WW2 in Europe

Question 1

Breaking the TOV was the main reason for re-armament

3 Egs

Answer 1

1. Reintroduced conscription
2. Remilitarized Rhineland, was seen as Germany marching in its own backyard
3. Formed a political union with Austria (Anschluss)

Question 2

Building a Greater Germany/Gaining Lebensraum was the main reason for re-armament (3 Egs)

Answer 2

1. Growing population, need more space to live and grow food
2. Rearmament to create more jobs to solve unemployment from Great Depression
3. Hitler believed that Germans were the master race, aimed to unite the German speaking populations in Sudetenland, Austria and Poland.

Question 3

Fighting Communism was the main reason for re-armament (3 Egs)

Answer 3

1. Believed that the USSR would try to spread communism through violent revolution
2. Germans and Hitler feared and disliked communism
3. Russia had plenty of land and food for Germany’s growing population (Policy of looking east)

Question 4

Define - Policy of appeasement

Answer 4

Allies allow Germany to break TOV and not take action + Sign Munich Agreement with Hitler

Question 5

Desire for peace (public opinion) was the main reason for appeasement (3 Egs) (Success)

Answer 5

1. Huge casualties and damages from WW1, traumatized by trench warfare
2. Britain Prime minister Chamberlain “better to jaw jaw, than war war”
3. Spanish Civil war showed how powerful Germany was

Question 6

The Great Depression/Econ problems was the main reason for appeasement (4 Egs) (Success)

Answer 6

1. Protectionism resulted from WW1 damages & wall street crash
2. Over 2 million people unemployed in Br (1930s)
3. Government spending focused on economic recovery instead of military
4. Germany had 81 divisions for Europe warfare, while Br only had 2, France only had 63

Question 7

Sympathy for Germany/harsh TOV was the a main reason for appeasement (3 Egs) (Failure)

Answer 7

1. Anschluss not allowed even though it fell under the idea of seeking self-determination
2. Rearming Rhineland seen as “marching in own backyard”
3. Demilitarization too harsh, Germany cannot protect itself (reduced to 100 000 men)

Question 8

Using Germany as a buffer against communism was the main reason for appeasement (4 Egs) (Failure)

Answer 8

1. Germany was a fascist country, supported capitalism while fighting communism
2. Russia shared Eastern front with Germany
3. Germany policy of looking east, intends to invade Russia
4. Want USSR and Germany to see each other as enemies, fight each other & weaken themselves.

Question 9

Failure of Appeasement caused WW2

5 Egs

Answer 9

1. Let Hitler re-arm Germany, reintroduce conscription, increase army to 600 000 men
2. Solders in Rhineland seen as “Marching in own backyard”
3. Signed Anglo-Naval Agreement acknowledging Germany’s navy force
4. Anschluss with Austria gave Hitler excess to its military and resources, strengthening its army
5. Munich Agreement gave Sudetenland to Hitler for free, giving him excess to its resources and weapons and made it easier for him to invade the rest of Czechoslovakia

Question 10

Define - Nazi-Soviet Pact

Answer 10

USSR and Germany to not attack each other + Share Poland

Question 11

USSR signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact for defense (3 Egs) (Mistake for Hitler - Stronger USSR)

Answer 11

1. Hitler openly declare policy of looking east
2. Britain insincere about alliance, USSR not invited to Munich Agreement
3. Br was helping to appease and build a strong Germany to fight communism

Question 12

USSR signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact for Aggression (3 Egs) (Mistake for Hitler - Stronger USSR)

Answer 12

1. Let Capitalist enemies (Br, Fr, Germany) fight first
2. Sell weapons to Germany to gain from a long war between Germany, Fr and Br (Buy time to strengthen USSR + exhaust enemies)
3. Take revenge and resources from Poland who took land from USSR in WW1

Question 13

Germany signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact for Aggression (3 Egs) (Mistake for USSR - Stronger Germany)

Answer 13

1. Br and Fr declared that they would fight for Poland if Hitler broke Munich Agreement
2. Hitler wanted the Free city of Danzig, a port city with a German population (Bring econ benefits)
3. Hitler wanted to build a railway through Poland connecting Germany and East Prussia

Question 14

Define - Start of WW2

Answer 14

Hitler invaded Poland when Br and Fr had already warn that they would take action if Germany did so, declaring war on Germany, starting WW2

Question 15

Germany’s withdrawal from LON led to WW2 (Aggressive foreign policy) (3 egs)

Answer 15

1. At the Geneva disarmament conference, Germany wanted France to disarm to the same level or allow Germany to rearm to the same level as France but France rejected their proposal
2. Germany was the only state to disarm, Britain and Italy sympathised with Hitler for this
3. Gave Germany the excuse to withdraw from LON and become unrestrained and start rearming

Question 16

The Nazi-Soviet Pact was the main cause of WW2. (5 Egs)

Answer 16

1. Hitler was deterred by fears of a 2 front war, with Br and Fr in the west and USSR in the east
2. Agree not to fight each other in the event of war in Europe
3. Decided to split Poland among themselves
4. Russia agreed because Br and Fr had not yet formed an alliance
5. Poland had taken land away from USSR after WW1, USSR looking for revenge

Question 17

The invasion of Poland was the main cause of WW2 (5 egs)

Answer 17

1. Hitler demanded for the “free city of Danzig” to be part of Germany
2. He also wanted to build a railroad through the Polish corridor to connect East Prussia to Germany
3. Polish leaders refused, did not trust Hitler and feared losing independence, causing tensions to increase and negotiations to break down
4. Britain and France had promised to protect Poland after the Czechoslovakia takeover
5. Hitler delayed the invasion until after he signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact and was certain he will not fight a 2 front war

Question 18

The failure of the LON was the main cause of WW2 (5 egs)

Answer 18

1. Could only impose sanctions since it had no troops
2. Had failed its first big test when the Japanese invaded Manchuria, unable to do anything except protest to which Japan simply withdrew from LON
3. Failed again when Italy invaded Abyssinia and it imposed sanctions on Italy.
4. However leading members Britain and France were found to have secretly signed the Hoare-Laval Pact giving Italy 2 thirds of Abyssinia
5. Hitler then took the chance to sign the Rome-Berlin Axis pact with Mussolini becoming allies (alliance between aggressors to oppose the allies)

Question 19

LON was a failure because members put their own self-interest first (3 egs)

Answer 19

1. Had held an international conference to stop countries from increasing taxes and stopping protectionism but failed
2. Japan did not have enough resources for its population, invaded Manchuria and left LON
3. Italy invaded Abyssinia for the same reasons

Question 20

LON was a failure because it did not achieve disarmament (3 egs)

Answer 20

1. Nations could not agree on how much to reduce weapons by in the Geneva conference
2. France refused to disarm as it did not feel safe from Germany
3. Britain signed the Anglo-German Naval Agreement accepting that the Nazi’s were building a navy (Limited its size to 35% of the British Royal Navy)

Question 21

LON was a failure because it could not deal with aggressors (3 egs)

Answer 21

1. US, the most powerful nation was not a member, hence LON had no army, could only impose economic sanctions
2. Japan withdrew from LON and occupied the whole of Manchuria
3. Italy invaded Abyssinia but France and Britain did not want to interfere as they wanted Italy’s friendship as they were part of the Stresa Front

Question 22

Define: Defeat of Germany

Answer 22

2 front war —-> Berlin Invaded ——> Germany Surrendered

Question 23

US selling of arms contributed to Germany’s defeat (3 egs)

Answer 23

1. Revised the Neutrality Act, allowing Britain and France to buy arms on a ‘cash and carry’ basis
2. Later passed the Lend-lease act, allowing it to supply food weapons, and equipment to Britain and any county whose defence was vital to the USA where payment could be differed
3. Later extended the Lend-lease act to USSR when it was invaded by Germany

Question 24

US status as “arsenal of democracy”/Roosevelt’s fireside chats contributed to Germany’s defeat (5 egs)

Answer 24

1. Ought to actively support democratic nations
2. Britain was the only major allied country in Europe left against Germany after France had fell
3. US should “give all aid short of war”
4. US give Britain 50 old destroyers in return for 8 naval bases
5. US step up rearmament in both army and navy

Question 25

Other forms of US aid (before Pearl harbour attack) (3 egs)

Answer 25

1. US navy escort roles for all allied convoys at sea after being attacked by German U-boats
2. Economic Sanctions imposed on goods like iron to deprive axis powers of resources
3. Japan’s assets in USA frozen

Question 26

US contribution of vast resources and manpower contributed to Germany’s defeat (3 egs)

Answer 26

1. Was the worlds largest producer of goods
2. Able to convert factories to military production at a faster rate than the axis powers
3. Able to send large numbers of soldiers and intelligence officers to aid allied military campaigns

Question 27

US collaboration with allies on military strategies contributed to Germany’s defeat (4 egs)

Answer 27

1. Help allies achieve control of air and sea
2. Prevented essential resources from reaching Germany
3. Gave allies successes at bombing German cities and axis military sites like synthetic oil plants
4. Contributed to ‘Operation overlord’, D-day landings on the coast of Normandy which ended in Germany’s defeat

Question 28

The allies control of the air contributed to Germany’s defeat (4 egs)

Answer 28

1. Building of air force, radar technology and targeted bombing
2. Long range bombing of German cities and axis military sites like synthetic oil plants
3. Forced Germany to focus on anti-aircraft instead of other weapons
4. America’s air force was much larger than the others

Question 29

The allies control of the sea contributed to Germany’s defeat (4 egs)

Answer 29

1. US naval escort duties forced German U boats sinking the allied convoys to recall
2. German bases in Norway and France countered by America bases in Greenland and Iceland
3. Longer range aircraft solved the problem of crossing the mid-Atlantic gap
4. Anti-submarine and radar communication technology developed

Question 30

The reorganisation of the Soviet Union contributed to Germany’s defeat (5 egs)

Answer 30

1. The USSR formed a military alliance with the allied powers in response to Germany breaking the Nazi-Soviet pact by invading the Soviet Union
2. Bore the brunt of the German attack, had 4 million casualties
3. Defeated 80% of German armed forces on the eastern front
4. Bitter Russian winters gave time to the USSR to rebuild its economy and military production
5. Gained a greater advantage over Germany with the help of America’s Lend-lease act

Question 31

Resistance groups in occupied countries contributed to Hitler’s defeat (5 egs)

Answer 31

1. Dangerous work providing vital info and behind-the-lines support to the allies
2. The Yugoslav, Polish and Soviet Resistance movements were among the most prominent
3. The Free French Forces movement under Charles de Gaulle continued to fight against the Axis powers as an Allied nation, following the Fall of France
4. Many civilians who opposed the Nazis joined communist resistance movements after seeing Germany invade the Soviet Union
5. The communist resistances were used to working underground and were thus effective

Question 32

British resistance/battle of Britain contributed to Hitler’s defeat (5 egs)

Answer 32

1. Hitler ordered a bombing of British shipping and coastal defences when its resources were already stretched which was a success
2. Hitler had hoped that the bombings would weaken British morale but it strengthened their resolve instead
3. When Germany accidentally bombed the outskirts of London, Britain reacted by bombing Berlin
4. Hitler was angry at this and changed his target to British cities which gave the RAF time to recover and counterattack
5. Hitler had to abandon his plans to invade Britain and shifted his focus to the USSR allowing Britain to set up a 2 front war

Question 33

Germany’s ineffective command structure contributed to its defeat (3 egs)

Answer 33

1. Had a confusing system of overlapping authority
2. Apart from Hitler, no one else could make decisions or have access to all the information
3. Hitler often went against the advice of his experienced generals which proved to be mistakes such as invading Stalingrad and bombing British cities instead of coastal defences or airfields

Question 34

Germany’s heavy reliance on petroleum contributed to its defeat (3 egs)

Answer 34

1. Had little natural petroleum reserves but was the chief resource that powered their war machines
2. Used synthetic oil as a substitute but German synthetic oil plants were subjected to allied bombing
3. Ploesti oil fields in Romania, the chief source of Germany’s oil imports was put out of operation by the Soviet red army

Question 35

Germany’s inappropriate use of resources contributed to its defeat (3 egs)

Answer 35

1. Produced a huge variety of weapons, needed to produce many types of spare parts for repairs while the west on focused on proven weapons
2. Shortage of proven weapons and equipment such as trucks, infantry vehicles and clothing to deal with the Russian winter
3. Lack of personnel for armament production as slave labourers were staved and women were discouraged from working

Question 36

Germany fighting a war on 2 fronts contributed to its defeat (4 egs)

Answer 36

1. Chose to attack USSR and break the Nazi-Soviet pact while still at war with Britain
2. While he seemed to have the upper hand on USSR, he declared war on USA
3. Hitler believed that USA would be too occupied with fighting Japan but US focused its troops and efforts on Europe and Africa instead
4. Stretched Germany’s resources between 2 ends

Question 37

Chamberlain’s misjudgement of Hitler was the main reason for Appeasement (3 egs)

Answer 37

1. Believed that Hitler was a man who could be reasoned with and his is views were reinforced by Lord Halifax’s meeting with Hitler and his own meeting with Hitler a year later
2. Wrongly believed that Hitler’s aims were limited to revising TOV instead of abolishing it, thought that he would be satisfied through negotiations
3. Hitler claimed that he would cease making demands once he controlled Sudentenland

Question 38

Germany’s conscription/rearmament led to WW2 (Aggressive Foreign policy) (3 egs)

Answer 38

1. Made a rearmament public announcement in 1935 after he became the Fuhrer, resuming conscription
2. By then, Germany had possessed a 2500-plane Luffwaffle and an army numbering 300 000
3. Britain signed the Anglo-German Naval Agreement allowing Germany to expand its Navy up to 35% of the size of the British Royal Navy

Question 39

Remilitarisation of the Rhineland led to WW2 (Aggressive Foreign policy) (3 egs)

Answer 39

1. Hitler took a gamble by sending troops to the Rhineland despite having acknowledged it as a demilitarised zone in the Locarno treaties to test allied resolve
2. Britain saw this as Germany “Marching into its own backyard”
3. The French did not intervene as they were having an election so none of the French leaders were willing to take responsibility for plunging France into war

Question 40

Germany’s involvement in the Spanish Civil War led to WW2 (Aggressive Foreign policy) (4 egs)

Answer 40

1. Hitler sent soldiers, equipment and war planes to support the French Nationalist forces
2. Signed the anti-Comintern pact with Japan
3. Hitler’s demonstration of his hatred towards communism added to the perception that the allies could trust Hitler
4. Allowed Hitler to test out his army and air force such as the JU87 dive bomber

Question 41

Germany’s unification with Austria led to WW2 (Aggressive Foreign policy) (3 egs)

Answer 41

1. Many Austrians wanted Anschluss, but when Hitler attempted to take over Austria he was stopped by Mussolini but later became allies
2. Got the Austrian Nazis to create trouble and demand for Anschluss, pressuring the Austrian Chancellor to a union
3. Gave Hitler access to Gold and iron ore as well as other resources that Austria possessed and funds for rearmament

Question 42

Germany’s invasion of Czechoslovakia led to WW2 (Aggressive Foreign policy) (5 egs)

Answer 42

1. Britain, France and the USSR had promised to come to Czechoslovakia’s aid if attacked by Germany
2. Czechoslovakia was the most industrialised country in central Europe with a modern army and sizable defence industry
3. The defences built in the mountainous terrain of Sudetenland made it difficult to invade
4. Hitler made the excuse that the German minority in Sudetenland were persecuted by the Czech majority and expressed his willingness to go to war for it
5. Britain and France signed the Munich pact with Germany without consulting the USSR and Czechoslovakia which gave Hitler Sudetenland without fighting