Origins of the Second World War

In Europe, World War I (1914-1918) did not result in lasting peace or economic stability. Germany, in particular, experienced terrible economic conditions in the late 1920s and 1930s, paving the way for the rise of Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) and his Nazi (National Socialist) party. Hitler, an Austrian by birth, bitterly resented the settlement of World War I, which he believed was too harsh on Germany, forcing the nation to pay reparations (money to reimburse England, France, and other nations for some of the war's destruction). Hitler was also motivated by anti-Semitism, a hatred of the Jews. He did not consider Jews to be loyal Germans, and blamed them for many of the nation's problems. Hitler had published many of his ideas in a little-read book, Mein Kampf (German for "My Struggle"). Hitler pledged to restore the nation's economy, military, and provide Lebensraum ("living space") for the German people. He was elected chancellor of Germany in 1933, and quickly changed the nation's laws in order to gain the powers of a dictator (he was known in Germany as the Fuhrer, "the leader"). Effectively, he declared himself chancellor for life.

Beginning in 1936, Hitler sought to expand Germany's power and territory. He formed an alliance with the fascist government of Italy, led by Benito Mussolini. In 1936, Hitler annexed the Rhineland, which had been controlled by France. In 1938, German troops moved into Austria. In 1938, he annexed the Sudetenland, a portion of Czechoslovakia. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain agreed not to oppose Hitler's annexation of Czechoslovakia, in order to secure "peace for our time." Chamberlain's policy became known as appeasement, and was soon considered a disaster. In 1939, Hitler's armies occupied the remainder of Czechoslovakia. In 1940, Chamberlain resigned as Prime Minister, and was replaced by Winston Churchill. In 1940 the Nazis allied themselves with Japan. These three nations, Germany, Italy, and Japan, became known as the Axis powers.

In August 1939, Germany and the USSR announced the signing of the Nazi-Soviet Non-aggression Pact, in which the two nations pledged not to fight one another. Citizens around the globe were shocked to learn that fascist Germany and the communist USSR had forged an alliance. After the USSR agreed not to fight against Germany, Hitler ordered his armies to invade Poland on September 1, 1939. Two days later, England and France declared war on Germany. World War II had begun.