The outbreak of war in Europe in 1939 was influenced by several factors, including the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact. However, this pact was not the sole cause of World War II. Other contributing factors to the outbreak included the Allies’ policy of appeasement, the failure of the League of Nations and Collective Security, as well as Nazi Germany and Italy’s aggressive foreign policies. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the signing of the 1939 Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact played a significant role in provoking war in Europe.
Both Germany and Russia had strong motivations to sign the pact. In his book ‘Mein Kampf,’ Hitler expressed his desire to expand into Russia and acquire more territory. However, in 1939, it was advantageous for him to establish a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union. By signing this pact, Hitler could prioritize the Western front initially and deal with the Eastern front later on. As Hitler himself stated, “Everything I undertake is directed at Russia…after (the West’s) defeat (I will) turn all my concerted force against the Soviet Union.” This demonstrates Hitler’s plan to invade Poland while benefiting from the Non-Aggression Pact.
Hitler was worried about initiating a war on two fronts, one with Britain and France in the West and another with Russia in the East. This had proven to be harmful for Germany during World War I. By agreeing to the pact, Hitler eliminated Germany’s fear of fighting on two fronts and ensured access to crucial raw materials from the East if there was an allied blockade. The pact also removed Russia as a potential protector of Poland, making it easier for Germany to quickly conquer them. Additionally, Stalin also gained several benefits from this agreement.
Russia had previously signed agreements with Italy and Estonia, so the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact provided further security. Stalin’s primary objective was to delay war as much as possible. Following World War I, Russia experienced significant military weakening, making this pact crucial for them to gather and fortify their forces before a large-scale war broke out. According to historian Richard Evans, Stalin saw the pact as a temporary respite. Furthermore, Stalin hoped that once Germany concluded its dealings with Western powers, it would have depleted its resources, giving Russia more time for preparation.
According to historian Martin McCauley, a combination of Britain, France, and Russia had the potential to defeat Germany. However, Britain’s error in negotiations with the USSR overlooked the possibility of a German-Soviet agreement. This mistake was further emphasized by the signing of the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact. Additionally, the Allies’ policy of appeasement significantly contributed to the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain is often associated with this policy as he prioritized avoiding war. Nevertheless, his successor Winston Churchill recognized the flaw in this approach and acknowledged that Chamberlain faced insurmountable challenges while striving for a legacy as a great peacemaker.
The Allies chose to disregard many of Hitler’s decisions, including the German occupation of Czechoslovakia and the Anschluss with Austria in 1938. Their intention was to prevent another war in Europe. P. Kennedy, a historian, argues that the western powers irrationally feared the consequences of engaging in war with the axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan). Kennedy also suggests that Germany and Italy’s power was consistently exaggerated, while any weaknesses in British defense were immediately used as an excuse for not taking action.
“The failure of the League of Nations and the collapse of Collective Security contributed significantly to the start of WWII. The League of Nations and Collective Security were based on the unrealistic belief that nations would prioritize the well-being of other members over their own interests. This approach was bound to fail as it required nations to relinquish their decision-making power and foreign policies to an international body in order to promote ‘internationalism.’ Historic E. describes the league’s requirements.”
According to H Carr, the invasion of Abyssinia by Mussolini was a clear example of the failure of Collective Security. He described it as being overly optimistic and lacking substance. When news of Mussolini’s intention to invade Abyssinia reached Britain and France, they chose not to intervene in the hopes of gaining Italy as an ally and preventing Mussolini from aligning with Hitler by breaking the Stresa Front. However, Italy ultimately sided with Hitler, and their inaction set a precedent that encouraged Hitler and the axis powers to take further action.
The League’s failure can be seen in its response to Italy and Germany’s participation in the Spanish Civil War and Japan’s invasion of Manchuria. The League’s inability to take decisive action against these aggressive actions allowed the axis powers to believe that the League would not intervene significantly. This failure, similar to appeasement, ultimately contributed to the outbreak of World War II. Hitler’s foreign policy aimed at creating ‘Lebensraum’ or living space for Germans by expanding into the East, which eventually led to war.
Both W.N. Medlicott and Ian Kershaw, from an intentionalist standpoint, concur that Hitler always had the intention to expand Germany’s dominion. According to Medlicott, this objective remained consistent from the time Hitler wrote Mein Kampf until 1944, with a specific focus on East Europe. Similarly, Kershaw supports this viewpoint and suggests that Hitler aimed to achieve ‘Lebensraum’ through military force.
In addition, Denis Mack Smith argues that Italy’s aggressive foreign policy also played a significant role in instigating the war. He asserts that Mussolini even derived pleasure from the hostility other nations felt towards Italy because he secretly took pride in it.
The outbreak of the Second World War was heavily influenced by the aggressive foreign goals of both countries. The signing of the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression pact in August 1939 had a notable impact as it gave Hitler permission to invade Poland, resulting in the declaration of war on Germany by the Allies. In addition, factors such as the policy of appeasement by the Allies, the ineffectiveness of the League of Nations and Collective Security, and the aggressive foreign policies pursued by Nazi Germany and Italy also played a role in causing war.
