World War II, a global conflict of unprecedented scale and devastation, remains a pivotal event in human history. Understanding Why Did World War 2 Happen is crucial to grasping the 20th century and its lasting impact. While no single answer suffices, the seeds of this global catastrophe were sown in the aftermath of World War I, nurtured by a flawed peace, the rise of aggressive ideologies, and the failure of international cooperation.
The Flawed Peace After World War 1: Seeds of Resentment
The Treaty of Versailles, intended to secure lasting peace after World War I, is now widely debated for its role in inadvertently paving the way for another global conflict. Even at the time, some observers questioned its effectiveness. Notably, economist John Maynard Keynes resigned from the British delegation in protest, arguing that the treaty’s punitive nature against Germany was excessive and would inevitably lead to future European instability. His concerns were echoed by a French military leader who chillingly predicted the treaty was not peace but rather an “armistice for twenty years.”
This perspective highlights a critical aspect of why did World War 2 happen: the way peace was constructed after World War I. Instead of fostering reconciliation and stability, the treaty, in the eyes of many, created resentment and fertile ground for extremism.
The Ineffective League of Nations: A Failure of Collective Security
Born from the Treaty of Versailles, the League of Nations was envisioned as a cornerstone of international cooperation, designed to prevent future wars. Initially comprised of thirty-two member countries, primarily the victors of World War I, it later expanded to include Germany and other defeated nations. These member states pledged to avoid resorting to war, believing that collective security could maintain global peace.
The League’s foundational principle rested on the idea that threats to one member’s security would trigger a collective response from all. However, when faced with real-world aggression, the League proved largely ineffective, a key factor in understanding why did World War 2 happen.
A major weakness lay in the League’s decision-making process. Its mechanism for resolving international disputes required unanimous agreement before action could be taken. This crippling requirement paralyzed the League in critical moments. For instance, when Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931, the League was unable to mount an effective response due to Japan’s veto power as a member.
Similarly, in 1935, when Italy invaded Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), the League’s reaction was minimal and largely symbolic. In a passionate address to the League, Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie poignantly asked, “What have become of the promises made to me?” His plea underscored the League’s failure to uphold its core principles and protect its members from aggression.
This atmosphere of ineffectiveness was further exacerbated by a widespread, yet ultimately naive, optimism prevalent in international relations at the time. The 1928 Kellogg-Briand Pact, for example, obligated signatory nations to resolve conflicts peacefully, without violence. However, this pact proved essentially meaningless as nations like Germany, Italy, and Japan disregarded international agreements designed to curb aggression and expansionism. Simultaneously, major powers like France and the United Kingdom displayed a reluctance to take decisive action to maintain the balance of power.
Traumatized and weakened by World War I, the League’s great powers demonstrated both an inability and a lack of will to effectively address emerging security threats. The League’s feeble responses to blatant acts of aggression only emboldened further invasions, contributing directly to the escalating tensions that led to World War II.
By the time World War II erupted, the League of Nations had been effectively marginalized in international politics. Many historians and political analysts believe that the absence of the United States, which never joined due to U.S. Senate rejection despite President Wilson’s advocacy, fundamentally undermined the organization from its inception. Furthermore, the withdrawal of key nations like Germany, Italy, and Japan by 1937 further eroded the League’s credibility and authority.
While ultimately unsuccessful in preventing World War II, the League of Nations did achieve important progress in areas such as global health and arms control. Many of its agencies and ideals were carried forward into its successor organization, the United Nations. However, the fundamental challenges of collective security that plagued the League remain relevant today, as evidenced by the United Nations’ struggles to act decisively even during global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, often due to disagreements among powerful member states.
The Rise of Hitler and Nazi Germany: Exploiting Grievances
Germany’s path to World War II began even before the official end of World War I, with the signing of the armistice in November 1918. Although military leaders on the front lines recognized the war was lost, a significant segment of German society refused to accept defeat. This denial played a crucial role in why did World War 2 happen.
A dangerous myth began to take root: that Germany could have emerged victorious from World War I were it not for internal dissent and sabotage on the home front. This “stab-in-the-back” myth, propagated by conservative and military circles, falsely blamed Jewish people and left-wing activists for undermining the nation’s war effort. The Weimar Republic—Germany’s newly established, democratic government—was branded with the derogatory label “November criminals” and held responsible for Germany’s defeat in World War I.
This volatile political climate was then further destabilized by a series of severe economic crises. In the early 1920s, Germany was plunged into hyperinflation, a devastating economic phenomenon characterized by rapidly escalating prices that caused the German currency to plummet in value. Personal savings became worthless almost overnight. By 1923, the cost of basic necessities like bread had spiraled so dramatically that it required wheelbarrows full of banknotes to make even simple purchases. This economic devastation fueled public anger, resentment, and desperation, creating fertile ground for extremist ideologies and demagogic leaders like Adolf Hitler, who skillfully exploited these grievances to rise to power and ultimately lead Germany, and the world, into another devastating war.
Conclusion
Why did World War 2 happen? The answer is multifaceted and deeply rooted in the historical context of the early 20th century. The punitive Treaty of Versailles, the ineffectual League of Nations, and the rise of Hitler, fueled by post-war German societal and economic turmoil, are all critical pieces of this complex puzzle. Understanding these interconnected factors is essential not only for comprehending the past but also for informing our approach to international relations and peace-building in the present and future.
