At your table groups Discuss the critical readings from last night Things that stood out or surprised you What we should take from them moving forward

Causes of the Second World War

Legacy of WWI Even the victors were near ruin (except the US) Sought to recreate conditions of the 19th c. when they held commanding positions in international politics and economics. Returning to the 19th c. balance meant returning to the belief that international disputes could be solved by discussion and compromise. General population viewed the international situation with a sense of unease and pacifism.

Britain avoided politics on the continent to focus on its empire. US isolationism Britain avoided politics on the continent to focus on its empire. Participated in League of Nations in ways that directly benefited the British empire. By the 1930’s Britain and France controlled a third of the world: Germany, Italy, and Japan denied colonial empires after 1919. Economic benefit but liability with nationalist conflict. Both forced to use their limited military to police and defend their empires—leaving diplomacy to maintain international interests.

Versailles and the Rise of Fascism You should be very comfortable in this area, at your table groups review the information you already know but make sure you’re now looking at it as a cause of WWII. From within the rise of fascism what would be considered a long term cause and what would be considered a short term cause.

Appeasement

Appeasement How do we generally view appeasement and the nations that practiced it leading up to WWII? Usually the blame is placed on Chamberlain who was seen as naïve and weak in his approach to German foreign policy.

More recent scholarship interprets appeasement differently A continuation of traditional British diplomacy: Based on discussion and negotiation Based on Britain’s economic and military strength Considering the global scope of Britain’s interests Treating each issue on its own merits Avoiding war when possible Resorting to war if it were in Britain’s interest to do so Apply these to each of Hitler’s foreign policy pieces leading up to war.

Underlying assumptions German leadership had the same values as did Britain and France in terms of international agreements German ambitions could be satisfied Once it became apparent that this was not the case, British rearmament was closer to German output and war became more feasible. Key question is not why did the Allies not fight for Czechoslovakia, but rather why did they fight for Poland?