Devin Costello
Per.4
4/16/17
Causes of WW2
World War 2 was possibly the largest conflict in the history of the world. The war lasted 6 years, spanning between 1939 and 1945. It was fought between the Allied Powers: United States, Britain, Russia, France, and China; and the Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, and Japan. It was partly caused by the first world war only 20 years prior. Rising tensions after World War 1 combined with German rearmament, fascist, violations of the Treaty of Versailles, and Japanese imperialism would help start World War 2.
The long period of German rearmament between 1932 and 1939, was known in German as “Aufrüstung”, meaning equipment. This German militarization was a direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty of Versailles stated that Germany was prohibited from building up its military or stocking up in weapons. Germany used private manufacturers and various other sources in its economy to produce military supplies and even weapons in secret. Germany also stopped paying the war reparations which was another violation of the treaty. Germany broke the laws of the Treaty of Versailles to building and prepare for another war. Which would inevitably speed up the process in starting the war.
During the 1930’s, Japan built up it own military to use in a new imperialist movement in gaining more territory and expanding it influence. In 1932, Japan declared a military state in Manchukuo. Japan used this expansion with its military and its imperialist methods to pull itself out of its own depression. Soon they became more and more powerful, expanding their power and influence across China and Korea. This caused other countries with ties to China and Korea to respond. These tensions caused by Japan invading multiple countries would pull other countries into the conflict and help start World War 2.
Fascism was a relatively new ideology before World War 2. It promotes the growth of military, discourages any international organizations and condoned war. Nazi Germany used a form of Fascism in hopes to reverse the Treaty of Versailles and to build a new German empire. Hitler used fascism as a segway to become an all-powerful leader and take control of the German government. Hitler didn't only see war as an acceptable means of gaining power, he saw war as being the best way to to gain power and to spread one's influence. He promised the German people that he would bring power to Germany and give them a good way of living. After he gained the trust of people he turned Germany into a military state and left people in fear to speak out against him in fear of getting jailed. This would cause multiple countries to take action in stopping Hitler and the Nazi party from growing and gaining more power.