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What are some of the reasons that people
felt another world war was going to break
out in the 1930's?
• Like World War I, there were many things that ultimately led to World War II. Historians
usually break up the causes into two different categories: long-term and short-term.
• Some of the most important long-term causes of World War II include the Great
Depression (because it caused people around the world to feel desperate and often
want to change their government) and the Treaty of Versailles (because it specifically
harmed Germany and made them angry at the rest of Europe).
• Some of the most important short-term causes of World War II include fascism (because
the rest of Europe fear it spreading), expansionism (the fact that Italy, Germany, and
Japan were expanding their territory), and appeasement (when the rest of Europe
allowed Germany and Italy to take some territory to try to satisfy them).
• Over the summer of 1939, the possibility of
war in Europe seemed to increase every
day. In August 1939, Hitler and Stalin (the
leader of the Soviet Union) signed an
agreement about the division of territory in
Eastern Europe if a war broke out. That
same month Hitler began to put pressure
on Poland, demanding that they give them
the German-speaking city of Danzig, and
the strip of land connecting it to Germany.
After receiving no response, Hitler used this
as a justification to begin an invasion of
Poland on September 1, 1939 – now
considered the first day of World War II.
• The Nazi invasion of Poland was swift and
strong – over 1 million German soldiers
were mobilized, ready at the border.
Although the Polish Army fought bravely to
defend their country, they did not have the
resources or manpower to hold off the
Nazis forever and were forced to slowly
retreat. Two days after the invasion began,
the UK and France declared war on
Germany.
• As part of their invasion, the Nazis carried out a sinister plan to further weaken
Polish society – by rounding up and murdering important civilians, including local
politicians (like mayors and representatives), important businessmen, lawyers,
university professors, and school teachers. Over the 5 weeks that it took the Nazis
to completely conquer Poland, around 20,000 of these civilians were killed and
secretly buried in mass graves.
• In all, the Polish Army had managed to kill 16,000 Nazi soldiers and wound 30,000.
The Polish Army itself, though, suffered 66,000 dead and 133,000 wounded, along
with around 200,000 Polish civilians killed in the fighting or murdered by the Nazis.
Within two weeks, the Nazis opened the first Jewish ghetto - a small area of a city
blocked off and guarded to hold Jews - and quickly began ordering all Jews into
them.
• After the invasion of Poland, there
was an eerie calm across Europe;
the UK and France had declared
war against Germany, but there had
been no move to attack by either
side. In November 1939, the
Soviet Union began an invasion of
Finland, who fought desperately to
defend themselves, but no one
came to their aid.
• Once again known as the Allies, like
in World War I, the UK and France
waited to see if Hitler would make
Snow-camouflaged Finnish soldiers fighting the Soviets
the first move.
• After nothing happened by the middle of December, the UK decided to make the first move,
by sending a small air battalion to fly into Germany and see how Hitler would react. It was
a decisive Nazi victory – 12 of Britain’s 22 planes were destroyed, along with 57 crew
members killed. The Nazis only lost 3 planes and 2 crew members.
• Over the course of January, February, and March of 1940 there was very little action between
the Nazis and the Allies – a few U-boat submarine attacks, but nothing large scale. Due to
the success of the Finnish defense of their country, the Soviets signed a peace treaty with
Finland, not wanting to waste any more time and money. The Finnish lost a large chunk of
territory, but got to keep their independence.
• In April 1940, the Nazis suddenly restarted their mass-execution of important Polish civilians,
this time including a large number of priests, as well. Over the course of several weeks,
around 22,000 civilians were killed.
• That same month, the Nazis began a sudden invasion of Denmark and Norway. Denmark
had only a very small military, so it surrendered quickly to avoid the country’s destruction.
Norway was able to hold off the invasion for 2 months with the help of a small number of
British troops, but was forced to surrender in the end.
• On May 10, 1940, Hitler began the operation the Allies had been waiting for – an invasion
of France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Tiny Luxembourg surrendered the next day,
the Netherlands five days later after a small amount of fighting. The British prime minister,
Neville Chamberlain, resigned after widespread criticism that he hadn’t done enough to
prevent war. He was replaced by a charismatic politician named Winston Churchill.
Reading Questions
1. Why did Germany and the USSR sign the NaziSoviet Pact in 1939?
2. In what ways did the invasion of Poland defy
the expectations of the Allies?
3. Was Hitler's gamble to invade Poland a success?
Why or why not?
Exit Ticket
1. Describe at least 1 long-term cause and 2
short-term causes of World War II.
2. What country did Hitler invade in 1939 that
caused the UK and France to declare war on
Germany? Describe that invasion.