Chapter 10 · Topic 10.1 · Prelims + Mains1 of 3
World War II: Causes and alliances
Key points
- WWII began with Germany's invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939.
- Causes: Versailles anger, the Depression, aggressive dictators, a weak League and appeasement (Munich 1938).
- Axis: Germany, Italy, Japan (Tripartite Pact 1940); the USA joined the Allies after Pearl Harbor (7 December 1941).
1 PYQ 2016–2025
Prelims box: facts and traps
- Nazi–Soviet Pact: 23 August 1939. Munich: September 1938.
- Pact of Steel: May 1939. Tripartite Pact: September 1940.
- Atlantic Charter: August 1941. Declaration by United Nations: 1 January 1942.
- Operation Barbarossa: June 1941.
On this page (3 sections)
Causes of the war
| Cause | Detail |
|---|---|
| Versailles grievances | German resentment over territory, reparations and war guilt |
| Depression | Brought Hitler to power and weakened the democracies |
| Aggressive ideologies | Nazi Lebensraum, Italian empire, Japanese expansion |
| Failure of the League | Manchuria (1931) and Abyssinia (1935) went unpunished |
| Appeasement | Munich Agreement (September 1938): Sudetenland handed to Germany |
| Nazi–Soviet Pact (23 August 1939) | Freed Hitler to invade Poland on 1 September 1939 |
Appeasement means giving a bully what he wants, hoping he will stop. Like handing over your lunch every day, it only made him hungrier. On 2015: for 1939 the case against Germany is strong, but Versailles, the Depression, appeasement and the Pact set the stage.
To what extent can Germany be held responsible for causing the two World Wars? Discuss critically.
The Axis powers
The Axis was the alliance of Germany, Italy and Japan.
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rome–Berlin Axis | 1936 |
| Anti-Comintern Pact | Germany–Japan 1936; Italy 1937 |
| Pact of Steel | Germany–Italy, May 1939 |
| Tripartite Pact | Germany, Italy, Japan, September 1940; later Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria |
| Leaders | Hitler, Mussolini, Japan’s Tojo (Emperor Hirohito) |
The Allied powers
| Power | Entry and role |
|---|---|
| Britain and France | Declared war on 3 September 1939; France fell in June 1940 |
| Soviet Union | Invaded by Germany (Operation Barbarossa, June 1941) |
| United States | Entered after Pearl Harbor (7 December 1941); Lend-Lease from March 1941 |
| China | At war with Japan since 1937 |
| Atlantic Charter (August 1941) | Roosevelt and Churchill: self-determination, no territorial gain |
| Declaration by United Nations (1 January 1942) | Allies pledged joint war effort |
Lend-Lease let the USA supply weapons to Britain before it joined the war.
Mains box: analysis and answer points
- Germany's responsibility (Mains 2015): direct for 1939 (Lebensraum, step-by-step aggression); context from Versailles, Depression, appeasement and the Pact.
- Appeasement: why Britain and France gave in (memory of 1914–18, rearmament lag, fear of communism) and why it failed.
Practice
Prelims PYQs on this topic (1)
Consider the following statements in respect of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) :
- I. It provides loans and guarantees to middle income countries.
- II. It works single-handedly to help developing countries to reduce poverty.
- III. It was established to help Europe rebuild after the World War II.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer (c) & explanation
Statements I and III are correct (c). Statement III is right: the IBRD, set up at Bretton Woods in 1944, was meant to rebuild war-torn Europe; its first loan went to France in 1947. Statement I is right: today it gives loans and guarantees to middle-income and creditworthy poorer countries. Statement II is wrong: it works with the IDA, IFC, MIGA and ICSID as the World Bank Group, so "single-handedly" is wrong.
Notice the split: the IDA gives soft loans and grants to the poorest countries, the IFC lends to the private sector, and MIGA gives risk insurance. India is one of the IBRD's largest borrowers, and is not a member of ICSID. The World Bank's twin is the IMF.
"single-handedly". A Bank with four sister bodies does not work alone.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
Write an answer
In 150 words, explain the significance of World War II with one recent example.
Flashcards (9)
Germany invaded Poland?
1 September 1939.
Munich Agreement?
September 1938, Sudetenland.
Nazi–Soviet Pact?
23 August 1939.
Tripartite Pact?
Germany, Italy, Japan (1940).
Pact of Steel?
Germany–Italy, 1939.
Japanese wartime PM?
Hideki Tojo.
Operation Barbarossa?
German invasion of the USSR, June 1941.
Pearl Harbor?
7 December 1941.
Atlantic Charter?
August 1941, Roosevelt and Churchill.
Read more: related explainers
Next topic · 10.2 →World War II: The war and its horrorsSyllabus: GS-I · History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial re…