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Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Week of 3/20 - Road to WWII
As historians, how should we view the Second World War. Are we fair in viewing it as a distinct entity, or should we focus more on the interpretation that it was really a continuation of the Great War? What about the Cold War?
No event as significant as World War II can be viewed historically as a distinct entity because its causes and effects forge undeniable links to the past and future. The rise of Hitler and Nazi Germany was made possible in part (I sound like PBS) by German resentment of the Treaty of Versailles. The reparations demanded by the Treaty, France's hard-line policy toward Germany, and the resultant hyperinflation brought catastrophe throughout Germany. Hitler took advantage of the crisis. His argument that Germany had never really been defeated appealed to many Germans who sought to regain confidence and pride in their country. Once Hitler had enough support, he began expanding German power. His annexations of Austria and Czechoslovakia and his invasions of Poland touched off what would become World War II.
A connection is thus evident between World War I and II. But the effects of WWI extended further, arguably to the Cold War. Hostilities between the two major players of the Cold War, the U.S. and the USSR, began during WWI. When Lenin resolved to withdraw Russia from the war following the Bolshevik Revolution, the U.S. was among the countries that intervened in Russia. Also, even though the USSR was officially formed in 1922, the U.S. refused to recognize it as a state until 1933.
The tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, each with their allies, were exacerbated by WWII. Major issues in the Cold War, such as the reunification of Germany and the nuclear arms race, were a direct product of WWII because 1) Germany was split into sectors only because of its defeat in the war and 2) nuclear weapons were developed and used for the first time during WWII.
It may also be said that the Cold War led to the Korean and Vietnam Wars, as both sides of the Cold War struggled to keep the other out of world affairs while advancing their own ideologies. Therefore, the major conflicts of the twentieth century, from WWI to the Cold War and beyond, were interconnected, and historical analysis of one is best achieved in light of the others.
World War II was indeed a continuation of the first World War. With many problems left unsolved in the wake of the Great War it was inevitable that these disagreements and unresolved policies be debated. Unfortunately, this "resolution" had to come in the form of a worldwide war.
After the Great War, the Treaty of Versailles did little to solve any of the major problems that some of the nations wanted to address. The U.S. campaigned for a war without victory, as well as the The League of Nations. Both of these values failed, as Germany was dealt with almost total guilt and given an amazing sum of money to pay in reparations to the other European countries. The League of Nations, which passes in the Conference, was denied by the Congress of the United States, leaving the political stance of Europe in turmoil. Feeling unprotected and easily available for rapid changes in power, these smaller countries paved ways for the future "Axis" leaders to gain greater control. Germany resisted the demands to pay their reparations and struck back by inflating their money until the value was not worth the paper they were printing it on. By paying their fees in this currency this further decreased the already depressed economy of European countries such as France. And France's unwilllingness to cede to the fact that they knew that Germany could not repay these debts made the German's hatred for the Francs greater. So in this one way, the second World War was a continuation of the Great War.
Also, it is seen that throughout history, that after one party has been beaten upon too much, they will try to rise and retaliate. Hitler's regime was a buildup of resentment from the Treaty of Versailles. A treaty that punished the German's and proclaimed their defeat, while the Germans were never actually defeated. There was a cease fire, which also supports the conclusion that World War II was a continuation of the Great War. If a conclusion that both parties agreed upon was never reached then was the war really ended? Yes, you can bring up the fact that German officials did indeed sign this Treaty, but what choice did they really have? Do you think that they agreed with this piece of paper? Of course not. If they were to agree to it they would be dooming their country to a grocery list of items that could never be payed for. But they did, definitely, pen their names to the Treaty, they just never agreed to it. So, if the Treaty was not a concrete, set in stone end to World War I then how was it that World War II started. World War II was not a war fought on unique principles and arguments. The fights were over, basically, long-standing grudges between countries who wrestled with eachother in the Great War. It isn't a matter of coincidence that the same countries were allied with eachother in both wars. It could be said that the world was on the "loop" setting between 1914 and 1944. A mere 30 years, but an important 30 years at that.
And to address the topic of the Cold War. This is also an extenstion of the two prior wars. What super powers to we see in this arms race? The United States and the USSR. TWo countries that were at odd with eachother throughout the second World War. With two different political ideologies blossoming and enraging towards eachother during World War II, it was only a matter of time until the isolationist state of the US and the "small" communist country of Russia clashed. Americans, rejoicing democracy, looked at the Soviets as people who did not care about freedom and who wanted to spread their idea worldwide. Stalin was revered in other countries, but spit upon in America. This stemmed from World War II which is when we saw these ideas becoming what they were during the Cold War. America's hatred for the Sovs and the USSR's hatred for the Americans.
So it can be concluded that from the time that the Great War broke out up until the end of the Cold War, with the historic fall of the Berlin Wall, that these were all continuations of eachother. Hopefully, the "loop" swith won't be reengaged and send us full throttle into World War III.
2 comments:
No event as significant as World War II can be viewed historically as a distinct entity because its causes and effects forge undeniable links to the past and future. The rise of Hitler and Nazi Germany was made possible in part (I sound like PBS) by German resentment of the Treaty of Versailles. The reparations demanded by the Treaty, France's hard-line policy toward Germany, and the resultant hyperinflation brought catastrophe throughout Germany. Hitler took advantage of the crisis. His argument that Germany had never really been defeated appealed to many Germans who sought to regain confidence and pride in their country. Once Hitler had enough support, he began expanding German power. His annexations of Austria and Czechoslovakia and his invasions of Poland touched off what would become World War II.
A connection is thus evident between World War I and II. But the effects of WWI extended further, arguably to the Cold War. Hostilities between the two major players of the Cold War, the U.S. and the USSR, began during WWI. When Lenin resolved to withdraw Russia from the war following the Bolshevik Revolution, the U.S. was among the countries that intervened in Russia. Also, even though the USSR was officially formed in 1922, the U.S. refused to recognize it as a state until 1933.
The tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, each with their allies, were exacerbated by WWII. Major issues in the Cold War, such as the reunification of Germany and the nuclear arms race, were a direct product of WWII because 1) Germany was split into sectors only because of its defeat in the war and 2) nuclear weapons were developed and used for the first time during WWII.
It may also be said that the Cold War led to the Korean and Vietnam Wars, as both sides of the Cold War struggled to keep the other out of world affairs while advancing their own ideologies. Therefore, the major conflicts of the twentieth century, from WWI to the Cold War and beyond, were interconnected, and historical analysis of one is best achieved in light of the others.
World War II was indeed a continuation of the first World War. With many problems left unsolved in the wake of the Great War it was inevitable that these disagreements and unresolved policies be debated. Unfortunately, this "resolution" had to come in the form of a worldwide war.
After the Great War, the Treaty of Versailles did little to solve any of the major problems that some of the nations wanted to address. The U.S. campaigned for a war without victory, as well as the The League of Nations. Both of these values failed, as Germany was dealt with almost total guilt and given an amazing sum of money to pay in reparations to the other European countries. The League of Nations, which passes in the Conference, was denied by the Congress of the United States, leaving the political stance of Europe in turmoil. Feeling unprotected and easily available for rapid changes in power, these smaller countries paved ways for the future "Axis" leaders to gain greater control. Germany resisted the demands to pay their reparations and struck back by inflating their money until the value was not worth the paper they were printing it on. By paying their fees in this currency this further decreased the already depressed economy of European countries such as France. And France's unwilllingness to cede to the fact that they knew that Germany could not repay these debts made the German's hatred for the Francs greater. So in this one way, the second World War was a continuation of the Great War.
Also, it is seen that throughout history, that after one party has been beaten upon too much, they will try to rise and retaliate. Hitler's regime was a buildup of resentment from the Treaty of Versailles. A treaty that punished the German's and proclaimed their defeat, while the Germans were never actually defeated. There was a cease fire, which also supports the conclusion that World War II was a continuation of the Great War. If a conclusion that both parties agreed upon was never reached then was the war really ended? Yes, you can bring up the fact that German officials did indeed sign this Treaty, but what choice did they really have? Do you think that they agreed with this piece of paper? Of course not. If they were to agree to it they would be dooming their country to a grocery list of items that could never be payed for. But they did, definitely, pen their names to the Treaty, they just never agreed to it. So, if the Treaty was not a concrete, set in stone end to World War I then how was it that World War II started. World War II was not a war fought on unique principles and arguments. The fights were over, basically, long-standing grudges between countries who wrestled with eachother in the Great War. It isn't a matter of coincidence that the same countries were allied with eachother in both wars. It could be said that the world was on the "loop" setting between 1914 and 1944. A mere 30 years, but an important 30 years at that.
And to address the topic of the Cold War. This is also an extenstion of the two prior wars. What super powers to we see in this arms race? The United States and the USSR. TWo countries that were at odd with eachother throughout the second World War. With two different political ideologies blossoming and enraging towards eachother during World War II, it was only a matter of time until the isolationist state of the US and the "small" communist country of Russia clashed. Americans, rejoicing democracy, looked at the Soviets as people who did not care about freedom and who wanted to spread their idea worldwide. Stalin was revered in other countries, but spit upon in America. This stemmed from World War II which is when we saw these ideas becoming what they were during the Cold War. America's hatred for the Sovs and the USSR's hatred for the Americans.
So it can be concluded that from the time that the Great War broke out up until the end of the Cold War, with the historic fall of the Berlin Wall, that these were all continuations of eachother. Hopefully, the "loop" swith won't be reengaged and send us full throttle into World War III.
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