World War II was a devastating global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. Britain declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939, and the British Government of India declared India's support for the war without consulting Indian opinion. Tens of millions of people died as a result of genocides (including the Holocaust), starvation, massacres, and disease. It remains the bloodiest conflict in human history to this day. In this article, we will discuss the causes of World War II which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

World War II - Background

• When World War I ended in 1919, it was assumed that this would be the "war to end all wars."
• This assertion would be proven incorrect 20 years later, when a resurrected Nazi Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, sparking another war with devastation equal to or greater than World War I.
• The causes of World War II were numerous and varied, but in the end, it all came down to Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party's aggressive and expansionist policies.
• Furthermore, the harsh Treaty of Versailles years before had only laid the groundwork for future conflicts.

Causes of World War II

Treaty of Versailles

• The Treaty of Versailles signed on June 28, 1919, officially ended World War I. But it was clear from the start that the defeated would be subjected to a harsh peace.
• To protect itself from a future German attack, France demanded reparations, demilitarization of the Rhineland region, and the 'War Guilt Clause,' which placed the blame for starting the war squarely on Germany's shoulders.
• The imposition of such harsh terms was the result of French vengeance, which had been nurtured since the days of its defeat during the Franco-Prussian War of 1871.
• The ensuing war also resulted in Germany's unification, which was declared in the halls of Versailles, adding insult to injury.
• The German folks were offended that they would be blamed for the conflict. Instead of reaching a deal that would lead to peace, the victorious side was content to humiliate them.
• Demilitarization of the military, territorial loss, and the absurd amount of penance to be paid were like rubbing salt in an open wound.
• The new Weimar government in Germany had no choice but to agree to the demeaning peace terms.
• In the sight of the German people, this only branded them as "criminals and traitors."
• To pay back the massive reparations, the Weimar Republic began printing massive amounts of German currency. This resulted in massive devaluation and inflation, as well as the near-collapse of an already fragile economy.
• Fed up with their own government's mismanagement, the German people began to accept anyone who could reverse the embarrassment that had been heaped on them. Hitler and his Nazi party would arise with such a promise at this time.

Rise of Nazis

• Hitler and his Nazi Party fully exploited the wave of hostility over the systemic injustice of the Treaty of Versailles.
• Taking advantage of the ding done to German pride, Hitler promised to right the wrongs done by the Versailles Treaty.
• The "us versus them" rhetoric was added to this. The 'us' in this case were the Aryans, while the 'them' were the Slavic Eastern Europeans.
• Among 'them' were Jews, Communists, Gypsies, etc who did not match the Nazi description of an Aryan.
• The Nazis blamed Jews for Germany's battles of World War I and all the financial distress that followed as a "conspiracy" that had crippled Germany.
• This rhetoric would have severe repercussions for Europe's and Germany's Jewish populations.

Economic Hardship

• The harsh sanctions imposed on Germany under the Versailles Treaty only added to the hardships endured by the German people.
• The late-twentieth-century Great Depression exacerbated the problem by driving up the price of essential items.
• Hyperinflation caused many essential items, such as bread, to become even more expensive than they were before, fueling widespread resentment of the fragile Weimar Republic.
• At the time, the Ruhr valley was one of Germany's most industrialized regions. France invaded and occupied the Ruhr valley in order to collect promised war reparations.
• This harmed German pride to the point where they were ready to support any party or leader who would avenge their humiliation. It was an ideal environment for Hitler and his Nazi party to rise to power.

The League of Nations' Failure

• The League of Nations (disbanded on April 20, 1946) was established in 1919, post - world war War I.
• It was viewed as an international body that would prevent disputes between member nations and settle disputes through diplomatic means.
• However, the League of Nations did not have its own army to enforce and uphold its mandate. To enforce its directives, it had to rely on financial sanctions and the armies of the member nations.
• Although US President Woodrow Wilson was an enthusiastic supporter of the league, he was forced to withdraw due to infuriating opposition from the more isolationist faction of the US Congress, a faction that had no curiosity about being involved in distant European politics.
• The absence of the United States diminished its power and credibility—the addition of a rapidly growing military and industrial world power such as the United States could have added more power to the League's demands and requests.
• As a result, the League of Nations was powerless to prevent Japan's invasion of China or Germany's invasion of Czechoslovakia.
• Due to the league's failure to respond, Imperial Japan, Nazi Germany, and Fascist Italy would form their own alliance to continue their own aggressive expansion, setting the stage for the emergence of a new world war.

Failure of Policy of Appeasement

• Despite the Versailles Treaty's prohibition on such a venture, the Nazis embarked on a gigantic re-armament program. The absence of protest or restrictions only accelerated the process.
• The Luftwaffe was established, the German navy was expanded, and conscription was implemented.
• Another breach of the Treaty occurred in March 1936 when German troops invaded the Rhineland. These events only served to bolster Hitler's domestic image while also providing much-needed employment.
• Hitler, buoyed by his success, decided to try his luck with foreign appeasement.
• The British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, believed that appeasement was the only way to avoid a conflict. When claims were made on Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia, he readily agreed to sign the Munich Agreement.
• However, the total subordination of Czechoslovakia in March 1939 galvanized public opinion throughout Europe against Hitler.
• Neville Chamberlain soon discovered that Hitler would not be satisfied with a few concessions here and there.
• It was widely assumed that Hitler would claim Prussia and the Courland Peninsula on the same grounds that he had claimed Sudetenland–that they were populated by a majority of ethnic Germans. The issue was that Prussia was right in the middle of Polish territory.
• France and the United Kingdom both guaranteed their sovereignty. As a result, when Germany invaded Poland in September 1939, France and the United Kingdom declared war, kicking off World War II in earnest.

Conclusion

Countries and continents' status changed as a result of World War II. Britain and France lost their preeminence as superpowers, giving way to the United States and the Soviet Union. The birth of the United Nations Organization was one of the war's most significant outcomes. Despite the League's failure to deliver, humanity did not abandon its hopes of making the world a safer and happier place to live. Following the end of the war, a conference in Potsdam, Germany, was held to establish peace treaties. Countries that fought alongside Hitler lost territory and were forced to pay reparations to the Allies. Germany, as well as its capital Berlin, was divided into four sections.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Which event directly triggered the outbreak of World War II?

A) The invasion of Poland by Germany
B) The signing of the Treaty of Versailles
C) The economic depression of the 1930s
D) The signing of the Munich Agreement

2. What was the policy of appeasement in the context of pre-World War II Europe?

A) A policy of economic sanctions
B) A policy of military alliances
C) A policy of conceding to some of the demands of aggressor nations to avoid war
D) A policy of forming new treaties with Germany

3. Which treaty ended World War I and laid the groundwork for World War II?

A) Treaty of Paris
B) Treaty of Versailles
C) Treaty of Tordesillas
D) Treaty of Utrecht

4. Which event marked the beginning of the policy of appeasement towards Nazi Germany?

A) The invasion of Manchuria
B) The invasion of Czechoslovakia
C) The Munich Agreement
D) The signing of the non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union

5. Which of the following was NOT a cause of World War II?

A) The rise of totalitarian regimes in Germany, Italy, and Japan
B) The collapse of the League of Nations
C) The signing of the Treaty of Paris
D) The failure of the policy of appeasement

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the role of the Treaty of Versailles in shaping the political and economic conditions that led to World War II. How did it contribute to the rise of Nazi Germany?

Answer: The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, imposed harsh conditions on Germany, including significant territorial losses, military restrictions, and reparations. These conditions created widespread resentment among the German population and fostered economic instability, particularly during the Great Depression. Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party capitalized on this resentment, promising to restore Germany's honor and reclaim lost territories. The Treaty thus played a significant role in the political and economic conditions that facilitated the rise of Nazi Germany, which directly contributed to the outbreak of World War II.

Q2: Analyze the impact of economic factors, such as the Great Depression, on the outbreak of World War II. How did economic instability contribute to the rise of totalitarian regimes?

Answer: The Great Depression of the 1930s had a profound impact on global economies, leading to mass unemployment, poverty, and social unrest. In Germany, the economic turmoil created fertile ground for extremist ideologies. The Nazi Party, under Adolf Hitler, promised economic recovery and national rejuvenation, which attracted significant support from the disillusioned population. Similarly, in Italy and Japan, economic hardship contributed to the rise of fascist and militaristic regimes, respectively. These totalitarian regimes pursued aggressive expansionist policies, which eventually led to World War II.

Q3: Explain the policy of appeasement and its consequences. How did the failure of appeasement lead to the escalation of tensions leading to World War II?

Answer: The policy of appeasement involved making concessions to aggressive powers like Nazi Germany to avoid war. The Munich Agreement of 1938, which allowed Germany to annex Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland, is the most prominent example of this policy. Appeasement was based on the belief that satisfying some of Hitler's demands would prevent a larger conflict. However, this only emboldened Germany and led to further territorial expansion. The failure of appeasement, combined with the unchecked aggression of totalitarian regimes, contributed to the outbreak of World War II.

Previous Year Questions on the Causes of World War II

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2020:

Question: What was one of the key factors that contributed to the outbreak of World War II?

A) The signing of the Treaty of Paris
B) The policy of appeasement towards Nazi Germany
C) The collapse of the Ottoman Empire
D) The rise of socialism in Russia

Answer: (B)

Explanation: The policy of appeasement, particularly towards Nazi Germany, contributed significantly to the outbreak of World War II by allowing Germany to expand its territory without facing military intervention.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2019 (GS Paper 2):

Question: "Analyze the role of the Treaty of Versailles in shaping the political climate of Europe and contributing to the outbreak of World War II." Discuss its long-term impacts.

Answer: The Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I, imposed harsh penalties on Germany, including reparations, military restrictions, and territorial losses. This created economic hardships and political instability, leading to resentment among the German population. The treaty's failure to address the underlying causes of the war contributed to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, whose expansionist policies ultimately led to World War II. The long-term impact of the Treaty was the destabilization of Europe and the eventual collapse of the post-World War I order.