Following the devastation of the First World War, Britain was desperate to avoid another world war. This meant that they were often unwilling or unable to respond effectively to German aggression.īritain in particular felt that the Treaty of Versailles, and its effects on Germany, were harsh. The aftermath of the First World War had also left France and Britain in politically and economically weak situations. Whilst Germany’s foreign policy played a decisive role in the outbreak of the Second World War, the failure of other countries to react, or their inability to react, was also key. Weakness of the International System and the Policy of Appeasement This again led to discontent and was exploited by extremist parties such as the Nazis who rejected of the treaty. The change in the eastern borders of Germany in particular became a source of contention, and as a result many people within Germany felt that the treaty was unfair. This had numerous outcomes, among them losing key economic outputs, as well as making people who had previously been German part of other countries. The Treaty of Versailles also reduced the size of Germany. The political instability from 1929-1933 led to disillusionment with politics and a rise in support for extremist parties such as the Nazis. The economy, and the resulting economic instability created political instability. Whilst a temporary economic recovery appeared between 1924-1929, Germany remained politically and economically fragile. Germany’s aggressive foreign policy was not the sole cause of the Second World War, but it was a large contributing factor.įrom 1935 onwards, Germany had actively pursued an aggressive foreign policy: reintroducing conscription, creating the Luftwaffe, planning for war as detailed in the Hossbach Memorandum of 1937, and occupying Austria, the Sudetenland, and Czechoslovakia before eventually invading Poland in 1939.īy breaking international agreements set out in the Treaty of Versailles and pursuing aggressive expansionism, Germany’s actions made a major European war more likely.įollowing the end of the First World War, the This section will explore the primary causes which led to the outbreak of war in 1939. The causes of the Second World War are neither singular or straightforward. Planning for War: The Hossbach Memorandum.Steps towards war: the role of Hermann Göring.Economic recovery: the role of Hjalmar Schacht.

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