WWII Causes and Context

Question 1

CONTEXT

Answer 1

there were two origins of the war in both Asia (Japan in China) and Europe (Germany); both states were unsatisfied with the outcome of WWII

Main causes:

1. Treaty of Versailles Article 231 War Guilt Clause
2. Extreme forms of Nationalism that justified conquests and poor treatment of minority groups (Germany, Italy, Japan)
3. Rise of militarism and totalitarian states
4. Great Depression

Question 2

ROAD TO WAR IN ASIA

Answer 2

in the late 1920-30’s Japan’s military ambitions grew as their military grew and became more powerful; threatened by Chinese Nationalism in Manchuria&raquo_space; seized Manchuria in 1931 and turned it into the puppet state of Manchukuo&raquo_space; condemnation by the USA, GB, France, LON, but no military action to oppose it&raquo_space; Japan withdrew from the LON in 1936 to join Germany and Italy (Tripartite Pact) and invaded China in 1937

Question 3

JAPAN’S ISOLATION AND THREAT

Answer 3

attack on China&raquo_space; anti-Japanese policies in the USA, dependent on USA for strategic goods (73% of iron, 60% of imported tools, 80% of oil, 50% of copper), allowed less of a navy compared to USA and GB

Question 4

JAPAN’S EXTENDED MILITARY

Answer 4

because they were lacking resources&raquo_space; invaded and took over Burma, Malaya, Indonesia, Philippines to acquire those resources (presented themselves as liberators freeing Asian countries from European rule); turned out to be more violent

Question 5

PEAR HARBOR

Answer 5

American imposed oil embargoes on Japan&raquo_space; bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941&raquo_space; USA joined the war and eventually ended with the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 (VJ Day)

Question 6

ROAD TO WAR IN EUROPE

Answer 6

Germany was dissatisfied with the outcomes of WWI&raquo_space; Nazi aggression with no response from GB, USSR, or France; wanted to use war to enable the rise of a superior class (Final Solution – USSR, USA would be slaves and the Germans would be on top)

Question 7

GERMAN ACTION

Answer 7

slowly initially but later more aggressively: rearmed the Germans and pursued territorial expansion (against the Treaty of Versailles)

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1. Remilitarization of the Rhineland in 1936
2. annexation of Austria (Anschluss 1938)
3. annexation of the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia (1838-39); GB and FR allowed it during the Munich Conference as an appeasement
4. invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 (immediate cause)&raquo_space; GB and FR declaring war on Germany, but taken out quickly&raquo_space; Hitler controlling most of Europe

Question 8

WAR TACTICS

Answer 8

no trench warfare during this time

1. blitzkrieg (lightning war) instead: used industrial weapons and vehicles to attack opposition to catch them off guard
2. airplanes (used for bombing)
3. firebombing (USA firebombed Tokyo and Dresden)
4. atomic bombs (Hiroshima and Nagasaki)