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INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... i
ORIGINS OF WWII .................................................................................................................................... 1
Versailles Treaty as a Cause ....................................................................................................................... 1
Weakness of League of Nations ................................................................................................................. 2
Appeasement .............................................................................................................................................. 2
The Great Depression (GD) ....................................................................................................................... 2
Ideologies ................................................................................................................................................... 2
Diplomacy .................................................................................................................................................. 3
Different Views .......................................................................................................................................... 3
PRACTICES OF WWI ................................................................................................................................ 4
Nature of WWII.......................................................................................................................................... 4
Counter-Attacks by The Allies ................................................................................................................... 5
Other War Tactics ...................................................................................................................................... 5
The End of WWII ....................................................................................................................................... 5
EFFECTS OF WWI ..................................................................................................................................... 6
Social Changes ........................................................................................................................................... 6
Political, Economic Changes & International Relations ............................................................................ 6
INTRODUCTION
This is part of my series of detailed IB History SL notes that I took during my history course at Kungsholmens
Gymnasium. The study guide covers WWII, thus can be used to study the topic Causes, Practices, & Effects of
Wars in the IB History Syllabus. In order to make the guide unbiased as much as possible, Ive decided to include
mainly facts, and historical interpretations that are taken from many different perspectives. However, be aware that
the sources that I used can never be 100 percent unbiased!
Words or phrases, which are emphasized throughout the guide, can be divided into 3 types:
-
This guide is not for commercial use; hence, the information presented here (in which most are taken from the
internet, from The Origins of the First and Second World Wars, written by Frank McDonough; from the History for
The IB Diploma: Causes, Practices and Effects of Wars, written by Mike Wells; or from my teachers lectures at
school) will not be formally referenced.
Please feel free to contact me through email (my email address is dinhsyhai@yahoo.com.vn) if you have any
questions regarding this study guide. Thank you!
1939
Sept 1939
Sept 1939
1940
Dec 1941
1945
Sept 1939
1940
Dec 1941
June 1941
1942 1943
1943
1944
ORIGINS OF WWII
Germany was forced to sign Versailles treaty as a diktat, even though it got victory in Eastern Front it was
forced to reduce its military (a humiliation), demilitarization of Rhineland (an insult to German independence),
& lost territories (Alsace-Lorrain, Polish Corridors) hatred for Poles & French
Encirclement France in the West, Communists in the East (that tried to spread communism)
War Guilt Clause & huge reparations humiliation and economically threatened
Two solutions were either to go to another war, or to negotiate with the victors however, negotiations failed
during Golden Age of Germany the only solution left was to go to another war (which was indeed WWII)
WWII was initially started (193339) by a series of attacks by Japan, Germany & Italy on other lands to gain
territories; however resistance from League of Nations (LoNs) & the rest of the world was weak
LoNs failed to prevent big disputes realizing the ineffectiveness of LoNs, powers such as US, GB, or France
decided to go their own ways, while aggressors (e.g. Japan, Italy & Germany) left LoNs
Appeasement
Reasons for appeasement policy by GB & France:
-
Internal economic problems, Great Depression (GD) Debate: appeasement to buy time for GB & France, or
to hope Germany to recover after the war for better co-operation?
Underestimation of Hitler & Nazi GB & France thought that they could negotiate with Hitler
GB & France lost faith in LoNs took little effort to restrain Hitler
Against Appeasement:
-
Churchill criticized appeasement as it made war more likely GB & France should have stopped Hitler during
events in 1936-7 for Hitler to lose supports due to humiliating defeats
After Abyssinian Crisis, GB & France lost Italian support without Italy, Hitler could militarize Rhineland
and invaded Austria and Czechoslovakia a chain reaction
Stalin viewed appeasement as hostile towards USSR reason for German-USSR Deal
GD created huge difficulties for German economies; it also prevented other nations from helping Germany
rise of Nazi aimed to end reparations and economic crises
German farmers had not shared 1920s-boom in economy suffered greatly from GD
Ideologies
Totalitarianism was new political phenomenon confusions among democratic politicians
Fascist Ideology as a cause:
-
Manchuria invasion; Abyssinian Crisis showed aggression, expansionist & nationalistic policies
Nazi ideology Lebensraum, a racial state, destruction Versailles & Communism documented in Mein
Kamp & Hossbach Memorandum; Germany invaded USSR in 1941 an ideological war
Democracy was hostile towards USSR The West were happy as long as Germany moved East
USSR was excluded in Munich Conference (to settle problem with German annexation of Czechoslovakia)
interpreted by Stalin as a movement to cut USSR off from European politics
Stalin chose to be friendlier with Germany Rapallo Treaty (1922), Non-Aggression Pact (1939)
Diplomacy
USSR:
-
Stuck in the middle of the Axis powers (Japan in the East, Germany in the West) while being treated badly by
democratic countries defensive foreign policies Non-Aggression Pact (Marriage for Convenience)
US & GB:
-
Due to common fear of German rise which might interrupt balance of power or influence the free market in
Europe no chance for isolationism Roosevelt & Churchill showed good friendship
US declared its neutrality in 1939, but really still had aid agreements with GB
After Pearl Harbor attack, Germany declared war on US even though it had no obligation to do so
Japan was led by the emperor and legacy of samurai militarism, nationalism, fascism & expansionism
due to the unfair Paris peace settlement, Japan decided to invade Manchuria 1931, and attacked Pearl Harbor
to push Western influence out of Asia & for its dream of Asian domination
Different Views
Orthodox view:
-
Hitler (due to his fascist, nazi ideas), totalitarianism & appeasement were all to blame
Revisionist Views:
-
Hitler was opportunistic rather than driven by his ideology; he simply wanted to revise Versailles Treaty and
diverted attention of German populations towards foreign problems to gain supports Inter-war peace
settlement should ultimately be blamed
Stalin wanted a European War Non-Aggression Pact clearly showed his intentions
PRACTICES OF WWI
Nature of WWII
-
Total War fought between major industrial nations, but bigger scale than WWI
Technology & weapons were vitally important for victories depended heavily on industries & mobilization
of resources industrial cities, factories & workers were targeted Modern Warfare
Unlike WWI, the civilian casualties were much greater in WWII, with the powers trying to exterminate the
basis of society (the people) a racial war (Einsatzgruppen as special death squads which tried to kill as many
Jews, Communists & Gypsies as possible)
3 Phases of War:
o
Rapid attacks of the Axis (on e.g. Poland, Denmark, France & USSR)
Relied on technologies to avoid costly frontal attacks fast moving tanks, air attacks, artilleries
Aim to create chaos cities bombed, refugees attacked, rumors and false messages sent
German army was well trained make decisions without orders from above flexible
Phoney War nobody wanted to start fighting GB & France only conveyed a propaganda-war by dropping
leaflets on German lands to persuade people to revolt against the Nazis
Poor cooperation with inadequate preparedness among the Allies due to sudden attacks from Axis power
Australia & GB reacted very slowly against the Blitzkrieg attacks by Japan due to untrained army
Nazi Ideology against Communism showing strength of Nazi over the corrupted communists
Huge casualties for both sides; however USSR got advantages because they were fighting in their home
Biggest Battle; 1st time that Germany failed against the Soviet attacks
The biggest invasion by the sea came on 6th June 1944 with the invasion of Normandy D-Day a symbol
of hopes for a free France & for an invasion of Germany
Air-force:
-
Axis plans showed short-term weaknesses & long-term miscalculations all should be blamed on the lacks of
economic resources compared to the Allies underestimating costs of modern warfare
Germany failed to destroy GB forces at Dunkirk, lost control in the air and the navy (especially the Channel &
North Sea which protected the GB) long-term fighting against GB
Battles against USSR were total failures due to bad weather; Stalin was as ruthless as Hitler
Allies Successes: Co-operation of US & GB (Roosevelt & Churchill) provided more resources; while the ruthless
communist regime in USSR was determined to continue the war with the new economic plan
EFFECTS OF WWI
Social Changes
Total War required high level of commitment from both populations & government distinction between homefront & battle fields were blurred bigger scale than WWI
Government Control & Propaganda:
-
Propaganda was more sophisticated than WWI due to strong ideological elements radio, films, TV
Challenge to Tradition:
-
Women took a greater role in society due to womens participation in WWII & due to the loss of men
expansion of female education; availability of contraception; more jobs offered for women
Due to technological advances, highly-trained people from all backgrounds were needed
People who had relations with the enemies were treated badly in the liberation, especially women in Norway
The war permitted mass murder (Holocaust, Genocide) & rapes to be proceeded unchecked
However, WWII could not end ethnic conflicts Anti-Semitism was still strong among some Europeans
Yalta & Potsdam 4 occupations zones in Germany for UK, France, US & USSR (for reparations & to deNazify German people) while USSR Sphere of Influence extended to all Eastern Europe
While USSR took reparations from its conquered enemies, the West didnt (due to humanitarian reasons)
Japan became occupied while Korea gained independence but was divided into North & South
The beginning of Cold War Truman Doctrine (1947) introduced Containment policy to prevent the spread
of communism US gave massive economic aid to Europe in Marshall Plan to show its generosity
Establishment of UN, NATO (1947), Warsaw Pact (1955) greater sense of internationalism
Nuclear Age: In 1945, nuclear weapons long-term effects on human health were unknown nations used them
extensively as a tool for their defenses Cold War nuclear threat, Cuban Missile Crisis
Destructive powers of WWII encouraged people to work together to rebuild (with the lesson of WWI in mind)
great prosperity & economic growth with the greatest thanks to US (unlike US isolationism after WWI)
Technological progress (cheap powers) helped encourage production & economic recovery
EEC (EU), International Bank for Reconstruction & Development (the World Bank) & IMF were formed
reducing tariffs between countries and providing loans for reconstruction Marshall Aid
Anti-imperialism
-
The lost of Axis Powers in their conquering areas created a great opportunity for independence movement
Economically, it was costly for European countries to keep their colonies after WWII
Some European countries promised their colonies independence if they were to fight on the same side