What Caused World War Two? in 90 Seconds

Summary

World War I ended with the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, imposing harsh terms on Germany, including reparations and territorial losses, which strained its economy. The treaty created the League of Nations, but its effectiveness was weakened by the U.S. refusal to join. Germany's violation of the treaty terms, including rearmament under Hitler, led to further aggression. In 1938, Germany invaded Austria and Czechoslovakia, prompting a policy of appeasement from Britain and France. After signing pacts with Italy and the Soviet Union, Germany invaded Poland in 1939, triggering World War II.

Takeaways

• 😀 World War 1 officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919.
• 😀 The Treaty of Versailles required Germany to pay reparations to the countries it fought against and hand over 25,000 square miles of land.
• 😀 The German economy faced severe strains due to the reparations and the challenges of post-war rebuilding.
• 😀 The treaty created the League of Nations, aimed at resolving international disputes diplomatically, but the USA did not join, weakening its effectiveness.
• 😀 Restrictions were placed on Germany's military, which led to the country violating the treaty terms by rearming.
• 😀 Adolf Hitler, who opposed the Treaty of Versailles, was elected and rapidly increased Germany's rearmament.
• 😀 In 1938, Germany invaded Austria and parts of Czechoslovakia, triggering Britain and France’s policy of appeasement.
• 😀 Germany signed a pact with Italy, who were expanding their own territory by invading Abyssinia.
• 😀 Japan had been expanding its influence in Asia, and although invited, initially could not join the German-Italian pact.
• 😀 In 1939, Germany signed a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union, which led to Germany invading Poland.
• 😀 Britain and France demanded Germany withdraw from Poland, but after Germany refused, both countries declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939.

Q & A

When did World War 1 officially end, and what was the main outcome of the peace treaty?

World War 1 officially ended on June 28, 1919, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty imposed heavy reparations on Germany, ordered them to hand over 25,000 square miles of land, and created the League of Nations.

What were the economic effects of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany?

The Treaty of Versailles placed severe financial burdens on Germany, requiring them to pay reparations to the countries they had fought against. This, combined with the need to rebuild after the war, strained the German economy and led to widespread resentment among the population.

What was the purpose of the League of Nations, and why was it ineffective?

The League of Nations was created to resolve international disputes diplomatically and included 42 countries. However, it was ineffective because the USA refused to join, weakening its power and influence.

How did Germany react to the limitations imposed by the Treaty of Versailles?

Germany began breaking the terms of the Treaty of Versailles almost immediately by rearming itself. This accelerated after Adolf Hitler, who strongly opposed the treaty, came to power.

What actions did Germany take in the 1930s that violated the Treaty of Versailles?

In 1938, Germany invaded Austria and later parts of Czechoslovakia, actions that directly violated the Treaty of Versailles. Despite these violations, Britain and France initially followed a policy of appeasement.

What was the policy of appeasement, and how did it affect Germany's actions?

The policy of appeasement was adopted by Britain and France, where they tolerated Germany's aggressive actions up until that point, hoping for assurances that Germany would not continue. This allowed Germany to continue expanding without immediate consequence.

How did Germany align itself with Italy and Japan during this period?

Germany signed a pact with Italy, as both countries sought to expand their territories. Japan, who had been invading parts of Asia, was invited to join the pact, though it didn't agree to the terms until the following year.

What was the significance of the pact signed between Germany and the Soviet Union?

In 1939, Germany signed a pact with the Soviet Union, agreeing not to join or support each other's enemies. This pact allowed Germany to invade Poland without fear of Soviet intervention.

What event led to the official start of World War 2?

The official start of World War 2 occurred when Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Britain and France demanded that Germany withdraw its troops, and after Germany refused, both countries declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939.

What was the broader consequence of Germany's invasion of Poland?

Germany's invasion of Poland directly led to the outbreak of World War 2, as it prompted Britain and France to declare war on Germany, marking the beginning of a global conflict.