1
Historians have disagreed about the most important cause of the Second World War.
What is your view about what was the most important cause of the Second World
War?
With reference to three chosen works:
● Analyse the ways in which interpretations of the question, problem or issue differ.
● Explain the differences you have identified.
● Evaluate the arguments, indicating which you found most persuasive and explaining
your judgements.
(Introduction)
A cause is defined as a factor or circumstance that gives rise to an action, phenomenon or
condition. Causes are able to shift the future due to their long-lasting effects and as proven
in the events of the Second World War (WW2), the world would be significantly different
without its occurrence. Identifying which cause is the most important allows us to fully
evaluate the extent of the impact of the war on the geopolitics of today and the crucial need
in preventing the events from transpiring once more.
The 40,000,000–50,000,000 deaths that incurred in the Second World War marked what
was the bloodiest war in history. Said to be “one of the great watersheds of 20th-century
geopolitical history”, the war would start long before its official date of the 1st of September
1939 as the events transpired were ultimately sparked by the invasion of Poland. 1 As a result
of the invasion, Britain and France would declare war on Germany two days later and further
the course of the war. This was followed by the Soviet Union’s invasion of Poland from the
east, Poland being conquered by both Stalin and Hitler. During the war, 6,000,000 Jewish
men, women, and children died in the Holocaust. 2 As numerous towns were met with
continuous bombings that millions more civilians were wounded and made homeless
throughout Europe and East Asia with about 70 million soldiers who died, fighting on behalf
of the Allied or Axis countries. 3 Moreover, the Soviet Union would endure the deaths of an
estimated 8,800,000-10,700,000 soldiers, Japan with 2,120,000 and Germany experiencing
military deaths of 5,533,000.4 The scale of the war’s impact on the lands destroyed and
amount of lives lost emphasises its title as a “World War”.
There are differing historical interpretations on the Second World War due to several factors.
One being the complexity of events. Due to Adolf Hitler’s strong belief in Lebensraum or
'living space', Hitler desired German expansion eastwards.5 On the 22nd of June 1941,
1 Thomas A. Hughes, World War II | facts, summary, combatants, & causes,
https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II , (February, 2022) (Accessed on 22-01-23)
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
4 Office Of The Historian, Milestones: 1921–1936 - Office of the Historian,
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1921-1936/dawes (2019)
5Operation 'Barbarossa' And Germany's Failure In The Soviet Union, Ian Carter,
https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/operation-barbarossa-and-germanys-failure-in-the-soviet-union (June,
2018)
, 2
Operation Barbarossa failed, consisting of over 3.5 million German and Axis troops
attempting to conquer the Soviet Union. The operation’s failure was due to Germany not
having the resources to wage a long term war against the Soviet Union- for which it had
made no preparations.6 The Battle of Stalingrad is considered as the most significant turning
point of the Second World War as the German army launched an assault on the city of
Stalingrad, causing 1.5 million casualties for both countries. Soviet forces would fight back
against German advances as they attempted to capture the city and rid Soviet supply lines.
To many historians, it was increasingly challenging to understand the motivations and
actions of each country as historians have different perspectives of how events unfolded
whether that is due to personal opinion or resources.
(a) To what extent did appeasement cause the Second World War?
The differing interpretations of the causes of the Second World War are reflected in the
debate among historians. Many have found it difficult to identify the driving force behind the
causes of World War Two due to the extent of each effect.
A convincing thesis on the most important cause of the Second World War must examine
the extent of the cause’s impact on the start of the war. Criteria must be set on whether the
cause was the final trigger or simply a catalyst for the events that occurred. These factors
are greatly significant in evaluating the causes of the war and have been popularly used by
many historians such as Richard Overy (December 1947) in his works. Information on the
cause’s bias and intended purpose is an important factor.
In the evaluation of the Treaty of Versailles as the most important cause of the Second
World War, the extent of its impact must be considered. The treaty was issued on the 28th of
June 1919 and became effective the following January. Settled in the Paris Peace
Conference by the winning powers, it invoked Germany to accept all the guilt for the war,
give up their territory to Belgium, Czechoslovakia and Poland. In addition, Germany ceded
all its overseas colonies, reduced their army, their weaponry and paid a debt of 132 billion
gold marks.7 The Treaty of Versailles was a catalyst in the indoctrination of Germans at a
time of poverty and a lack of hope, proving to have a long-term attack on Germany herself.
Some historians claim Germans were partially limited and this did not greatly influence the
beginning of the war, this claim being supported as Germany and other central powers were
not occupied by Allied forces after the war. 8 Overall, the treaty holds great influence as a
cause of the Second World War but may not be the most important as it was not the final
blow beginning the war.
Historians must further ruminate about the cause’s intended aim and purpose for transpiring.
Appeasement is described as the act of giving the opposing side in an argument or war an
6 History Indoors Historian, "Operation Barbarossa" June - December 1941: Why it Failed,
https://historyindoors.co.uk/operation-barbarossa-june-december-1941-why-it-failed/
#:~:text=Barbarossa%20failed%20because%20 Germany%20 simply,tear%20on%20 vehicles
%20was%20 immense , (Aug 2020)
7F. G. Stambrook, The Origins of the Second World War , https://www.jstor.org/stable/20633785 ,
(1962) , page 43
8 https://llbahwar.wordpress.com/world-war-ii-1939-1945/background/causes-of-world-war-ii/
interrelations-and-economics/the-mason-overy-debate-the-flight-into-war-theory/ (2014)
Historians have disagreed about the most important cause of the Second World War.
What is your view about what was the most important cause of the Second World
War?
With reference to three chosen works:
● Analyse the ways in which interpretations of the question, problem or issue differ.
● Explain the differences you have identified.
● Evaluate the arguments, indicating which you found most persuasive and explaining
your judgements.
(Introduction)
A cause is defined as a factor or circumstance that gives rise to an action, phenomenon or
condition. Causes are able to shift the future due to their long-lasting effects and as proven
in the events of the Second World War (WW2), the world would be significantly different
without its occurrence. Identifying which cause is the most important allows us to fully
evaluate the extent of the impact of the war on the geopolitics of today and the crucial need
in preventing the events from transpiring once more.
The 40,000,000–50,000,000 deaths that incurred in the Second World War marked what
was the bloodiest war in history. Said to be “one of the great watersheds of 20th-century
geopolitical history”, the war would start long before its official date of the 1st of September
1939 as the events transpired were ultimately sparked by the invasion of Poland. 1 As a result
of the invasion, Britain and France would declare war on Germany two days later and further
the course of the war. This was followed by the Soviet Union’s invasion of Poland from the
east, Poland being conquered by both Stalin and Hitler. During the war, 6,000,000 Jewish
men, women, and children died in the Holocaust. 2 As numerous towns were met with
continuous bombings that millions more civilians were wounded and made homeless
throughout Europe and East Asia with about 70 million soldiers who died, fighting on behalf
of the Allied or Axis countries. 3 Moreover, the Soviet Union would endure the deaths of an
estimated 8,800,000-10,700,000 soldiers, Japan with 2,120,000 and Germany experiencing
military deaths of 5,533,000.4 The scale of the war’s impact on the lands destroyed and
amount of lives lost emphasises its title as a “World War”.
There are differing historical interpretations on the Second World War due to several factors.
One being the complexity of events. Due to Adolf Hitler’s strong belief in Lebensraum or
'living space', Hitler desired German expansion eastwards.5 On the 22nd of June 1941,
1 Thomas A. Hughes, World War II | facts, summary, combatants, & causes,
https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II , (February, 2022) (Accessed on 22-01-23)
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
4 Office Of The Historian, Milestones: 1921–1936 - Office of the Historian,
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1921-1936/dawes (2019)
5Operation 'Barbarossa' And Germany's Failure In The Soviet Union, Ian Carter,
https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/operation-barbarossa-and-germanys-failure-in-the-soviet-union (June,
2018)
, 2
Operation Barbarossa failed, consisting of over 3.5 million German and Axis troops
attempting to conquer the Soviet Union. The operation’s failure was due to Germany not
having the resources to wage a long term war against the Soviet Union- for which it had
made no preparations.6 The Battle of Stalingrad is considered as the most significant turning
point of the Second World War as the German army launched an assault on the city of
Stalingrad, causing 1.5 million casualties for both countries. Soviet forces would fight back
against German advances as they attempted to capture the city and rid Soviet supply lines.
To many historians, it was increasingly challenging to understand the motivations and
actions of each country as historians have different perspectives of how events unfolded
whether that is due to personal opinion or resources.
(a) To what extent did appeasement cause the Second World War?
The differing interpretations of the causes of the Second World War are reflected in the
debate among historians. Many have found it difficult to identify the driving force behind the
causes of World War Two due to the extent of each effect.
A convincing thesis on the most important cause of the Second World War must examine
the extent of the cause’s impact on the start of the war. Criteria must be set on whether the
cause was the final trigger or simply a catalyst for the events that occurred. These factors
are greatly significant in evaluating the causes of the war and have been popularly used by
many historians such as Richard Overy (December 1947) in his works. Information on the
cause’s bias and intended purpose is an important factor.
In the evaluation of the Treaty of Versailles as the most important cause of the Second
World War, the extent of its impact must be considered. The treaty was issued on the 28th of
June 1919 and became effective the following January. Settled in the Paris Peace
Conference by the winning powers, it invoked Germany to accept all the guilt for the war,
give up their territory to Belgium, Czechoslovakia and Poland. In addition, Germany ceded
all its overseas colonies, reduced their army, their weaponry and paid a debt of 132 billion
gold marks.7 The Treaty of Versailles was a catalyst in the indoctrination of Germans at a
time of poverty and a lack of hope, proving to have a long-term attack on Germany herself.
Some historians claim Germans were partially limited and this did not greatly influence the
beginning of the war, this claim being supported as Germany and other central powers were
not occupied by Allied forces after the war. 8 Overall, the treaty holds great influence as a
cause of the Second World War but may not be the most important as it was not the final
blow beginning the war.
Historians must further ruminate about the cause’s intended aim and purpose for transpiring.
Appeasement is described as the act of giving the opposing side in an argument or war an
6 History Indoors Historian, "Operation Barbarossa" June - December 1941: Why it Failed,
https://historyindoors.co.uk/operation-barbarossa-june-december-1941-why-it-failed/
#:~:text=Barbarossa%20failed%20because%20 Germany%20 simply,tear%20on%20 vehicles
%20was%20 immense , (Aug 2020)
7F. G. Stambrook, The Origins of the Second World War , https://www.jstor.org/stable/20633785 ,
(1962) , page 43
8 https://llbahwar.wordpress.com/world-war-ii-1939-1945/background/causes-of-world-war-ii/
interrelations-and-economics/the-mason-overy-debate-the-flight-into-war-theory/ (2014)
