TEAM WORLDWONDERINGS: Hello, friends! World War II is the most devastating war in human history. Numerous large cities were left crumbling after this war. Today, nearly all geopolitical events and international relations can be traced back to this War. Friends, I’ve told you many stories from WWII in previous videos. But in this video, come, let’s understand WWII in depth.Starting to end. What happened exactly? Why? And what was its impact? This is the story of World War II. “It is difficult to track down one single event that sparked the conflict. For ultimately, it was a series of events tha conspired together. To eventually light a flame of war.” “The world’s most hated treaty, the Treaty of Versailles, thus starting World War II in 1939.
Background information on World War 2
France and Britain wanted Germany to pay heavy costs for losing this war.As a result, according to the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was told to pay a fine of $33 Billion to the other countries.After taking over full control of the country, Hitler started working on making his dream of a German Empire come true.But friends, the Treaty of Versailles laid down the condition that Germany cannot have any form of military power.But by this point in time, many people in Britain believed that the contents of the Treaty of Versailles were very unfair to Germany.
In 1938, when Hitler believed that his military was sufficiently prepared, he focused his attention on their neighbour Austria.The agreement allowed Hitler to place pro-Nazi people on the Austrian government.He was a Nazi, and the other Nazis who were in jail, were set free by him.And so the Austrian government asked the German army to help them protect Austria.After takingoverAustria, Hitler moved on to the next country.
Nationalism and territorial ambitions
To take control of Poland, in a sly move, Hitler signed a Non-Aggression Pact with the Soviet Union, in 1939.The Soviet Union wanted a part of Poland too.On 1st September 1939, nearly 1 million German troops started moving towards Poland.If they went ahead with Poland’s invasion, they would declare war against Germany.After this, France, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Canada declared war on Germany too.But friends, at this point in time, World War II hadn’t actually begun.
Though technically, these countries had declared war on Germany, none of these countries provided military support to Poland.Nearly 1.3 million people were mobilised in Poland, but it didn’t even take 1 week for the German army to defeat them.Half of it went to Nazi Germany, And the other half to the Soviets.And so the Soviets launched military action Soviet Union’s army was much larger than Finland’s.The Norwegian government fled to London and in London, a Government in Exile was set up.
Economic Factors and instability and disparities
At the beginning of the video, I told you how France had built the Maginot Line because they were worried that Hitler would attack their country.”…is the fate of Holland and Belgium, like that of Poland and Czechoslovakia, and Austria will be decided by the victory of the British Empire.” On the borders of Belgium and Luxembourg the Allied forces were stationed to protect them.The British army fighting Group B in Belgium were shocked to see the suddenness with which the large force attacked them from behind.
The countries fighting Hitler their group or their collation is known as the Allies.And the countries fighting in support of Hitler, are known as the Axis Powers.It was crucial to save the Allied soldiers in time because the Nazi army was moving towards them at great speeds.The two countries declared war against France and Britain on 10th June.
Austria, Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and France.
At this point in time, Hitler’s Germany, Britain, and the Soviet Union.Germany and the Soviet Union had a Peace Agreement.He believed that the Soviets wouldn’t attack Germany.
Propaganda and public sentiment
The year when World War I ended. And the famous peace treaty was signed known as the Treaty of Versailles. This treaty contained an important clause, Article 231. Which held that, all the losses caused due to World War I, Germany was to bear the responsibility for all such losses.This clause is also known as War Guilt Clause, because basically, it was trying to imply that regardless of the countries participating in the war Germany was to be blamed for it entirely.
France and Britain wanted Germany to pay heavy costs for losing this war. They wanted to recover their losses from Germany.As a result, according to the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was told to pay a fine of $33 Billion to the other countries. In today’s money, it amounts to around $270 Billion. This is such a large amount that you won’t believe that it was only in 2010, Germany made the final payment of this fine. It took almost 100 years.
Military strategies and tactics
He was supposed to be the new finance minister of Austria. He was a Nazi, and the other Nazis who were in jail, were set free by him. Within a month, things wereout of control.Austrian Chancellor knew that if the infiltration was to be stopped the people needed to be consulted first. Whether Austria should be an independent country or be a united country with the Nazis.He decided to have a national vote for it. As soon as Hitler found out about the national vote, Hitler took his army and marched into Austria. The German military entered Vienna. But theAustrian Chancellor wanted no bloodshed. He resigned from his seat. Hitler used his propaganda ministry to spread fake news.