CAUSES OF WORLD WAR 1 & 2

There were profound structural forces which undermined stability in Europe. In fact, the Second World War was the continuation of the first. There was clear imbalance of power which had existed in Europe since the unification of Germany. The war was a manifestation of deep-rooted instability in Europe. To many historians.  The second world war was not only propelled by structural forces but human angle also played a role in bringing about the second world war. For instance, no story of the origin of the war would be told without particular reference to Adolf Hitter. In fact, some   historians argue that it was simply  Hitler’s war the post-war  Nuremberg trials of Nazi  war criminals  equally

admitted that  it was Hitlers war.

            Generally,  the  origins of World War II have been subject of controversy among scholars. Most   historians maintain that Hitler and Nazi Germany were responsible for the war, that is their attempt in expand German power in Europe.

            Perhaps the most controversial of the origin of World War II by a known historian is that by A.J.P Taylors.  The origin of world war ii: in this text,  Taylor argues that  Nazi  ideology had nothing whatsoever  to do with the second world war though responsible for the evil of the   gas chamber.

            However, many reasons accounted for the outbreak of World War II

1. German nationalism propelled the people to recover lost territories and regain people of German origin living in Austria, Poland and Czechoslovakia.
2. German imperialistic desires were pushed by Nazi regimes ideology (fascism) which encouraged racism, nationalism and imperialism.
3. There was a strong desire to forcefully expand the German state.
4. German aggression was inflamed by resentment of punitive, unfair and unfavourable terms arising from the 1919 Versailles peace treaty.  For instance, under pressure, the peacemakers accepted  French  insistence  on the destruction of German armed forces  and the loss of German territory (alsce-lorraine) a rich territory which Germany had acquired earlier following the  Franco Prussian war, 1870-1871.
5. There was the disintegration of Austro-Hungarian empires.
6.  Germany was denied entry into the international system as co-equal member. She  was only admitted into League of Nations in 1926