World War II

Allies of World War II

The countries that came forward to fight the Axis alliance: Germany, Italy, and Japan, were the league of countries known as allies. The “Big Three” Allied powers in World War II were the United States, the Soviet Union, and Great Britain. It was a grand alliance that was key to victory. Allies were formed during World War II, which was an international military coalition later known as the United Nations. To carry on the fights the countries (many European countries) that were defeated by Germans built up free governments and armies in Britain. France and other European countries were somehow defeated by Germany, which made them unable to join the fighting. Britain and the US supported each other and shared their new technologies between themselves.

Major Causes of World War II

There were several major causes of World War II. The Major causes include the Treaty of Versailles, Failure of Appeasement, Failure of the League of Nations, Economic Depression, Japan’s Militarism, and Germany’s Militarism.

• Treaty of Versailles –

Germany was somewhat forced to sign the treaty of Versailles. Following World War I, Germany’s future was decided by the victorious Allied Powers. Under this treaty, Germany had to pay reparations and accept guilt for the war. Germany was restricted from having a large military as well as lost its territory. 

• Failure of Appeasement –

The word ‘appeasement’ means to accept the demands made by another country or nation to avoid war, conflict, or any other problems. Throughout the 1930s, the French and British politicians started to believe that the Treaty of Versailles was not fair to Germany and Hitler publicly condemned the Treaty of Versailles and started building up Germany’s weapons and army secretly, the policy of appeasement was this belief adopted by Britain. The Munich Agreement of September 1938 is an example of appeasement. Where the German-speakers lived, Britain and France allowed Germany to take over areas in Czechoslovakia, mentioned in the agreement. But Germany did not agree to occupy the rest of Czechoslovakia or any other country, later in March 1939 Germany broke the promise and occupied the rest of Czechoslovakia. At that time neither France nor Britain was ready or prepared to take any kind of military action. In the next year of September 1, 1939, Poland was invaded or occupied by German troops, after France and Britain immediately announced war on Germany. As a result of this World War II began in Europe. 

• Failure of the League of Nations –

To keep world peace, in the year 1919 an international organization was set up named the League of Nations. The League of Nations was done on the purpose that all countries should be members here and if any turmoil occurs between the countries then that could be solved by negotiation rather than by force leading to war or any other equivalent. As not all the countries joined the League, the League of Nations was a failure though it was a good idea. Also, there was no army in the League to prevent military aggression like Japan’s invasion of Manchuria in China or Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia in Africa.

• Economic Depression –

In the late 1929, economic depression hit the whole world. As a result, economies shrunk, prices fell, trade was reduced, unemployment rose, businesses closed and banks fell. To resolve their problem sometimes during depression people want a strong political leader. To restore Germany’s wealth and power Adolf Hitler became the leader in the year 1933.

• Japan’s Militarism –

Japan was hit tremendously by economic depression in the year 1931. As a result, the people of Japan lost faith in the government and they approached the army to find a solution for their economic problems. For the factories in Japan, they needed natural resources, so the Japanese army occupied China which is rich in minerals and resources. As the Japanese army invaded China, China asked for help from the League of Nations but the League of Nations was ignored by Japan and they remained intact in their work and continued to occupy Korea and China. Gradually Japan started occupying the areas of SouthEast Asia including Vietnam. Now, the United States is concerned about the territories in Asia that are Guam and the Philippines. Gradually Japan became aware that their expansion could be stopped by the United States military and Japan in December 1941 attacked Hawaii and Pearl Harbour. As a result of these situations, World War II began in Asia.

• Germany’s Militarism –

Even though France and Britain knew Hitler was secretly building up Germany’s weapons and army, they thought the spreading of Communism from Russia would be stopped by stronger German troops. In the German-speaking areas of Austria, Rhineland (France), and Czechoslovakia German troops entered in 1936, by the order of Hitler. Hitler made alliances with Japan and Italy in 1936. At that time neither Britain nor France was in the situation to go to war. 

Conclusion

It is to conclude that the three Allied Powers in World War II are Great Britain, The Soviet Union, and the United States. The Major causes of World War II include the Treaty of Versailles, Failure of Appeasement, Failure of the League of Nations, Economic Depression, Japan’s Militarism, and Germany’s Militarism.