War broke out in Europe in September 1939 because of the conjunction of several factors. However, the over-riding factor was the fruition of Hitler’s dynamic ideological foreign policy aims to create lebensraum and racial mastery. Although Hitler’s aims did not run to a strict timetable this does not mean that they were unimportant, or that there was no associated plan and that he was therefore a mere opportunist. After all, the strength of any plan lies, not in its rigidity, but in its flexibility to adapt to beneficial developments as they arise. To be able so to do the German domestic, economic and military infrastructure had to be in place – such was Hitler’s plan. In addition, the breakdown of the European diplomatic order in the face of new, dynamic ideologies and the manipulation of the international system by Hitler clouded his true intentions. Britain and France’s foreign policies also contributed to initially delaying the onset of war, as did the dilatory foreign policy of Soviet Russia. A change of attitude towards Germany from the western democracies and the increase in pace of German expansionism, together with a policy change to an alliance with the Soviet Union, would herald the outbreak of eventual war in September 1939.
Table of Contents
1. Why did war break out in Europe in September 1939?
Objectives & Research Topics
This essay explores the complex convergence of factors that led to the outbreak of the Second World War in Europe in September 1939. It focuses specifically on the role of Hitler’s ideological foreign policy and the interplay between German expansionism, the failure of international diplomatic systems, and the restrictive political landscapes of the western democracies.
- The role of Hitler’s ideological pursuit of Lebensraum and racial mastery.
- The impact of German rearmament and economic recovery on war readiness.
- The diplomatic constraints faced by Britain and France regarding appeasement.
- The consequences of the failed attempts at collective security and the Nazi-Soviet Pact.
Excerpt from the Book
Why did war break out in Europe in September 1939?
War broke out in Europe in September 1939 because of the conjunction of several factors. However, the over-riding factor was the fruition of Hitler’s dynamic ideological foreign policy aims to create lebensraum and racial mastery. Although Hitler’s aims did not run to a strict timetable this does not mean that they were unimportant, or that there was no associated plan and that he was therefore a mere opportunist. After all, the strength of any plan lies, not in its rigidity, but in its flexibility to adapt to beneficial developments as they arise. To be able so to do the German domestic, economic and military infrastructure had to be in place – such was Hitler’s plan. In addition, the breakdown of the European diplomatic order in the face of new, dynamic ideologies and the manipulation of the international system by Hitler clouded his true intentions. Britain and France’s foreign policies also contributed to initially delaying the onset of war, as did the dilatory foreign policy of Soviet Russia. A change of attitude towards Germany from the western democracies and the increase in pace of German expansionism, together with a policy change to an alliance with the Soviet Union, would herald the outbreak of eventual war in September 1939.
Neither structuralist historians’ portrayal of Hitler in relation to his foreign policy as “ a man of improvisation, of experiment and the spur-of-the-moment bright idea”, nor Taylor’s dismissive view of Hitler’s foreign policy aims “so far as he had them” take full cognisance of the dynamism and unstoppable ideological vision and impetus of both Hitler and National Socialism.
Summary of Chapters
Why did war break out in Europe in September 1939?: The chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of the ideological, economic, and diplomatic drivers of the war, concluding that Hitler's pursuit of living space was the primary catalyst, facilitated by the failure of Western appeasement and the shift in Soviet relations.
Keywords
Second World War, Adolf Hitler, Lebensraum, Appeasement, Nazi-Soviet Pact, German Rearmament, European Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, Racial Mastery, Third Reich, Collective Security, September 1939, Expansionism, Ideology, European History.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this essay?
The essay examines the multifaceted causes behind the outbreak of World War II in Europe, focusing on the transition from diplomatic tension to open conflict in 1939.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The main themes include Nazi ideology, the economic and military buildup in Germany, the limitations of British and French foreign policy, and the strategic failure of collective security agreements.
What is the central research question?
The work investigates why war broke out in Europe specifically in September 1939, balancing the agency of Hitler with the systemic failures of the international order.
Which historical methodology does the author employ?
The author uses a historical analytical approach, evaluating various historiographical perspectives on Hitler’s foreign policy, including the structuralist versus the intentionalist debates.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The main body analyzes the ideological motivations of the Nazi regime, the role of the Four Year Plan in preparing the economy for war, the diplomatic maneuvers in the Rhineland and Austria, and the eventual failure of the Anglo-French-Soviet alliance.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key terms include Second World War, Lebensraum, Appeasement, Nazi-Soviet Pact, and German Expansionism.
How did Hitler manage to disguise his true intentions according to the text?
Hitler exploited the European diplomatic order by creating the impression of wanting to recover pre-Versailles boundaries while simultaneously offering non-aggression pacts to defer Western intervention.
Why does the author argue that appeasement was not simply a result of cowardice?
The author argues that appeasement was a pragmatic response to specific constraints, such as the public trauma of World War I, limited military resources, and the need to buy time for rearmament.
What significance does the author attribute to the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
The pact is identified as a crucial turning point that secured Russian neutrality, thereby preventing a two-front war for Germany and accelerating the timeline for the invasion of Poland.
- Quote paper
- Murray Baird (Author), 2002, Why did war break out in Europe in September 1939?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/201888
