Question

State how each of the following factors were the causes of the Second World War:

1. The failure of the League of Nations.
2. The Aggressive Nationalism of Germany.
3. The Policy of Appeasement.

Answer 1

1. The League of Nations faced a significant challenge from the outset when the USA opted not to join, weakening its influence.

1. 1. Many of the member nations were not committed to the principle of collective security, undermining the League's purpose.
   2. The League managed to prevent conflict only in disputes involving smaller nations.
   3. However, it failed to act when Poland, supported by France, seized a part of Lithuania in 1920
   4. In 1923, tensions arose between Italy and Greece. Britain and France were able to resolve the issue because Italy rejected the League's mediation.
   5. The League's authority was often ignored. For instance, Japan invaded Manchuria and Italy took over Ethiopia without facing effective resistance.
   6. The League’s system of economic sanctions was insufficient to deter aggressive nations.
   7. Member nations hesitated to apply sanctions as these measures could harm their own economies.
   8. The League struggled to maintain international peace, leading to disillusionment among countries.
   9. Ultimately, many European countries lost faith in the League’s ability to keep peace, contributing to its failure.
2. The humiliating terms of the Treaty of Versailles fuelled a desire for revenge and aggressive nationalism in Germany, which ultimately led to the outbreak of the Second World War:
   1. Germany sought opportunities to overturn the strict conditions imposed by the treaty, which required adopting an aggressive policy and military expansion.
   2. In 1938, Hitler annexed Austria and dismantled Czechoslovakia.
   3. On September 1, 1939, German troops invaded Poland.
   4. France and Britain responded by issuing an ultimatum to Germany.
   5. In retaliation, Germany launched an attack on France.
   6. On September 3, Britain and France officially declared war on Germany.
   7. German forces swiftly conquered Poland within three weeks, ensuring no assistance could reach Poland in time.
3. Britain and France followed a policy of appeasement, allowing Hitler to expand unchecked. When Hitler annexed Austria, they did not intervene. Their hesitation emboldened him to occupy Czechoslovakia in 1938. The Western powers hoped to maintain peace and prevent conflict by accommodating Germany’s demands. They also wanted to contain the spread of communism and Russian Bolshevism, fearing that Germany could be a counterbalance. As a result, they allowed Germany to rebuild its military, reoccupy the Rhineland, and expand into Austria and Czechoslovakia. This policy of appeasement enabled the survival and growth of Nazism, paving the way for World War II.