Lecture Notes: The Causes and Prelude to World War II

Adolf Hitler's Role in World War II

• Adolf Hitler is identified as the primary instigator of the Second World War.
• Hitler's obsession with war for its own sake and his disdain for prolonged peace as a cause of national decay.
• Hitler was open about his aims, documented in print and speeches.
• Early opportunities existed for the world and fellow Germans to stop Hitler.

Treaty of Versailles (1919)

• The treaty ended World War I, presenting Germany with significant repercussions.
  • Germany was held responsible for the war.
  • Stripped of its colonial empire, military restrictions were imposed.
  • Required to pay reparations, which bred resentment among Germans.
• The harsh terms fueled German bitterness and political discourse for years.
• Hitler capitalized on this national resentment.

Hitler’s Rise to Power

• 1929: Hitler gained prominence by campaigning against reparations.
• Hyperinflation (1923) and the Great Depression (1929) led to economic despair.
• Hitler’s rhetoric offered hope and national revival, attracting widespread support.
• Political tensions escalated with Nazis and Communists clashing in the streets.
• The choice became stark between communism or national socialism.

Nazi Ascendancy

• Nazis became the largest single party in the Reichstag by 1932.
• Hitler became Chancellor through a deal with conservative politicians.
• The Reichstag fire in 1933 led to a suspension of constitutional rights.
• The establishment of dictatorship through Gleichschaltung, targeting Jews and political opponents.
• Massive public works projects and rearmament reduced unemployment and revitalized national pride.

Expansionist Policies

• Hitler's ambitious plans for expansion involved rearming Germany, defying the Treaty of Versailles.
• 1935: Revealed a German air force and reintroduced conscription.
• Reoccupation of the Rhineland in 1936 went unchallenged, bolstering Hitler’s confidence.
• Britain’s naval agreement with Germany inadvertently facilitated Hitler’s plans.

Austrian Anschluss and Sudetenland

• 1938: Anschluss with Austria, largely unopposed by world powers.
• Sudetenland crisis (1938) led to the Munich Agreement, perceived by Hitler as appeasement.
• Czechoslovakia's annexation in 1939 marked a shift towards aggressive expansion.

Diplomacy and War Preparations

• Nazi-Soviet Pact (1939) aligned Hitler temporarily with Stalin, isolating Poland.
• The invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, marked the beginning of World War II.
  • Britain and France declared war following Germany's attack on Poland.

Conclusion

• Hitler’s misjudgment led to a war that was more extensive than he intended, having to face both Britain and France.
• The initial blitzkrieg against Poland set the stage for the broader conflict that followed.

These notes summarize the key points from a lecture on Adolf Hitler’s role in the events leading up to World War II, highlighting the political, economic, and diplomatic maneuvers that contributed to the outbreak of the war.