by King, Tom
World War II
Following the Great War, or the “War to End All Wars,” no one could have imagined that history would repeat itself just a few years later. With nearly the entire world slumped in an economic depression, nations were spiraling, as one by one, they raised tariffs and importation taxes in an effort to internalize their economies and benefit businesses in country. Unfortunately, isolation techniques–particularly in the U.S.–proved to be devastating for other nations whose economies depended on the nation’s ability to export to other wealthier nations. This, in addition to some nations’ lasting grudges and mixed feelings about the end results of the Great War, led to increased tensions and the constant threat of another outbreak of war.
Though many events have been cited as the cataclysmic incident that started the Second World War, it would be impossible to isolate one event as the sole instigator for the war. For one, the economic downturn following World War I made several countries desperate for solutions, including Germany and Japan. Germany, having been forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles, which severely limited its progress and demanded unrealistic payment for its involvement in the war, was left broke, suffering, and desperate for options. Japan, on the other hand, was severely economically devastated by the U.S.’s increased tariffs, preventing the nation from exporting to the number one country who imported Japanese goods. With the U.S. off the market, Japan’s economy plummeted and the nation searched desperately for options, though the limited resources within the country’s borders limited them. If Japan was going to be successful and save its economy, the Japanese would have to look outside their borders.
Table Of Contents
Japanese Invasion of Manchuria
The Rise of Adolf Hitler
The German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact
Dunkirk
The Battle of Britain
Pearl Harbor
The Destruction of Cologne
The Battle of Midway
The German Surrender at Stalingrad
Hiroshima Bomb
Conclusion
Sources
Japanese Invasion of Manchuria
With Japan’s economic instability as one of the major factors motivating its search for new opportunities, Japan turned to its Asian neighbors for assistance. In addition to their economic crisis, the Japanese believed that intervening and protecting their neighboring countries was both a responsibility and an honor, and therefore was something they would not undertake lightly. Since the Japanese believed that their Emperor was a direct descendant of god, they considered their governmental and religious systems to be relevant to other nations outside of their own, making it Japan’s duty to spread its culture and religious influence to the entire world. Believing themselves to be a holy race united under their father emperor, as well as acting as amalgamators and mediators of culture in Asia, the Japanese also felt it their responsibility to protect their neighboring countries from the communism that was overwhelming Russia and threatening to spill over its borders.
In addition, the Japanese especially believed that the Chinese were a similar but inferior race, requiring the guidance and care of the Japanese. Thus, war was considered an acceptable method for spreading religion and peace throughout the world, actually making world peace the ultimate result of war. With this ideology, the Japanese believed themselves to be the instigators of noble and purposeful wars, which would bring about peace and prosperity for all. In order to spread this belief, the Japanese worked hard to instill these ideas in the minds of all generations using intensive indoctrination and creating an unparalleled sense of nationalism among the people. With the installment of the Japanese language as the national language and the increase in loyalties to the Emperor, the Father of Japan, many of the Japanese believed in their expansion across Asia — and if they disagreed, there was no tolerance for questioning.
Additionally, some of Japan’s own politics encouraged its invasion of other countries, primarily the increase in the people’s trust of the military over the nation’s politicians. After the humiliation of the first war, which left Japan wounded and in poor national standing, the Japanese were quick to accept the military’s expansionist policy and the power that would come with it. Believing their nation to be the veritable economic equivalent of Great Britain, the Japanese had hoped to increase their national standing through the acquisition of colonies and external resources. Unfortunately, Japan did not have direct access to any colonies, leaving expansion through neighboring countries their only option. Additionally, since the Japanese suffered under the rule of various corrupt regimes for far too many years, they no longer believed in their politicians. With that in mind, the people greatly favored the military’s plans for expansion over and above the government’s diplomatic policy, especially considering their later distrust of the nation’s politicians. This attitude especially increased when the naval general became one of the only legitimate members of staff to directly advise the throne, allowing the Japanese navy to undercut political decisions and significantly influence the people’s opinions. Lastly, the Japanese were embittered toward western nations due to the racism they felt they experienced in political affairs. Unfortunately, many western nations felt the need to intervene in Japanese affairs in which they had no personal involvement, and continuously ignored the Japanese representatives in meetings of diplomacy. Thus, this increased Japan’s need to better its national standing and become a powerful adversary in the world race for success.
With the people’s vote of support and a religious purpose, Japan began to spread its tendrils throughout Asia, taking Korea, Taiwan, Okinawa, and China through the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese wars. In their efforts to chase Russia out of Manchuria, the Japanese took the Southern Manchuria Railway, which both provided Japan with an incredible opportunity for economic development and allowed them to deploy their Kwantung army and acquire the Kwantung Territory. Once Japan took the Southern Manchuria Railway on September 18, 1932, Colonel Itagaki Selshior, having assumed Consul Morishima’s position when the leader refused to act without diplomatic resolution, ordered the mobilization of the Kwantung army and the attack on Manchurian cities and Chinese military barracks. Though Japan advertised their takeover as beneficial for China, there was no denying the economic benefits that Japan gained from their invasion. Aside from providing Japan with useful railway services, Manchuria also provided Japan with some much-needed resources, which made the area a source of boundless potential and raw materials for Japan to exploit. In order to promote this mentality, the Japanese media promoted the message that Manchuria was acting as “Japan’s lifeline,” leading to even greater public support for the military efforts of “protecting Japanese interests.” Additionally, taking over China and ensuring that the land would not fall into the hands of the USSR and its communist policy meant that both China and Japan would be more than safe from the influence of the Russians. Thrilled with their success, the Japanese immediately established outposts in China and prepared to settle into their new “colony.”
Unfortunately, the Japanese quickly found that the Chinese were less than excited about Japan’s interference in their lives. When Japan proposed 21 demands for China, which would effectively put the nation under Japanese rule, the Chinese were less than enthusiastic. Though the other world powers intervened and prevented China from falling under Japanese rule, the Chinese still limited their imports from Japan, which was a serious offense considering that China was one of Japan’s major importers. Since the Chinese had no desire to be overtaken by their Japanese neighbors, they began acting out against them, expressing anti
-Japanese sentiment through protesting, boycotting Japanese goods, and occasionally even acting out in violence against the Japanese staying in the nation. Additionally, Japan’s actions directly violated the Kellogg-Briand Pact of August 27, 1928, which Japan signed as a part of its involvement with the League of Nations. Since the League of Nations decided not to allow Japan any slack for its invasion of Manchuria, the League continued to strictly regulate Chinese and Japanese activities and directly confronted Japan in regards to its latest invasion. The U.S. Government specifically called upon Japan to honor the policies of the Kellogg-Briand Pact, hoping to resolve the issue easily, but the Japanese government refused to concede. Though the Japanese responded that they intended to continue friendly relations with China and had no intention of invading Manchuria for their own national purpose, the movements of their military into the area and their manipulation of the resources there proved otherwise. In fact, Japan had effectively destroyed all remaining administrative authority of the government of the Chinese Republic in South Manchuria by the end of 1931, which had been operational until the Japanese invaded in September of that year.
With Japan effectively ignoring the demands of the League of Nations and lying about their position in China, the League grew more and more irritated with the Japanese government and some nations, particularly the U.S., decided it could not afford to work with the Japanese until they were compliant with the League’s demands. The U.S. government officially stated that it would not work with the Chinese or Japanese governments as they were, in their current state, “nor did it intend to recognize any treaty or agreement entered into between these governments which might impair the treaty rights of the United States or its citizens in China; that it did not intend to recognize ‘any situation, treaty, or agreement’ which might be brought about by means contrary to the obligations of the Kellogg-Briand Pact.” With Japan’s economy threatened by the United States’ decision to withhold trade with the nation, the Japanese government finally changed tactics and asked what they could do to remedy the situation and lift the ban on importation and exportation. The U.S., in response, stated that they would reinstate trade with the Chinese and the Japanese if, and only if, both governments adhered to the following conditions: “cessation of all acts of violence on both sides, no further preparation for hostilities, withdrawal of both Chinese and Japanese combatants in the Shanghai area, protection of the International Settlement at Shanghai by the establishment of neutral zones, and, upon acceptance of the foregoing, prompt negotiations to settle all outstanding controversies between Japan and China with the aid of neutral observers or participants” (U.S. Department of State Publication 1983). While China easily agreed to all of these policies, more than willing to comply with both the United States’ and the League of Nations’ demands, Japan was a bit more hesitant. Though the Japanese government was willing to comply with some of the points made, it flatly rejected the second and fifth conditions. Unfortunately, no agreement was ever made and the proposal ultimately came to nothing.
Then, in 1932, the U.S. Ambassador to Japan reported that the situation with Japan and Manchuria was growing more dire, since the Japanese military was working hard to strengthen the public’s nationalism and encourage their people’s distrust in and poor opinion of all nations outside their own. The U.S. Ambassador feared “that the Japanese military machine had been ‘built for war’, felt prepared for war, and would ‘welcome war’; that it had never yet been beaten and possessed unlimited self-confidence.” This statement was followed by the Japanese military extending their Manchurian borders in January of 1933, which increased concern regarding Japan’s intentions for its newly acquired land. The League of Nations, meanwhile, was considering the Lytton Commission’s report, which had been appointed to investigate and analyze the situation in Manchuria. The Commission reported that, “the military operations of the Japanese in Manchuria could not be regarded as measures of legitimate self-defense; that the regime which the Japanese had set up there disregarded the wishes of the people of Manchuria and was not compatible with the fundamental principles of existing international obligations.” The League, left without much choice, found this report to be true and adopted it on February 24, 1933, which immediately resulted in the Japanese walking out of the assembly. Shortly thereafter, on March 27, 1933, Japan gave notice of its decision to leave the League of Nations, officially cutting its ties with the greater powers of the western world.
The Rise of Adolf Hitler
With most of the world’s focus centered on the crisis in Asia, the German economy was left struggling, like several European nations, to survive the worldwide economic depression and the unattainable terms of the Treaty of Versailles. The Germans, devastated from their loss in the First World War and desperate for answers, turned to an unusually optimistic and charismatic leader who was coming to power: Adolf Hitler. Following his role as a German soldier in the Great War, Hitler found purpose and meaning in fighting for the German fatherland, leading to his nationalist ideology and intense pursuit of a pure Aryan race. His anti-Semitism, having grown exponentially during the war when he found many Jews expressing anti-war sentiment, became of utmost importance to his cause — though no one could expect the lengths to which he would reach for the sake of his Aryan race. For the time being, Adolf Hitler was one of the most vocal supporters of Germany, swaying much of the public over with his promises of hope and strength for the German nation. Hitler was also one of the only public figures to actually bring about the changes he professed, finding ways to bring wealth back to the people and indoctrinating the younger generation through his Hitler Youth program. Thus, Germany appointed Hitler Chancellor in 1933, and merely a year later, the German president, Hindenburg, died and Hitler became both President and Chancellor for the nation.
Finally in a place of power and total control, Hitler quickly made use of his position and militarized his troops in the Rhineland in 1936, in spite of the fact that such an action directly defied the conditions of the Treaty of Versailles. As Hitler predicted, however, France and Britain did nothing to stop his efforts, giving him the leeway to take things one step further. In 1938, Hitler carried out a forbidden annexation, or Anschluss, of Austria, which again was received with no reaction from any country. Later this lack of response would be termed ‘appeasement,’ and explained as the thought process by which most nations believed that Hitler’s acquisition of unlawful territory would end with the Anschluss. Additionally, no country had any desire to enter into premature warfare following the tragedies of the first war, leading to the hope that Hitler would be appeased with his conquests and war could be avoided. Unfortunately, this hope was not to be realized, though it was not until Hitler went so far as to invade Poland that other countries got involved. In the meantime, Hitler did everything he could to build up the nation’s military and prepare to win the war that he, if not everyone else, knew was inevitable.
The German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact
One part of Hitler’s preparation involved gauging his nation’s strengths and weaknesses, and knowing how to fight in order to win. Thus, Hitler knew that in order to succeed in an invasion against Poland, he would need to ensure that the USSR remained neutral. Germany could take on the Polish with its military, but there was no way Germany could take on both the Polish and the Russians together. In order to take the Soviet Union out of the picture, Hitler met with Josef Stalin on August 23, 1939, to negotiate a non-aggression pact that would ensure peace between Germany and the Soviet Union. Later named the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact after the two foreign ministers who met to negotiate an agreement, the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact first and foremost assured that the two nations would refrain from attacking each other for at least ten years, allowing Hitler to freely march on Poland. The pact also included an economic agreement, which stated that Germany would exchange its manufactured goods for the Soviet Union’s raw materials, improving economic conditions for both nations. A final, secret, compone
nt of the Nonaggression Pact outlined the partition of Poland between the two nations, with Germany receiving one-third and the Soviet Union taking the rest. Some provisional outlining of the rest of Eastern Europe between the two nations was also established, though not in as much definition.
With the pact uniting the two nations and actually helping Germany to invade Poland, Hitler turned his attention to Poland and prepared to make war. While the Anschluss and Germany’s invasion of Sudetenland were more justified battles, since both areas were home to Germans who welcomed Hitler’s Nazis and felt that Germany was their rightful nation, Hitler’s movement into Poland was completely unjustified. Even after Hitler learned of a new and official pact being signed between Great Britain and Poland, ensuring that the British military would intervene should anyone attempt to attack Poland, Hitler still proceeded with his invasion. He also ignored all diplomatic efforts from greater world powers, determined to achieve the greatness he promised, and desperate to fulfill his dreams for an Aryan race. On August 31, 1939, the first members of the German army invaded Poland, and France and Great Britain officially declared war against Germany by 5:00 PM that same day. World War II had officially begun.
Meanwhile, the other half of the negotiation, the Soviet Union, was taking advantage of the new nonaggression pact as well and attacked and eventually managed to annex Finland after a four-month war following the pact’s passing. The USSR then went on to occupy the Baltic states and seize the Romanian provinces, Bukovina and Bessarabia, by the year 1940. Though the nonaggression pact was supposed to ensure peace between Germany and the Soviet Union, everything changed after World War II officially broke out and nations began taking sides. Since Hitler had always considered the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact to be a temporary agreement, he chose not to adhere to its policies when it came time for a new tactical maneuver - invade the Soviet Union. With the signing of Directive 21 - code-named Operation Barbarossa - on December 18, 1940, Hitler broke the Nonaggression Pact and officially cut ties with the Soviet Union, since the directive was the first operational order for the invasion of the USSR. The reality of the situation was the Hitler had no intention of maintaining an alliance with the Soviet Union, since the nation’s Communist policies and large percentage of Jews directly defiled Hitler’s future plans for a pure Aryan race. Therefore, it did not take Hitler long to abandon the provisions of the pact, and on June 22, 1941, German forces invaded the Soviet Union. This was only two years after the Nonaggression Pact had been signed, and proved just how unstable politics could be in a time of war.