The Causes of World War II•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)•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• 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• 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