Axis and Alliances: What were the short term causes of the Second World War? (p. 178 - 180)

• Humanities
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

What were the short term causes of the Second World War?

This week you will learn about how Nazi Germany was able to expand its territory without any interference from Britain and France and how different policies greatly encouraged this expansionist ideology. 

What were the short term causes of the Second World War?

Recap: What happened in the second half of the 1930's?

On the next slide, watch the video and answer the question.

02:43

List three violations of the Treaty of Versailles Germany already had inflicted by 1938.

What were the short term causes of the Second World War?

The main short term causes are:

1. The Munich Agreement

2. The Nazi-Sovjet Pact

3. The Policy of Appeasement 

The Munich Agreement

• In September 1938, Hitler announced to invade Sudetenland. 

• In a series of meetings between the Great Powers that took place in Munich, the future of Sudetenland was discussed.

• Eventually, In order to prevent war, Germany was allowed to take over this part of Czechoslovakia.

The Munich Agreement

• The agreement impacted the foreign policy of the USSR. 

• Russia not intervening in the annexation of Sudentenland, made Stalin believe that the democracies in West-Europe were more afraid to Sovjet communism than to German and Italian fascism. 

• The Munich Agreement was signed in October 1938.

The Munich Agreement

• After the annexation of Sudetenland, Hitler ignored the terms of the Munich Agreement once more. 

• In March 1939, German troops occupied Czechoslovakia, forcing a protectorate on this area. 

• Still, Britain and France did not intervene, but promsied Poland to do so if they were being attacked. 

Protectorate

A protectorate is a dependent territory that has been granted local autonomy and some independence while still retaining the control of a greater sovereign state.

03:50

What does it mean that Britain and France did not want to 'rock the boat' with Germany over the Sudetenland issue?

04:32

Give two reasons why Germany wanted to take over the whole of Czechoslovakia.

04:42

What is the lesson we can learn from the Munich Agreement?

What were the short term causes of the Second World War?

Take a good look at the image on the next slide. 

After examination, answer the question.

What is the message of the cartoonist in this image?

The Nazi-Sovjet Pact 

• Germany intended to invade Poland, but could not wage a two front war with France + Britain in the west, and Russia in the east. 

• In March 1939, Germany made a deal with the Sovjets, agreeing not to attack each other and to divide Poland between them

• The agreement is called the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact, after the names of both foreign ministers. 

01:15

Why did the signing of the pact between Germany and the Sovjet Union was a surprise to the world?

02:02

Explain why the signing of the pact was a 'win-win' situation for the Sovjet Union.

02:33

Which countries came under the sphere of influence of the Sovjet Union after the signing of the pact?

03:51

Why do you think that the Sovjet Union denounced the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact in 1992, decades after its initial signing?

Reflect on why the Nazi-Soviet Pact was such an unlikely agreement. Why would these dictators, with opposing ideologies, have engaged in a pact in August 1939? What might this mean for the prospects of peace in Europe?

What were the short term causes of the Second World War?

Take a good look at the image on the next slide. 

After examination, answer the question.

What is the message of the cartoonist in this image?

What were the short term causes of the Second World War?

On the next slide, there is a short animation about the Pact that Germany and the Soviet Union agreed on. 

Watch the video, it is ok to laugh. :-) 

Policy of Appeasement

• Despite the reasons for appeasement, there were problems with this policy.

• The main issue here is that Hitler may have believed that France and Britain would not go to war would he invade Poland. 

Appeasement

Appeasement in an international context is a diplomatic policy of making political or material concessions to an aggressive power in order to avoid conflict.

05:20

What evidence shows that the British policy of appeasement is active?

06:19

Why is it easier to say in hindsight that the policy of appeasement is a cause of the Second Word War?

Why appease Hitler's Germany?

Did appeasement cause the Second World War?

The Treaty of Versailles was unfair - and should be revised

It enabled Hitler to rearm and strengthen Germany

It led to a change in Soviet foreign policy

The Nazi's would stop the spread of communism from the USSR

Chamberlain and the appeasers were wrong to trust Hitler

Britan was not ready for war in the mid 1930's and had to buy time

It encouraged Hitler to expand

The USA was pursuing a policy of isolation and was unlikey to support Britain

The declaration of war over Poland was unexpected 

Britain and France suffered economic problems from the Depression

Justify the following statement:
"The policy of appeasement was reasonable, given the circumstances faced by Britain and France in the 1930's"
Give arguments that support and oppose the statement.

What were the short term causes of the Second World War?

Take a good look at the image on the next slide. 

After examination, answer the question.

What is the message of the cartoonist in this image?

True or False:
France and the Soviet Union were able to defend Czechoslovakia if Germany attacked.

1. True
2. False

True or False:
During the Munich meetings, British prime minister Chamberlain initially proposed that Hitler could take the whole of the Sudetenland.

1. True
2. False

True or False:
Czechoslovak President Benes hoped that the Munich Agreement would secure peace, but he feared that it would not.

1. True
2. False

True or False:
Stalin thought that Western Europe was more afraid of communism than of fascism.

1. True
2. False

True or False:
After the German occupation of the rest of Czechoslovakia, Britain wanted to revise the Treaty of Versailles, since they thought it was too harsh.

1. True
2. False

True or False:
Before Hitler attacked Poland he needed to reassure the USSR would not attack Germany, so he made up a pact of non agression between them.

1. True
2. False

True or False:
Both Russia and Germany got a part of Poland after the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact.

1. True
2. False

True or False:
After Germany invaded Poland, Britain and France immideatly declared war to Germany.

1. True
2. False

True or False:
The policy of appeasement encouraged Hitler to perform aggressive actions, and could therefore be seen as a cause of the Second World War

1. True
2. False

True or False:
Britain and France had support from the Soviet Union at the outbreak of the Second Word War.

1. True
2. False

What were the short term causes of the Second World War?

The next video is the first episode in a series of the acclaimed documentary 'World War II in Colour', and summarizes the events leading up to the war, including the initial Japanese expansion and the Spanish Civil war. 

Watch this first episode and if you are interested, the rest of them are free to watch on YouTube or on Netflix if you have an account. 

You can use this series as a means of inspiration or source for the assignment on which you will start next week.