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
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