Second World War: Notes on Second World War

Just after twenty years of the completion of World War I, the Second World War took place. After signing the Treaty of Versailles, the condition of Germany became deplorable.

The financial crisis in Germany coupled with misery and unemployment problem gave rise to Hitler. Mussolini of Italy and Hirohito of Japan joined hand with Hitler.

The appeasement Policy of England and France became a failure and then broke out the World War II of 1939.

Failure of the Treaty of Versailles:

The Treaty of Versailles which was signed in 1919 at Paris formed the main cause of the First World War. The victors like France, England and other countries had threatened Germany to sign this treaty. The agreements of this treaty were imposed upon Germany. Germany had lost her territories, colonies, coal and iron mines. This treaty reduced its lands and also decreased the soldiers and armaments of Germany.

Germany was made responsible for the losses of the First World War and was forced to sign in a plain paper. Inspite of her will, Germany had to sign this revengeful treaty. Thus the desire of revenge was lighted among the people of Germany. In course of time, Germany had disobeyed all the provisions of the treaty of Versailles. It contained germs for the Second World War.

Mussolini and Fascism:

As Italy was a winning nation, it was underestimated in the Paris Peace Conference of 1919. After the First World War there was unemployment, labour strikes, riots, movements and class struggle in Italy. This critical juncture led to the rise of Benitto Mussolini. He declared in favour of War- “What War is to man, maternity is to woman”.

He promised to establish the pride of ancient Rome in Italy. He established Fascism in Italy in order to extend its boundary. So he established friendly relationship with Hitler, the Dictator of Germany. It created an environment of fear in the whole of Europe. Mussolini occupied Ithiopia.

Hitler and Nazism:

After the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was crippled politically and economically and there was public unrest and unemployment. At this time, Adolf Hitler rose as the Saviour of Germany. He established the ‘Nazi Party’ and accepted the ‘Symbol of Swostik’. By his speech he inspired the people of Germany and promised them to return back the lost glory of Germany. In his autobiography ‘Mein Kamf’, he has discussed about this.

As the dictator of Germany, Hitler’s activities were violating the conditions of the Treaty of Versailles. He re­established the German army in 1935 and increased the number of its soldiers to 800,000. In 1936, he occupied the Rhine land and in 1938, he occupied Austria and annexed them to Germany. Thus the prestige of Germany increased. The rise of Hitler was the chief cause of the Second World War.

Emergence of Japan:

The Emergence of Japan in the Far East was another cause of the Second World War. After the First World War, Japan tried to emerge as an important and powerful nation. Its main aim was to extend its empire and to acquire several colonies. In 1931 Japan attacked and occupied Manchuria. Then it captured one after another city of China.

The imperialist policy of Japan increased largely under its Emperor Hirohito. His alliance with Hitler and Mussolini created a volcanic situation which paved the way for the outbreak of the World War II.

Failure of the League of Nations:

The League of Nations was founded in the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, according to the Fourteen Points of Woodro Wilson. The League utterly failed to secure peace and order after the First World War and between the Second World War. It remained silent when Japan occupied Manchuria. When Mussolini attacked Ethiopia in 1936, it could not take any effective step. It also remained silent when Italy occupied Albania.

When Hitler occupied Austria and Czechoslovakia in 1938, the League also remained silent. Germany, Japan and Italy left its membership one after another. At first the United States of America joined it. Due to the lack of power, the League utterly failed in its aim. The failure of the League was another cause for the outbreak of the Second World War.

Failure of Disarmament Efforts:

After the First World War in the Paris Peace Conference, emphasis was laid on disarmament. In the covenant of the League, it was advised that the members should reduce their armaments to the lowest point. But in course of time, no one paid any heed to it. Inspite of disarmament, the European nations started the process of armament. Germany, Italy, England and France began to increase their arms. It paved the way for the outbreak of the Second World War.

Formation of Military Alliances:

After the failure of the process of disarmament attempts were started among the dictators for the formation of military alliances. After the occupation of Abyssinia by Italy, her relationship increased with Germany. The ‘Rome-Berlin Pact’ was signed between Italy and Germany in 1936. In 1937, the ‘Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis’ was concluded between Italy, Germany and Japan. The alliance of Hitler, Mussolini and Hirohito threatened other European nations. In 1937 the ‘Anti-Comintern Pact’ was concluded between Italy and Germany. It was an anti-Russian alliance.

Again in 1939 Italy and Germany concluded a ten years alliance. It was called the ‘Steel Pact’. Threatened by this, England and France also formed an alliance in 1939. Later on Poland, Rumania and Greece joined this alliance.

Italy, Germany and their supporting nations were called as the ‘Central Power or Axis Power’. England, France and their supporting nations were called the ‘Allied Power’. Now the World was divided into two rival armed camps.

Conflict of Ideologies:

After the First World War, the whole world came under spell of the ideological conflicts. Italy, Germany, Japan and Spain believed in Dictatorship and Militarism. On the other hand, the United States of America, England and France believed in the Democratic Principles. Germany and Italy violated the system of the Treaty of Versailles.

This ideological conflict divided the world into two groups. Mussolini, the dictator of Italy had remarked-“The Struggle between the two worlds can permit no Compromise-either we or they”. America, England and France who believed in the democratic principles prepared themselves to give a setback to this ideology of Mussolini.

The Spanish Civil War:

The Spanish Civil War also flamed the fire for the Second World War. In 1935, Spanish Civil War took place in which Hitler and Mussolini supported General Franco. The arms produced in Germany were supplied to Franco. Its chief motive was to experiment its power. Franco had won in the Spanish Civil War by applying these arms.

It also proved that the German arms were very powerful. This successful experiment of arms made Hitler’s will very strong. He hoped to win in the Second World War by the use of these arms. The strong support of Mussolini also made his desire fulfill.

Failure of the Policy of Appeasement:

Before the Second World War, the Russian Communism had threatened France and England. Taking the advantage of it, Hitler tried to extend the border of Germany. Threatened by the Communist devil, France and England followed the Policy of Appeasement towards Hitler.

England and France also supported Germany’s disarmament, war preparation in the Rhine land occupation of Austria and Czechoslovakia. The imperialism of Hitler continued to increase. France and England were not able to stop it, but Hitler wanted to annex Danzig and Polish Corridor to Germany. England and France were astonished at this work of Hitler.

But at that time, Hitler had advanced a lot. It was impossible to stop him. The appeasement policy of France and England became a failure. It prepared the theatre for the Second World War. Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of England said not to return back and strongly supported the proposal for the Second World War in the British Parliament.

Immediate Cause:

Hitler’s attack upon Poland was an immediate cause of the Second World War. According to the treaty of Versailles Germany surrendered ‘Danzig and Polish Corrider’ to Poland. Hitler violated the treaty and demanded that these two regions should be given back to Germany. Poland could have answered it.

Before that Hitler attacked upon Poland on September 1, 1939. England and France declared War against Germany supporting the cause of Poland. Italy and Japan also joined the War supporting Germany. Thus began the Second World War of 1939.

The Second World War was very harmful. In 1941, Japan bombarded on the Pearl harbour of the United States of America and destroyed it. So America joined the War. In 1943 they attacked Russia. Out of anger Russia attacked Germany and on April 24, 1945 occupied Berlin. Hitler committed suicide in his own bullet.

America bombarded in Hiroshima and Nagasaki of Japan and compelled it to surrender. The Central Power was defeated and the Allied Powers became the victors. The United Nation Organisation (UNO) was formed in 1945 and attempted to maintain peace and order in the World. Efforts were made for the creation of a better world which will witness peace and tranquility out and out.