Who started the 2nd world war is it germany

 Who Started the Second World War – Was It Germany

Introduction:

The Second World War, which lasted from 1939 to 1945, was the most destructive conflict in human history, involving most of the world's nations and resulting in tens of millions of deaths. One of the most critical questions in understanding the war is identifying who was responsible for starting it. Most historians agree that Nazi Germany, under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, played the central role in triggering the war. However, the causes were complex, involving not just Germany but also the actions of other countries and the consequences of the First World War.

Immediate Cause: German Invasion of Poland (1939):

On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland without a declaration of war, using a staged attack at the Gleiwitz radio station as a pretext.

This aggression violated the Treaty of Versailles and several international agreements.

Britain and France, who had pledged to protect Poland’s sovereignty, declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939, officially starting World War II.

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Germany's Role and Hitler’s Ambitions:

Germany's responsibility for the war is rooted in the expansionist ideology of Adolf Hitler:

1. Lebensraum ("Living Space"): Hitler believed that Germans needed more territory in Eastern Europe, especially in Russia and Poland, to live and thrive.

2. Overturning the Treaty of Versailles: Hitler openly defied the Treaty’s restrictions by rebuilding Germany’s army, remilitarizing the Rhineland (1936), and pursuing aggressive foreign policy.

3. Annexations before the war:

1938: Annexation of Austria (Anschluss).

1938: Occupation of Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia), followed by full occupation in 1939.

These actions were clear signs of Germany's aggressive expansionism.

4. Nazi-Soviet Pact (Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact): On August 23, 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression pact, secretly agreeing to divide Eastern Europe. This gave Hitler the confidence to invade Poland.

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Long-Term Causes That Encouraged German Aggression:

While Germany started the war by invading Poland, several long-term causes allowed Hitler to act:

1. Treaty of Versailles (1919):

Imposed heavy penalties on Germany after World War I.

Created deep resentment among Germans and provided Hitler with a platform to rise to power by promising revenge and national restoration.

2. Failure of the League of Nations:

The international body meant to maintain peace was weak and ineffective.

It failed to stop aggression by Japan (Manchuria, 1931), Italy (Ethiopia, 1935), and Germany.

3. Appeasement Policy by Britain and France:

Western powers repeatedly allowed Hitler to violate international treaties without facing consequences.

The Munich Agreement (1938) gave Hitler the Sudetenland in hopes of avoiding war, which only emboldened him further.

4. Global Economic Crisis (Great Depression):

Economic hardship in Germany helped radical ideologies grow.

Hitler used unemployment and inflation as tools to rally public support for militarization and war.

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Other Actors and Shared Responsibility:

Although Germany was the primary aggressor, some historians argue that other nations also contributed to the circumstances that led to war:

Soviet Union: Though invaded by Germany in 1941, the USSR had initially cooperated with Germany by signing the non-aggression pact and jointly invading Poland from the east.

Japan and Italy: As Axis powers, they supported militarism and territorial expansion. Japan had already invaded China in 1937, and Italy had invaded Ethiopia in 1935.

Western Democracies: Their policy of appeasement and reluctance to confront fascist aggression early on allowed totalitarian powers to grow stronger.

However, none of these actions equaled the direct aggression of Nazi Germany in 1939, which served as the trigger for global war.

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Conclusion:

While the Second World War was shaped by many global factors and the failures of international diplomacy, it was Germany, under Hitler’s leadership, that directly started the war by invading Poland in 1939. This act of aggression forced the hands of Britain and France and ignited a chain of events that engulfed the world in war. Hitler's expansionist ideology, disregard for treaties, and thirst for power placed Germany at the center of responsibility. Thus, history rightly holds Nazi Germany accountable for starting World War II.