Ch+27+-+Causes+for+WWII

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Causes for WWII
=The Depression: Global Economic Difficulties=

While the United States had excelled economically during the 1920s, many other countries suffered from enormous debts due to the First World War. The Allies owed an estimated $11 billion in loans to the United States, and Germany was forced to pay an even larger sum of money as reparations. The United States refused to ease up on European debts, and Germany’s economy was suffering from massive inflation. In 1924, Charles Dawes, an American diplomat and banker, proposed the Dawes Plan to alleviate global economic difficulties. The plan called for a system of circular loans – the United States would provide loans to Germany and the Axis powers to help rebuild and pay their debts to the Allies, who would then use this money to repay loans to America. For a time the plan helped, but many European countries continued to struggle financially. Difficult economic times contributed to an environment in which a dictator such as Adolf Hitler or Benito Mussolini could rise to power.

=The Failure of Appeasement= As fascist dictators began to flex their military might and invade certain areas such as the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, European nations decided upon the policy of appeasement – if we let him do this, maybe he would stop after that. This policy fueled the dictators’ desire for control and power, and didn’t lead to any solutions.

=Dictators Were Elected?= Some dictators, such as Hitler, actually were elected. Hitler seized power through the political system functioning in Germany at the time. Because of the situation the German nation was in – extremely poor, forced to accept blame for WWI, and in debt to many countries – the German people wanted answers and solutions. Hitler offered both. He used the Jewish people as a scapegoat for the world’s ills, restored the peoples’ hope in the future, and promised jobs to many. Aside from his obvious flaws, Hitler did solve some of Germany’s problems to a certain extent; especially by providing jobs.

=The Failure of the Treaty of Versailles= Many historians attribute WWII to the harsh nature of the Treaty of Versailles. Because the treaty forced Germany to accept the blame for the war, the peoples’ national pride was demolished. Also, since Germany – already experienced economic difficulties – was forced to pay reparations, the country’s economic state was worsened irreparably.