace and stability in Europe, reflecting the strategy of appeasement pursued by Britain and France in the 1930s.
* Although the Munich Agreement averted war in 1938, it ultimately emboldened Hitler, who perceived the concessions as weakness and intensified his aggressive expansionist policies, leading to the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1939 and the outbreak of World War II.
“

Question 19

Spanish Civil War

Answer 19

”* During the Spanish Civil War, which erupted in 1936, Germany and Italy intervened in support of the Nationalist forces led by General Francisco Franco, providing him with military aid and contributing to the conflict’s escalation.
* The Spanish Civil War became a symbolic conflict between fascism, communism, and democracy, drawing in volunteers and ideological fighters from across Europe and beyond.
* Despite the efforts of Britain and France to enforce international neutrality through a Non-Intervention Committee, the Spanish Civil War had significant international implications, foreshadowing the broader ideological divisions of World War II. “

Question 20

Washington Treaty

Answer 20

”* In 1922, the Washington Treaty, which included the United States, Britain, and Japan, established limits on naval armaments and sought to guarantee the future security of China.
* The Washington Treaty was part of a broader effort in the 1920s to prevent future wars through disarmament and collective security agreements, reflecting the desire to return to the pre-war equilibrium and the perceived stability of the nineteenth century.
* Japan’s decision to leave the League of Nations in 1933 effectively removed the Far East from the system of collective security established by the Treaty of Versailles and the Washington Treaty, contributing to Japan’s expansionist policies in China and Southeast Asia.
“

Question 21

Locarno Agreements

Answer 21

”* In 1925, the Locarno Agreements were signed in Switzerland by Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Belgium to guarantee the frontiers established by the Treaty of Versailles for western Europe.
* Under the Locarno Agreements, Germany voluntarily accepted the loss of its western territories, including Alsace-Lorraine to France and Eupen and Malmedy to Belgium.
* As part of the Locarno Agreements, Germany was invited to join the League of Nations in 1926 in exchange for a pledge of good behavior.
“

Question 22

Impact of Global Depression

Answer 22

”* The global depression, beginning with a decline in the business cycle in 1929, caused massive unemployment, a collapse of the international trade and finance system, and a sharp decline in demand for manufactured goods, leaving many countries in a state of economic crisis.
* The global depression encouraged protectionist, isolationist policies, causing the spirit of cooperation and mutual aid to evaporate and countries to scramble to protect their own economic interests at the expense of smaller and poorer economies.
* The effects of the global depression on Japan and Germany, which were particularly severe, pushed domestic politics to become dominated by radical nationalist groups, which demanded active foreign policies to overcome economic difficulties and to exploit the temporary inaction of the West. “

Question 23

Neutrality Act

Answer 23

”* The United States Congress passed a permanent Neutrality Act in 1937 to avoid being dragged into a European war by forbidding loans or sales of arms to any belligerent nation.
* The Neutrality Act was modified in November 1939 to allow the Allies to obtain more supplies, but new restrictions to protect American rearmament were imposed in June 1940.
* Although the United States sought to remain neutral, American motives were distrusted by Britain and France, who were uncertain if the United States would assist them and feared that the Neutrality Act would encourage further acts of aggression. “

Question 24

What was the role of the League of Nations in the build up to WW2?

Answer 24

”* The League of Nations, weakened by the absence of key powers like the United States and hampered by its reliance on the cooperation of its members, proved unable to effectively counter acts of aggression in the 1930s, as seen in its failure to prevent Japan’s invasion of Manchuria and Italy’s conquest of Ethiopia.
* The League’s inability to enforce collective security against aggressor states, particularly due to the reluctance of Britain and France to risk a larger conflict, undermined its credibility and contributed to the breakdown of the postwar international order.
* As major powers like Germany, Italy, and Japan withdrew from the League in the 1930s, the organization was further marginalized and rendered largely ineffective in addressing the growing international tensions that led to World War II.
“

Question 25

Co-Prosperity Sphere

Answer 25

”* Japan established an Asian “New Order” based on Japanese military and economic hegemony in northern and eastern China, with cultural and diplomatic pressure elsewhere, which laid the foundation for the “Co-Prosperity Sphere”.
* The ““Co-Prosperity Sphere,”” stretching from Manchuria in the north to Burma and the Dutch East Indies in the south, aimed to achieve Japanese self-sufficiency in raw materials and to defend the empire.
* No Japanese leader considered abandoning any of their conquests during the expansion of the ““Co-Prosperity Sphere,”” and Japan ignored calls for peaceful solutions to the conflict with China. “

Question 26

Lebensraum

Answer 26

”* Lebensraum was the concept of a ““living space”” in the east that would turn Germany into a global power dominating both Europe and Asia.
* The conquest of Lebensraum was a consistent part of Hitler’s thinking, based on the idea that Germany needed to expand its territory to secure its economic and political future.
* Hitler believed that Germany would need to dominate the Eurasian heartland to become a global imperial power. “

Question 27

Economic appeasement

Answer 27

”* Economic appeasement was a policy pursued by Britain and France in the 1930s, based on the belief that Germany and Japan’s aggressive behavior stemmed from legitimate economic grievances that could be addressed through concessions and negotiations.
* Economic appeasement involved offering Germany access to raw materials, markets, and even the return of some colonies to ease their economic difficulties and reduce their incentive for expansion.
* However, economic appeasement ultimately failed to prevent war, as Germany, Italy, and Japan were distrustful of Western motives and their economic demands were often intertwined with broader political and ideological ambitions. “

Question 28

Autarky

Answer 28

”* Autarky is an economic policy that emphasizes national self-sufficiency and minimizing reliance on international trade.
* Germany, Italy, and Japan pursued autarky in the 1930s, seeking to reduce their dependence on foreign economies and acquire raw materials and cheap labor through territorial expansion.
* Although autarky was presented as a solution to economic grievances and an expression of national strength, it was often driven by expansionist ambitions and intertwined with ideologies of racial destiny and imperial grandeur. “

Question 29

Ambitions of the Have Not Powers

Answer 29

”* The "”Have Not”” Powers, namely Germany, Italy, and Japan, sought to revise the international order in their favor to acquire territories, resources, and imperial power.
* They believed that their economic difficulties were caused by the limitations of the existing system and that territorial expansion and imperial rule were the solutions to their problems.
* They justified their ambitions with arguments about economic grievances and national destiny, often promoting ideologies of racial superiority and a commitment to war as necessary tools for achieving their goals. “

Question 30

Detail Germany’s Rearmament

Answer 30

”* Hitler began German rearmament in 1933, focusing on restoring military infrastructure and training programs, but after 1936, Germany’s rearmament accelerated dramatically under Goering’s Four-Year Plan, prioritizing the production of synthetic materials and expanding the air force, navy, and army.
* Although German rearmament appeared extensive, a significant portion of military spending before 1939 was directed toward buildings and infrastructure rather than weapons and equipment, creating the impression that Germany possessed larger armed forces than it actually did at the time.
* By 1939, Germany’s military preparations were not yet complete for a major war against Britain and France, as they lacked firm military plans and many industrial sectors had not developed mobilization plans, despite significant investments in synthetic materials production and expansion of the air force and navy. “

Question 31

Maginot Line

Answer 31

”* In the late 1920s, France began constructing the Maginot Line, a heavily fortified defensive line along its border with Germany, as part of its military strategy to deter a German invasion and protect French territory.
* The Maginot Line, named after the French Minister of Defense André Maginot, consisted of a network of bunkers, fortifications, and underground tunnels, equipped with artillery, machine guns, and other defensive measures, reflecting the French military’s emphasis on defensive warfare and its belief in the effectiveness of static defenses.
* However, the Maginot Line proved ineffective in preventing the German invasion of France in 1940, as the Germans bypassed the fortifications by attacking through Belgium, highlighting the limitations of fixed defenses in modern warfare. “

Question 32

Wehrwirtschaft

Answer 32

”* The German army in the 1930s developed a comprehensive system for the total mobilization of resources for war, which they called Wehrwirtschaft.
* Wehrwirtschaft, or ““defense economy,”” was a concept that emphasized the importance of economic preparation for total war, recognizing that victory would depend on the country’s ability to produce the most military equipment.
* The idea of Wehrwirtschaft stemmed from the experience of World War I, which demonstrated the crucial role of economic mobilization in sustaining a long war effort. “

Question 33

Stalin Line

Answer 33

”* The Stalin Line, constructed in the late 1930s, served as a fortified defensive barrier along the western border of the Soviet Union, mirroring the French Maginot Line’s purpose of deterring a potential German invasion.
* The existence of the Stalin Line, along with similar fortifications like the French Maginot Line and the German ““Westwall,”” reflected a prevalent military doctrine of the 1930s that emphasized static defenses and anticipated a future war fought along the lines of World War I.
* Despite the massive investment in the Stalin Line, it ultimately proved ineffective in preventing the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, as the German forces, employing blitzkrieg tactics, rapidly bypassed the fixed fortifications and achieved significant breakthroughs. “

Question 34

Itallian Occupation of Albania

Answer 34

”* Italy, seeking to expand its influence in the Balkans, occupied Albania on April 7, 1939, transforming it into a puppet state under the rule of the Italian king.
* Mussolini, motivated by a desire to demonstrate Italy’s strength and assert its imperial ambitions alongside Germany, ordered the occupation of Albania shortly after Hitler’s annexation of Czechoslovakia.
* Despite not being formally designated as a colony, Albania was treated as an integral part of the expanding Italian empire, subject to Italian control and exploitation. “

Question 35

Pact of Steel

Answer 35

”* Signed on May 22, 1939, the ““Pact of Steel”” was a military alliance between Germany and Italy that required each country to provide unconditional support to the other in the event of war.
* The Pact of Steel upset British and French calculations by confirming their fears that Italy could not be detached from Germany as part of a strategy to contain Hitler.
* The Pact of Steel was negotiated against the background of Italy’s growing dependence on Germany for security in Central Europe after Hitler’s annexation of Austria. “

Question 36

What was Britain and France’s containment strategy

Answer 36

”* Concerned with the threat of simultaneous conflict with Japan and Germany, British containment strategy prioritized flexibility and pragmatism to avoid fixed commitments, particularly with France or countries in Central and South-Eastern Europe.
* British containment strategy involved attempts to appease Germany, hoping to win them over with policies they deemed reasonable and to maintain the balance of power in Europe.
* France pursued a containment strategy that favored establishing firm alliances to guarantee security, evident in their network of alliances with Eastern European states and their desire for a formal military commitment from Britain. “

Question 37

german-soviet non-agression pact

Answer 37

”* The German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, signed on August 23, 1939, secured Soviet neutrality in the event of a German war with Poland and included a secret protocol that divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence.
* The pact, which shocked Britain and France, allowed Hitler to confidently initiate the invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, believing that the West would not intervene.
* From Stalin’s perspective, the pact provided an opportunity to expand Soviet territory and influence in Eastern Europe while avoiding a direct conflict with Germany. “

Question 38

Lend Lease Act

Answer 38

”* The United States Lend-Lease Act, enacted in March 1941, provided massive military and economic aid to Britain and other Allied countries, enabling them to continue fighting against Germany even while the United States remained officially neutral.
* The Lend-Lease Act marked a significant shift in American foreign policy, demonstrating growing support for the Allied cause and a willingness to take a more active role in the conflict, despite strong isolationist sentiment within the United States.
* From a German perspective, the Lend-Lease Act, combined with American economic warfare and naval support in the Atlantic, pushed the United States closer to belligerency, leading Hitler to declare war on the United States in December 1941. “

Question 39

Operation barbarossa

Answer 39

Hitler’s rational was to defeat the USSR to eliminate Britain’s last hope of finding a powerful ally in Europe and secure Germany’s dominance in Europe, freeing Hitler of a two front war and possibly forcing Britain to negotiating table.

Question 40

Phoney war

Answer 40

”* After Britain and France declared war on Germany in September 1939, both sides engaged in limited military action, primarily focused on economic warfare and strategic positioning, a period that became known as the ““Phoney War.””
* The ““Phoney War”” was characterized by a lack of major offensives on the Western Front, as both sides hesitated to engage in large-scale ground combat, while continuing their military preparations and exploring possibilities for a negotiated settlement.
* Despite the relative inactivity on the Western Front, the ““Phoney War”” witnessed significant naval operations, including the Allied blockade of Germany and German attacks on Allied shipping, as well as the German invasion of Norway and Denmark in April 1940, which marked an escalation of the conflict.
“

Question 41

Tripartite Pact

Answer 41

”* On September 27, 1940, Germany, Italy, and Japan signed the Tripartite Pact, a military alliance that committed them to mutual assistance in reconstructing the international system.
* The Tripartite Pact, also known as the “Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis,” formalized the existing informal alliance between the three “Axis” powers who shared a common interest in revising the existing international political order.
* Despite the pact, the ““Axis”” powers did not have a unified military strategy and often pursued divergent interests.
“