Cause
Before analyzing the cause of war, it is important to recognize that no one event was responsible for the provocation of World War II. Instead, it was a culmination of a variety of circumstances that fostered brutality. Throughout history, thoughts of conflict have infiltrated the livelihood of millions of individuals. However, not every society has engaged in conflict. The cause of World War II, although engraved to the moral fallacy of similar conflicts, is set apart. WWII existed as a part of WWI. WWII existed in the wake of Hitler’s rise to power – a rise that could only thrive in the landscape of a stagnating German economy, in the disingenuous propaganda surrounding the treaty of Versailles, in Mussolini’s totalitarian assembly, in the bemusement of German xenophobia and the promise of Japan’s dominance in the East Asia and Pacific regions.
The result of World War I, more specifically the Treaty of Versailles (1919), played a significant role in the fall of a democratic Germany. Under the treaty of Versailles Germany was tasked to refrain from most military activity. Conditions outlined within the treaty limited the German Army to “1000 men of all ranks”, significantly retracted the power of the German Navy, and nullified German colonies overseas. The final condition, being the most significant, required German reparations equal to the damage inflicted to property under citizen possession. Total reparation cost was set at 132 billion German Marks (“Conditions of the Treaty of Versailles “).
Subsequently, under the debt of reparation payments, the economy of Germany faltered (while the rest of the world felt the effects of a global recession). Propaganda promising to avenge the Treaty of Versailles, and the desire of citizens to achieve social stability across Europe gave rise to the Nazi Party in Germany and Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime in Italy. Hitler ascended to the top of the German Government in 1934 and set his sights upon aggressive totalitarianism. Conflicts such as the Spanish Civil War in 1936 (supported by Hitler and Mussolini), showcased the increasing tensions and military experimentation leading to WWII. Meanwhile in the Pacific, Japan set its sights on aggressive expansion. After invading the Chinese region of Manchuria in 1931, Japan would go on to provoke further violence in 1937 with the takeover of major Chinese coastal regions and railroad connections (“World War II History”).
However, the greatest catalyst to World War II occurred with the German Soviet nonaggression pact of 1939. The pact ensured Soviet support for the takeover and division of Poland among other secretive agreements. Following Hitler’s invasion on September 1st, 1939, both Britain and France declared war on Germany (marking the official start of World War II). Within the next year, Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union signed the Tripartite Pact of 1940 and became official allies (“World War II History”).
The result of World War I, more specifically the Treaty of Versailles (1919), played a significant role in the fall of a democratic Germany. Under the treaty of Versailles Germany was tasked to refrain from most military activity. Conditions outlined within the treaty limited the German Army to “1000 men of all ranks”, significantly retracted the power of the German Navy, and nullified German colonies overseas. The final condition, being the most significant, required German reparations equal to the damage inflicted to property under citizen possession. Total reparation cost was set at 132 billion German Marks (“Conditions of the Treaty of Versailles “).
Subsequently, under the debt of reparation payments, the economy of Germany faltered (while the rest of the world felt the effects of a global recession). Propaganda promising to avenge the Treaty of Versailles, and the desire of citizens to achieve social stability across Europe gave rise to the Nazi Party in Germany and Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime in Italy. Hitler ascended to the top of the German Government in 1934 and set his sights upon aggressive totalitarianism. Conflicts such as the Spanish Civil War in 1936 (supported by Hitler and Mussolini), showcased the increasing tensions and military experimentation leading to WWII. Meanwhile in the Pacific, Japan set its sights on aggressive expansion. After invading the Chinese region of Manchuria in 1931, Japan would go on to provoke further violence in 1937 with the takeover of major Chinese coastal regions and railroad connections (“World War II History”).
However, the greatest catalyst to World War II occurred with the German Soviet nonaggression pact of 1939. The pact ensured Soviet support for the takeover and division of Poland among other secretive agreements. Following Hitler’s invasion on September 1st, 1939, both Britain and France declared war on Germany (marking the official start of World War II). Within the next year, Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union signed the Tripartite Pact of 1940 and became official allies (“World War II History”).
Effects
The effects of World War II after 1945 are just as profound as the events that provoked the war. World War II ended soon after President Truman authorized the use of two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima in August. Less than a month later, Japan officially surrendered on September 2nd, 1945 marking the end of the war. Following Japan’s defeat and Germany’s surrender earlier in the year, all territory engulfed by the axis countries was re-divided and distributed. In the case of Germany, the country was split among the four major allied countries (the U.S., Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union) in a military occupation zone until a permanent boundary could be created. In East Asia and the Pacific Japan’s advancements were diminished, and the U.S. claimed temporary occupation of the country until 1952. Notably, World War II was the first war to make use of atomic warfare (“World War II History”).
By the end of the war, two major Superpowers emerged – the United States and the Soviet Union – as the importance of Britain and France diminished. The Soviet Union would go on to take over many Eastern-European Countries with the spread of Communism. However new proactive alliances would continue to form. After fifty-one nations met for its founding conference in June, the UN or United Nations was officially established in October of 1945. With the support of the United States and countless others, the UN strived to create an organization that facilitated international peace in the wake of World War II (“Effects of World War II”).
By the end of the war, two major Superpowers emerged – the United States and the Soviet Union – as the importance of Britain and France diminished. The Soviet Union would go on to take over many Eastern-European Countries with the spread of Communism. However new proactive alliances would continue to form. After fifty-one nations met for its founding conference in June, the UN or United Nations was officially established in October of 1945. With the support of the United States and countless others, the UN strived to create an organization that facilitated international peace in the wake of World War II (“Effects of World War II”).
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