World War II - The First Story
The Origins of World War II
Background
Following World War I, let’s dive into World War II. This global conflict raged from September 1, 1939, to August 15, 1945, lasting about six years. As the name suggests, nations worldwide split into two factions, fighting across continents. Before the 1900s, wars were typically between neighboring countries or alliances clashing over territory or interests.
But the 20th century brought a new kind of war—global in scale—where the world divided into enemies and allies. World War II, starting in 1939, was the second such war, erupting just 20 years after the first ended in 1918.
In Western Europe, powerhouses like Germany and France clashed head-on. In Eastern Europe, countries like Finland fought to protect their land from Soviet invasions. Nations such as Bulgaria and Hungary, backed by Germany or the Soviet Union, battled each other. The Mediterranean and Africa saw frequent large-scale combat too.
Beyond Europe, China and Japan waged a prolonged continental struggle, while Southeast Asia and South Asia saw colonial powers—Britain, the Netherlands, and the U.S.—confront Japan. In the Pacific, Japan and the U.S. fought fiercely over countless islands for dominance. Collectively, these conflicts form what we call World War II. This post will focus on the European theater.
Learning from past wars is key to preventing future ones. Understanding World War II reveals how conflicts spiral globally and why such escalation is terrifying. Let’s start with its origins.
The Treaty of Versailles: A Harsh Legacy
Impact of the Treaty of Versailles
The main trigger for World War II was the Treaty of Versailles, a bitter remnant of World War I. Signed on June 28, 1919, this treaty was imposed on defeated Germany by victorious Britain and France.
It’s common for winners to force tough terms on the vanquished, and Germany, powerless after defeat, had no choice but to comply. The treaty’s harshest terms targeted Germany’s military and economy. It capped the German army at 100,000 soldiers and severely limited weapons and equipment.
Then there was the reparations bill: 132 billion gold marks, roughly $33 billion in 1919 dollars, equivalent to 25 years of Germany’s national budget. Adjusted to 2025 values, that’s about $50 billion. Germany didn’t fully pay this off until October 3, 2010—91 years later.
Why such brutal terms? Britain and France, though victorious, were economically crippled after World War I. War demands massive spending on weapons, troops, uniforms, and food, and both nations had borrowed heavily from the U.S. and Japan. They leaned on German reparations to offset their debts, leaving Europe in a mess: Britain and France debt-ridden, Germany crushed by payments.
The Rise of Hitler and Nazi Germany
Amid this chaos, Adolf Hitler emerged. Leading the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi Party) since 1921, he became Germany’s Chancellor on January 30, 1933. The Nazis promised to rebuild a Germany shattered by the Treaty of Versailles.
With the economy in ruins from war and reparations, Hitler’s call for unity and strength won massive support. He tackled unemployment with bold public projects—starting in 1933, the Autobahn highway system created jobs nationwide. In 1937, he founded Volkswagen to make cars affordable, aiming to transform German society.
But these efforts couldn’t fully revive the economy. Desperate, Hitler turned to territorial expansion, believing annexation would strengthen Germany. His ideology—that Germans were a superior race destined to rule—drove this aggressive policy.
Rearmament and Early Aggression
On March 16, 1935, Hitler defied the Treaty of Versailles with the German Rearmament Declaration, massively expanding the military. This not only boosted Germany’s strength but also cut unemployment by hiring soldiers.
Britain and France protested, but, scarred by World War I, they avoided harsh action, fearing another war. This leniency emboldened Hitler.
In July 1936, Germany and Italy intervened in the Spanish Civil War (July 17, 1936 – April 1, 1939), backing anti-socialist forces. Italy’s Benito Mussolini, in power since October 31, 1922, was Hitler’s inspiration—Hitler even called him a mentor. Their alliance grew.
On March 12, 1938, Germany annexed Austria (Anschluss), claiming it as a historic German land. Then, at the Munich Agreement on September 30, 1938, Britain and France let Germany take Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland, hoping to appease Hitler. He promised no further expansion—but broke that vow on March 15, 1939, seizing all of Czechoslovakia.
※ Czechoslovakia was a country that existed from 1918 to 1992, consisting of the present-day Czech Republic and Slovakia united as one nation.
See also
- The Nazi and Japanese Human Experimentation Programmes: Biological War Crimes during WW2 by Tim Heath
- The Greatest Battles of World War II: A World at War: World War II Battles that Shaped the Course of History
- World War 2 Facts Book: WW2 History Book for Adults - From the Greatest Battles of WW2 to the Leaders, Military Tactics and Strategy of the War by Charles Nilsen