Download THE SECOND WORLD WAR (1939-1945) Part – (II) 5. The Policy of

THE SECOND WORLD WAR (1939-1945)
Part – (II)
5. The Policy of Appeasement: It means “acceding to hostile demands in order to gain peace”. There were two
main reasons of this policy why Britain and France followed a policy of appeasement towards Germany. First, they
believed that the treaty of Versailles had been to sever to the defeated powers, especially Germany. Second, they
thought that if genuine grievances of Germany were removed, she would be satisfied and would do nothing to
disturb the peace of the world. Therefore they had agreed to transfer of Sudetanlend to Germany at the Munich
Conference held in 1938. They also did nothing when Hitler began to rearm Germany in complete violation of the
terms of the treaty of Versailles. Great Britain and France were mistaken in their assessment. Hitler’s demands grew
shockingly excessive. He was really aiming at European mastery, if not the world conquest. The policy of
Appeasement greatly emboldened Germany, Italy and Japan, who plunged the world into another destructive war.
6. Failure of League of Nations: It was one of the main reasons when weaker nations appealed to the League to
take action against the aggressors, the only weapon that was available with the league was the economic sanctions.
But it proved ineffective against determined aggressors. If the member-states had taken collective action against
Italy’s aggression in Ethiopia or Japan’s invasion of Manchuria, the world would have been spared the horrors of
another war. The league failed in taking action against aggressors which encouraged Germany to occupy Austria and
attack Poland, which ultimately led to the Second World War.
7. Japan’s invasion of China: An important act of aggression after the first world war the invasion of China by Japan
in 1931. China appealed to the league to declare sanctions against Japan. Britain and France, the leading members
of the league did not give any attention to the appeal. Thus Japan occupied Manchuria and set up a government
there. In 933 Japan left the league of Nations and started occupying the British and American properties in China.
Britain and France followed the policy of appeasement, thinking that Japanese could be used to weaken China.
8. The Immediate Cause (The German Invasion of Poland and Demand for the Danzig Corridor): Hitler was
demanding Danzig Corridor for two reasons. First, the city of Danzig was inhabited mainly by the Germans. Second,
by occupying the Danzig Corridor, he could connect East Prussia with Germany. Britain and France could realize the
danger that lay ahead. They pledged assistance to Poland against German aggression. On August 1939 Germany
signed a Non-Aggression Pact with Russia. Poland was accused of committing atrocities against Germans living
there. On 1st September, 1939 German troops stormed into Poland. On 3rd September, Britain and France declared
war on Germany.PM Chamberlain made a public announcement that everything he had hoped for had “crashed
into ruins”. Thus the world war II began.
THE COURSE OF THE WAR
Hitler adopted a new method of warfare, called “Blitzkrieg” which means a “lightning attack”. Infantry divisions and
armoured tanks stormed into Poland with lightning speed. Aerial bombardment went hand in hand. As no aid
reached Poland, the Poles finally surrendered to Germany on 28 September, 1939.
The Northern Wars
In April-May 1940 Denmark, Norway, Holland (the Netherlands), Luxembourg and Belgium were forced to
surrender.
Paris Occupied by German Troops: The French government fell after Paris had been occupied. The French forces
were demobilized.
The Battle of Britain: In July 1940 the German fighters intensively bombarded the British ports, factories and
centres of population, including London. But Winston Churchill, The new PM of England, was determined to keep
the morale of his people high. The magic of his words inspired the British people to achieve a glorious victory. He
said, “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat”. On 11 September Hitler postponed his operations
against Britain.
The US Entry into the War: On 7th December 1941 Japan attacked the US Fleet based at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii.
The loss of American lives from the sudden attack was shocking. The US declared war on Japan and the other Axis
Powers – Germany and Italy.
Invasion of Russia: German army moved relentlessly into Russia capturing city after city. In July 1942 came the long
drawn-out battle of Stalingrad. The Russian troops defended the city with great determination. On 31 January, 1943
the German Commander surrendered to the Russian Army.
To be continued …