Download Unit VIII: Prelude to Another World Conflict

The Causes of World War II
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Long Term Causes:
1) Discontent about the Treaty of Versailles
2) Worldwide economic depression
3) Rise of totalitarian governments
A. Axis Totalitarianism – desire to destroy democracy
B. Axis Militarism - vast sums spent on war
preparations; war a glorious adventure; death for the
Fatherland the highest honor
C. Axis Nationalism - Japan, Italy, and Germany
destined to rule over “lesser peoples”
D. Axis Imperialism - lacked land and resources; were
“have-not” nations
The Causes of World War II (cont’d)
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Subsidiary Causes of World War II
A. Failure of Appeasement Neville Chamberlain
– Final application  Munich Conference
B. Failure of Collective Security - democratic
nations shrank from any military action; US 
neutral; UK & FR delay a firm alliance until
1939
Note: USSR urged collective security (fear of
Nazi Germany); democratic nations reluctant:
C. American Neutrality Legislation - no help to
“ill- equipped” victims of Axis; no US
intervention to check Axis
AJP Taylor & WWII
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1961: Argued Hitler should not shoulder sole
or major responsibility for the war
Claimed Hitler was a typical German
statesman pursuing typical German ends;
simply took advantage of situations (not evil)
Hitler did not want war in 1939 (accidental)
Functionalists: Hitler NOT in control of all
Intentionalists: Hitler in CONTROL; (Most
historians) German FP a refelction of his goals
AJP Taylor & WWII
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WWI had neither satisfied nor crushed
Germany’s expansionist ambitions
Taylor blamed the Versailles peacemakers;
claimed WWII was “implicit” since the
settlement left Germany embittered but
failed to reduce its latent power