Road to World War II

Teacher’s Summary

This essay provides an insightful analysis of the complex factors leading to World War II. The author skillfully blends personal anecdotes with historical analysis to explore the interplay of economic, political, and social forces that contributed to the outbreak of the war. By examining the roles of appeasement, fascism, and key decisions made by world leaders, the essay highlights the cascading effects of seemingly isolated actions. The conclusion effectively underscores the importance of understanding history to avoid repeating past mistakes.

Grade: A

The Road to World War II: A Tangled Web of Responsibility

As a history major at Howard University, I’ve always been fascinated by the events leading up to World War II. This interest isn’t just academic – it’s personal. My grandmother’s stories about living through that tumultuous era have given me a unique perspective on how global events can impact ordinary lives.

The Powder Keg: Underlying Factors of the 1920s and 1930s

The Treaty of Versailles: A Seeds of Resentment

In our European History seminar last semester, we had a heated debate about the Treaty of Versailles. I argued that while it didn’t directly cause World War II, it certainly laid the groundwork. My grandmother once showed me a newspaper clipping from 1919, announcing the treaty’s signing. “People thought this would end all wars,” she told me. “If only they knew.”

The League of Nations: A Paper Tiger

During my internship at the National Archives last summer, I came across documents detailing the United States’ decision not to join the League. It struck me how this absence of a key global power crippled the League from the start.

The Great Depression: Economic Turmoil as a Catalyst

My Economics professor often draws parallels between the Great Depression and modern financial crises. It’s chilling to think how economic hardship can pave the way for extremism, both then and now.

The Policy of Appeasement: Good Intentions, Disastrous Results

Britain’s Approach: Negotiation Over Confrontation

I’ll never forget the look on my British classmate’s face when we discussed Chamberlain’s “Peace for our time” declaration. Her great-grandfather was in the crowd that day, cheering what they thought was the avoidance of war.

France’s Reluctant Participation

In my French language class, we translated newspaper articles from 1930s France. The shift in tone from defiance to resignation was palpable.

Hitler’s Ambitions: A Nation Reborn Through Conquest

Rearmament and the Rhineland: Testing the Waters

Last year, I visited the Rhineland on a study abroad trip. Standing on the banks of the Rhine, I tried to imagine the tension in the air as German troops marched in, and the world held its breath.

The Anschluss: A Union of German Peoples

My Austrian pen pal once sent me photos of her grandmother’s diary from 1938. The mix of excitement and fear in those pages brought home the complexity of the Anschluss in a way no textbook could.

The Sudetenland Crisis: The Breaking Point

During a Model UN conference, I represented Czechoslovakia in a simulation of the Munich Conference. It gave me a new appreciation for the pressures faced by small nations caught between great powers.

Other Contributing Factors

The Rise of Fascism: A European Phenomenon

In my Comparative Politics class, we often discuss how the conditions in 1930s Europe facilitated the rise of fascism. It’s a sobering reminder of how fragile democracy can be.

The Soviet Factor: Stalin’s Calculations

My research project on the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact opened my eyes to the complex chess game being played by Stalin. It’s fascinating how this agreement, intended to buy time, ultimately changed the course of the war.

Conclusion: A Perfect Storm of Miscalculation

As I reflect on all I’ve learned about the outbreak of World War II, I’m struck by how a series of decisions, each understandable in isolation, could lead to such a catastrophic outcome. It’s a lesson in the importance of understanding history not just as a series of events, but as a complex interplay of human decisions and their often unintended consequences.

My grandmother always says, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” Studying this period has made me more attuned to the rhymes of history in our current world events. It’s a responsibility I take seriously as a future historian – to understand the past, not just to know what happened, but to help guide us towards a better future.