Download Thesis Paper Summary Alyssa Penny Controversial Question

Thesis Paper Summary
Alyssa Penny
Controversial Question: Should Hitler be held solely responsible for World War II?
Thesis: Hitler is solely responsible for the beginning of World War II because of his
aggressive rearmament, his policy of lebensraum, and his invasion of Poland.
Argument #1: The policy of Lebensraum allowed the war to occur and proves Hitler’s
responsibility for the war.
- Hitler wanted to gain more land for the Germany in order to accommodate the growing German
race. He wanted to gain more land so Germany could be successful and powerful.
-This eventually led to the war because Hitler violated treaties that he made with other countries,
which were meant to limit his expansion.
- Hitler annexed the Rhineland, the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia, Austria, the province of
Memel from Lithuania, and finally the whole of Czechoslovakia.1 All of these annexations caused
tension, and ended trust between other countries and Germany.
-“Berlin sent Vienna a final ultimatum: surrender or face an invasion… Finally…Hitler gave up
the wait… and signed the order for invasion.”2 This created tension between Hitler and other
powers because some countries were against this annexation.
-Hitler was ready for battle, and if a country resisted annexation he would attack. This forced
other countries to make deals with Hitler to ensure the current boarders.
-For example, Germany and Britain had a guarantee.“Hitler's annexation of Czechoslovakia
breached the written guarantee he had issued to Chamberlain in Munich in 1938, stating that he
had no further territorial demands to make in Europe.”
-Since Hitler violated the Munich agreement, Britain feared that Hitler would take over Poland,so
Chamberlin made a guarantee which stated, “In the event of any action which clearly threatened
Polish independence… His Majesty’s government would feel themselves bound at once to lend
the Polish Government all support in their power…”3
Counter Argument #1:Appeasement helped to start the war.
-The depression devastated countries in Europe, therefore they were forced to appease. “World
War I and the Great Depression had taken a drastic toll on British and French military strength.
Their finances were strained...”4
Argument #2:Hitler should be held singly responsible for the war because of his aggressive
rearmament, which enabled Germany to fight the war.
-Hitler violated Article 160 of the treaty of Versailles, which caused the other powers to question
his motives of rearmament.5
-This rearmament also made it possible for Germany to fight in the war in the future. “The
remilitarized Rhineland made it possible for Germany to prepare to commit aggression…the
restoration of military sovereignty in the Rhineland permitted Berlin to organize the Reich’s
industries for war.”6
1
Ziemke, Earl F. World War II. 2008. April 28, 2008. <http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761563737/World_War_II.html>.
2
C. Peter Chen. The Annexation of Austria. <http://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=86>
William L. Shirer. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. (New York, New York: Touchstone, 1990.) 454
4
Richard J. Evans. The Third Reich in Power. (New York, New York: Penguin Books, 2006.) 202
5
Paul Halsall. Modern History Sourcebook: Treaty of Versailles, Jun 28, 1919. 1997
<http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1919versailles.html>
3
6
Keith Eubank. World War II: Roots and Causes. (Toronto, Ontario: D.C. Heath And Company, 1992.) 92
-Hitler hid his rearmament from the rest of the world, which allowed him to rearm even more
than the Versailles powers were allowing him to. “Fuehrer’s instructions:…The Fuehrer demands
complete secrecy on the construction of U-boasts.”7
-The aggressive rearmament gave Germany the strength to fight a war. “The armament industry,
General Thomas said, was already producing more than it had during the peak of the last war and
it… exceeded that of any other country. In fact, total German rearmament…was “probably
unique in the world.”8
-The aggressive rearmament made Britain begin arming, to counter Germany’s rearmament.9
Counter Argument #2:Hitler was unaware of the war and he did not think a war could occur.
The truth is, Hitler was planning to start a war. “The action of March 7 enabled Hitler to
launch his four-year programme, which was designed to mobilize the German economy for a
large-scale war by the autumn of 1940.”10
Argument #3:The invasion of Poland is one of the most substantial situations, which
demonstrates that Hitler truly began World War II.
-Hitler knew about the British guarantee of the boarder of Poland, and yet he still said, “The
wholesale destruction of Poland is the military objective...You must pursue them until they are
completely annihilated.”11
- Hitler not only planned the attack, he also tried to blame it on Poland, which shows his guilt in
starting the war. “On or about August 10, 1939, the chief of the S.D.,Heydrich, personally
ordered me to simulate an attack on the radio station near the Polish border to make it appear that
the attacking force consisted of the Poles... plans for another border incident, in which it should
be made to appear that Polish soldiers were attacking German troops.”12
-Hitler’s attack on Poland was unprovoked. It was started at 4:45 AM on 1 September 1939 when
a German battleship opened fire on the Polish Westerplatte Fort.This was the first military
engagement of World War II.13
-Britain tried to start negotiations to end the war but Hitler would not retreat.14 The fact that Hitler
would not retreat from Poland when offered a chance at peace shows his responsibility for the
war. “The British demanded, before starting negotiations, the immediate withdrawal of all
German troops from the occupied Polish areas…”15
Counter Argument #3: Hitler was willing to invade Poland because he thought Chamberlin
would not keep his word, and he would not support Poland in order to maintain peace. This
would be a valid thing to think after Chamberlin created the policy of appeasement but Hitler said
before the invasion of Poland that, “What matters for us is expanding our living space in the East
[Poland]and securing our food supplies… England is our enemy, and the showdown with
England is a matter of life and death.”16
7
William L. Shirer. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. (New York, New York: Touchstone, 1990.) 281
William L. Shirer. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. (New York, New York: Touchstone, 1990.) 489
9
William L. Shirer. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. (New York, New York: Touchstone, 1990.) 238
8
10
Keith Eubank. World War II: Roots and Causes. (Toronto, Ontario: D.C. Heath And Company, 1992). 92
Anthony Read. The Devil’s Disciples. (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2004.) 357
William L. Shirer. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. (New York, New York: Touchstone, 1990.) 593
13
Bradley Lightbody. Invasion of Poland. 31 Mar. 2008
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/invasion_poland_03.shtml>.
14
The BBC. 1939: Britain and France declare war on Germany.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/3/newsid_3493000/3493279.stm>
15
William L. Shirer. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. (New York, New York: Touchstone, 1990.) 608
16
Anthony Read. The Devil’s Disciples. (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2004.) 372
11
12