Germany and the Inter-War Years: 1890-1945

Germany Before the First World War

Before World War I, Germany was a powerful and industrialized nation.

How it was Ruled

Constitutional Monarchy: Germany was ruled by an Emperor (Kaiser), who held significant
power.
Reichstag: A parliament existed, but its powers were limited. The Chancellor, appointed by the
Kaiser, was responsible to him, not the Reichstag.
Military Influence: The military played a very influential role in German society and politics.

Life for Ordinary Germans

Economic Growth: Industrialization led to economic growth and the rise of a working class.
Social Stratification: Society was divided into distinct classes, with a growing middle class
and a large industrial working class.
Nationalism: Strong nationalist sentiments were prevalent.

Economic and Social Change

Industrial Revolution: Rapid industrialization, particularly in heavy industry (coal, steel,
chemicals), transformed the economy.
Urbanization: People moved from rural areas to cities for work, leading to rapid urban growth.
Social Tensions: The rapid changes created social tensions between different classes and
between traditional values and modernization.

Impact of WWI on Ordinary Germans

World War I had a devastating impact on the lives of ordinary Germans.

Shortages and Rationing: The British naval blockade led to severe shortages of food and
essential goods. Rationing was implemented, causing widespread hunger and hardship.
War Weariness: As the war dragged on, morale declined, and people grew weary of the
conflict and its sacrifices.
Loss of Life: Millions of German soldiers died or were wounded, leaving families bereaved
and communities devastated.
Economic Strain: The war effort placed immense strain on the German economy, leading to
inflation and debt.
"Stab-in-the-Back" Myth: After the defeat, a myth emerged that the German army had not
been defeated on the battlefield but was betrayed by politicians and civilians on the home
front. This myth undermined the legitimacy of the post-war government.

The Weimar Republic

The Weimar Republic was Germany's first attempt at a democratic government, established after
the defeat in World War I.

Structure, Strengths, and Weaknesses

Structure:
President: Elected head of state with significant powers, including appointing the
Chancellor and Article 48 emergency powers.
Chancellor: Head of government, appointed by the President and responsible to the
Reichstag.
Reichstag: Elected parliament with legislative powers.
Reichsrat: Upper house representing the states.
Proportional Representation: Electoral system where parties gained seats in proportion to
their share of the vote.

Strengths:
Democratic Constitution: It was one of the most democratic constitutions of its time,
guaranteeing civil liberties and universal suffrage.
Proportional Representation: Initially seen as fair, allowing smaller parties to gain
representation.
Social Reforms: Introduced progressive social reforms.

Weaknesses:
Proportional Representation: Led to a fragmented Reichstag with many small parties,
making stable majority governments difficult to form and increasing political instability.
Article 48: The President's emergency powers were frequently used, undermining
parliamentary democracy and paving the way for authoritarian rule.
Weaknesses in Constitution: The constitution was seen as overly complex and the
President's powers were too extensive.
Lack of Democratic Tradition: Germany had limited experience with democracy, making it
difficult for the republic to gain widespread support.
Opposition: Faced opposition from both the extreme left (communists) and the extreme
right (nationalists, monarchists, and later the Nazis).

The Weimar Republic and the Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, imposed harsh terms on Germany, significantly
weakening the Weimar Republic from its inception.

War Guilt Clause (Article 231): Forced Germany to accept full responsibility for the war.
Reparations: Germany was required to pay massive financial reparations to the Allied powers.
The exact amount was later set at 132 billion gold marks.
Territorial Losses: Germany lost significant territory, including Alsace-Lorraine to France, and
its overseas colonies.
Military Restrictions: The German army was severely limited in size (100,000 men),
conscription was abolished, and the navy and air force were drastically reduced.
"Diktat": Germans viewed the treaty as a "dictated peace" and resented the humiliation and
the burden of reparations. This resentment was exploited by anti-republican forces.
Spartacist Uprising (1919)
Who: Led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg, the Spartacists were a radical communist
group.
What: They attempted to overthrow the Weimar government and establish a communist
state.
Outcome: The uprising was brutally suppressed by the Freikorps (right-wing paramilitary
groups) with the support of the army. Liebknecht and Luxemburg were murdered. This event
demonstrated the fragility of the republic and the willingness of some to use violence.

Kapp Putsch (1920)

Who: Led by Wolfgang Kapp, a right-wing politician, and supported by elements of the army
and Freikorps.
What: An attempt to overthrow the Weimar government and establish a more authoritarian
regime.
Outcome: The putsch failed due to a general strike called by the government and supported
by workers across Germany. However, the army's reluctance to fire on the Freikorps
highlighted its lack of commitment to the republic.

The Year of Crises (1923)

This year saw the Weimar Republic facing severe challenges that threatened its existence.

Invasion of the Ruhr: France and Belgium, frustrated by Germany's failure to meet reparation
payments, invaded and occupied the industrial Ruhr region. The German government
responded with passive resistance, ordering workers to strike.
Hyperinflation:
To fund passive resistance and pay striking workers, the government printed vast amounts of
money. This led to catastrophic hyperinflation, rendering the German currency virtually
worthless. Savings were wiped out, and the middle class was particularly hard hit.
Example: In early 1923, a loaf of bread might cost 200 marks. By November 1923, the
same loaf could cost 200 billion marks.

Munich Putsch (November 1923): Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party attempted to seize power in
Munich, Bavaria. They tried to force the Bavarian government to join their coup against the
national government. The putsch was quickly crushed by the police. Hitler was arrested and
imprisoned, where he wrote Mein Kampf.

The Rise of the Nazis

The Growth of the Nazi Party and Who Voted for Them

The Nazi Party, led by Adolf Hitler, grew from a fringe group to a major political force.

Early Support: Initially, the Nazi Party attracted few voters. They gained support through
propaganda, exploiting public discontent.
Exploiting Crises: The Weimar Republic's weaknesses, the Treaty of Versailles, and economic
 hardship (especially hyperinflation and later the Great Depression) created fertile ground for
extremist parties like the Nazis.
Target Audiences:
Working Class: Promised jobs and economic relief.
Middle Class: Appealed to their fears of communism and economic ruin.
Farmers: Promised to protect their interests.
Nationalists: Appealed to their desire for a strong Germany and reversal of the Treaty of
Versailles.
Antisemitism: Used Jews as a scapegoat for Germany's problems, appealing to existing
prejudices.

Propaganda: Masterful use of propaganda, rallies, and Hitler's charismatic oratory were key to
their growth.

How Did Hitler Become Chancellor?

Hitler's rise to power was a complex process involving political maneuvering, public pressure,
and miscalculation by conservative elites.

Electoral Success: The Nazi Party's electoral support grew significantly, especially after the
Wall Street Crash in 1929 and the subsequent Great Depression. By 1932, they were the
largest party in the Reichstag.
Political Instability: The Weimar governments were weak and unstable.
Conservative Miscalculation: Conservative politicians like Franz von Papen and President
Paul von Hindenburg believed they could control Hitler and use his popularity to their
advantage. They underestimated his ambition and ruthlessness.
Backroom Deal: In January 1933, President Hindenburg, persuaded by von Papen and other
conservatives, appointed Hitler as Chancellor, heading a coalition government that included
conservatives. They believed they could keep Hitler in check.

Eliminating Opposition

Once in power, Hitler and the Nazis moved swiftly to consolidate their control and eliminate all
opposition.

Reichstag Fire (February 1933): A fire destroyed the Reichstag building. The Nazis blamed
communists and used this event to suspend civil liberties and arrest political opponents
under the Reichstag Fire Decree.
Enabling Act (March 1933): This act effectively gave Hitler dictatorial powers, allowing him to
pass laws without the Reichstag's approval for four years. This marked the end of
parliamentary democracy.
Gleichschaltung: The process of "coordination" or bringing all aspects of German society
under Nazi control. Trade unions were abolished, political parties (except the Nazi Party) were
banned, and state governments were brought under Nazi authority.

The Night of the Long Knives (June 1934)

What: A purge orchestrated by Hitler to eliminate potential rivals within the Nazi Party and
consolidate his power.
Targets: Primarily targeted leaders of the SA (Sturmabteilung), the Nazi Party's paramilitary
 wing, particularly Ernst Röhm, who had ambitions that threatened Hitler's authority. It also
eliminated some conservative critics of Hitler.
Significance: Demonstrated Hitler's ruthlessness and his willingness to use violence against
his own supporters to maintain absolute control. It also secured the loyalty of the German
army, which had been wary of the SA's growing power.

The Nazis in Power

'Work and Bread'

This was a key slogan used by the Nazis to promise economic recovery and prosperity to the
German people.

Public Works Programs: The Nazis initiated large-scale public works projects, such as the
construction of the Autobahn (motorways), to create jobs and stimulate the economy.
Rearmament: A significant portion of the economic recovery was driven by rearmament,
which boosted industrial production and created employment in the arms industry.
Reduced Unemployment: Unemployment figures dropped dramatically under Nazi rule, from
over 6 million in 1932 to virtually none by 1939. However, this was partly achieved through
excluding certain groups (women, Jews) from official figures and through conscription.

Did Hitler Make Germany Self-Sufficient?

Autarky: Hitler aimed for economic self-sufficiency (autarky), meaning Germany would be
able to supply all its own needs without relying on imports.
Limited Success: While Germany made progress in certain areas, particularly with synthetic
materials (e.g., synthetic rubber and fuel), it never achieved full self-sufficiency. Germany
remained reliant on imports for many raw materials, a fact that influenced Hitler's aggressive
foreign policy to acquire resources through conquest.

Were Ordinary Germans Better Off Under the Nazis?

This is a complex question with no simple answer.

Economic Improvements: For many unemployed men, the Nazis brought jobs and a sense of
purpose through public works and rearmament. Wages remained relatively low, but the cost
of living was controlled.
Loss of Freedoms: Germans lost their political freedoms, freedom of speech, and the right to
organize. Opposition was brutally suppressed.
Propaganda and Control: Life was heavily influenced by Nazi propaganda, and dissent was
not tolerated.
Persecution: Jews and other minority groups faced systematic persecution, discrimination,
and eventually extermination.
Women: While initially encouraged to stay home and raise families, the demands of
rearmament and war later led to pressure on women to enter the workforce.
Young People: Indoctrinated through youth organizations, with limited choice in their
activities or future paths.
Nazi Policies for Young People and Women
Young People:
Hitler Youth (Hitlerjugend): Membership became virtually compulsory for boys aged
10-18. It focused on physical fitness, military training, and ideological indoctrination.
League of German Girls (Bund Deutscher Mädel): Similar organization for girls,
emphasizing domestic skills, physical fitness, and preparation for motherhood.
Education: Curricula were Nazified, promoting racist ideology, German history glorifying
the Reich, and anti-Semitism.

Women:
"Kinder, Küche, Kirche" (Children, Kitchen, Church): The Nazi ideal for women was to be
homemakers and mothers, producing "Aryan" children for the Reich.
"Law for the Encouragement of Marriage": Offered loans to newly married couples, with a
portion forgiven for each child born.
Later Changes: As war approached and eventually began, the regime's stance shifted, and
women were increasingly encouraged to work in factories and other sectors to support
the war effort.

Christianity and the Nazis

Initial Ambivalence: The Nazi Party initially sought to co-opt or control existing churches.
"Positive Christianity": The Nazis promoted a version of Christianity that aligned with their
ideology, emphasizing racial purity and nationalism.
Conflicting Aims: The Christian churches, with their emphasis on universal love and
humanitarian values, were fundamentally at odds with Nazi ideology.
Persecution: Many clergy and church members who opposed the Nazis faced persecution,
imprisonment, or execution. Some prominent opponents included Martin Niemöller and
Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Confessing Church: A movement within Protestantism that resisted Nazi control.

Nazi Control - Fear and Propaganda

Propaganda Ministry: Led by Joseph Goebbels, this ministry controlled all media
(newspapers, radio, film) to disseminate Nazi ideology and demonize enemies.
Cult of Personality: Hitler was presented as a messianic figure, the savior of Germany.
Censorship: All forms of expression were strictly controlled and censored.
Secret Police (Gestapo): Used terror, surveillance, and arbitrary arrests to crush dissent.
Concentration Camps: Established to imprison political opponents, Jews, and other targeted
groups.
Fear: The constant threat of arrest, imprisonment, or worse created an atmosphere of fear
that stifled opposition.

How Was Art and Culture Affected?

Nazi ideology profoundly impacted art and culture, aiming to promote "Aryan" ideals and
suppress anything deemed "degenerate."

"Degenerate Art" (Entartete Kunst): Modern art, particularly abstract and expressionist works,
was condemned as "degenerate," un-German, and Jewish. Exhibitions were held to ridicule
 such art.
Approved Art: Art that glorified the state, the "Aryan" race, traditional values, and military
strength was promoted. This included heroic sculptures, realistic paintings of peasants and
soldiers, and grand architecture.
Literature and Music: Books by Jewish or anti-Nazi authors were banned and burned. Music
considered "Jewish" or "degenerate" (like jazz) was suppressed.
Film: Used as a powerful propaganda tool, with films like Triumph of the Will (a documentary
of the Nuremberg Rally) and The Eternal Jew (anti-Semitic propaganda) being prominent.

Resistance and Opposition

Despite the pervasive fear and control, there were individuals and groups who resisted the Nazis.

Individual Acts: Small acts of defiance, such as distributing leaflets or hiding persecuted
individuals.
Church Opposition: As mentioned, some religious figures and groups actively opposed Nazi
policies.
Student Resistance: Groups like the White Rose, led by students like Sophie and Hans Scholl,
distributed anti-Nazi leaflets. They were eventually discovered and executed.
Military Opposition: Some military figures plotted against Hitler, most notably the July 20 Plot
in 1944, which failed to assassinate Hitler.
Communist and Socialist Groups: Continued to operate underground, though heavily
suppressed.

Conflict and Tension: The Inter-War Years

1918-1939
This period was marked by attempts to create lasting peace after WWI, but ultimately led to the
outbreak of WWII.

End of WWI
Armistice: Signed on November 11, 1918, ending the fighting.
Collapse of Empires: WWI led to the collapse of the German, Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, and
Russian Empires.

Aims of the Big Three

The main Allied powers at the Paris Peace Conference (1919) were:

Woodrow Wilson (USA): Sought a "peace without victory," based on his Fourteen Points,
emphasizing self-determination, free trade, and a League of Nations to prevent future wars.
Georges Clemenceau (France): Desired harsh punishment for Germany to ensure French
security and prevent future German aggression. He wanted reparations and territorial
concessions.
David Lloyd George (Britain): Sought a middle ground, wanting to punish Germany but also
maintain it as a trading partner and a bulwark against Bolshevism. He was pressured by
 public opinion demanding a harsh peace.

Terms of the Treaty of Versailles

(See "The Weimar Republic and the Treaty of Versailles" section above for details on the terms.)

Reaction to the Treaty of Versailles - Leaders and the

People in Each Country
Germany: Widespread outrage and resentment. Viewed as a humiliating "dictated
peace" (Diktat). Fueled nationalism and desire for revenge.
France: Generally felt the treaty was not harsh enough, especially Clemenceau, who believed
Germany should have been further dismembered.
Britain: Mixed reactions. Some felt it was too harsh, others too lenient. Lloyd George was
concerned about potential future instability.
USA: The US Senate refused to ratify the treaty, primarily due to opposition to joining the
League of Nations.
Other Allied Nations: Generally supported the treaty, though with varying degrees of
enthusiasm.

Treaty of Germany's Allies

Separate treaties were imposed on Germany's allies:

Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1919): With Austria. Dissolved the Austro-Hungarian

Empire and recognized the independence of new nations.
Treaty of Trianon (1920): With Hungary. Resulted in significant territorial losses for Hungary.
Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine (1919): With Bulgaria. Imposed territorial losses and reparations.
Treaty of Sèvres (1920) / Lausanne (1923): With the Ottoman Empire. Sèvres was harsh and
led to Turkish nationalist revolt; it was replaced by the more moderate Treaty of Lausanne.

Did the Big Three Achieve Their Aims?

Wilson: Largely failed. His idealistic Fourteen Points were compromised, and the US did not
join the League of Nations. Self-determination was inconsistently applied.
Clemenceau: Partially achieved his aims of weakening Germany and ensuring French security
in the short term, but the harshness of the treaty arguably sowed the seeds for future conflict.
Lloyd George: Achieved a compromise but was unhappy with both the harshness and the
potential for future instability.

The League of Nations

An international organization established after WWI to promote peace and cooperation.

Structure of the League of Nations

 Assembly: Composed of all member states, meeting annually to discuss issues.
Council: Composed of permanent members (initially Britain, France, Italy, Japan) and non-
permanent members elected by the Assembly. Responsible for dealing with international
disputes. Required unanimous decisions.
Secretariat: Administrative body.
Permanent Court of International Justice: Settled legal disputes between states.
International Labour Organization (ILO): Promoted workers' rights.

Aims and Membership of the League of Nations

Aims:
Prevent war through collective security and disarmament.
Settle international disputes through negotiation and arbitration.
Promote international cooperation on economic and social issues.

Membership:
Initially included many countries, but key powers were absent or left:
USA: Never joined.
Germany: Joined in 1926, left in 1933.
Soviet Union: Joined in 1934, expelled in 1939.
Japan: Left in 1933.
Italy: Left in 1937.

The absence of major powers significantly weakened its authority.

The Work of the League of Nations - Successes and

Failures
Successes:
Resolved several minor disputes (e.g., dispute between Sweden and Finland over the
Åland Islands, dispute between Greece and Bulgaria).
Worked on humanitarian issues like refugee resettlement and combating disease.
Established the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Failures:
Manchurian Crisis (1931): Japan invaded Manchuria. The League condemned Japan but
took no effective action, leading to Japan's withdrawal.
Abyssinian Crisis (1935): Italy invaded Abyssinia (Ethiopia). The League imposed
sanctions, but they were weak and ineffective, and key members (like Britain and France)
were hesitant to enforce them fully for fear of alienating Italy. This failure severely
damaged the League's credibility.
Disarmament: Failed to achieve significant disarmament among major powers.
Collective Security: Proved ineffective against aggressive expansionist powers. The
requirement for unanimous decisions in the Council often led to inaction.

The Locarno Treaties (1925) and the Kellogg-Briand Pact

(1928)
 Locarno Treaties: A series of agreements where Germany, France, Belgium, Great Britain, and
Italy mutually guaranteed the peace of Germany's western borders. Germany also agreed to
arbitration treaties with Poland and Czechoslovakia. This period marked a brief "spirit of
Locarno" of improved international relations.
Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928): Signed by 62 nations, this pact renounced war as an instrument
of national policy. However, it had no enforcement mechanism and was ultimately ineffective.

The Wall Street Crash (1929) and The Great Depression

Wall Street Crash: The collapse of the US stock market in October 1929 triggered a global
economic crisis.
Great Depression: This led to widespread unemployment, poverty, and social unrest
worldwide.
Impact on Germany: Germany, heavily reliant on US loans, was particularly devastated. This
economic hardship fueled extremist movements, including the Nazis, who promised solutions
and scapegoats.

The Manchurian Crisis (1931)

What: Japan, seeking resources and expansion, invaded Manchuria (a region of China).
League's Response: The League condemned Japan but imposed no meaningful sanctions.
Japan withdrew from the League in 1933.
Significance: A major blow to the League's authority, showing its inability to act against a
powerful aggressor.

The Invasion of Abyssinia (1935)

What: Fascist Italy, under Benito Mussolini, invaded Abyssinia (Ethiopia).
League's Response: The League imposed economic sanctions on Italy, but they were not
comprehensive (e.g., oil was not included) and were not effectively enforced. France and
Britain sought to appease Italy.
Significance: The League's failure here demonstrated its impotence and encouraged further
aggression by dictators.

The Collapse of the League of Nations - Was it Doomed

to Fail?
Key Weaknesses:
Absence of major powers (USA, initially Germany and USSR).
Requirement for unanimous decisions in the Council.
Lack of an armed force to enforce its decisions.
Members' self-interest often overrode collective security.
Failure to act decisively against aggression (Manchuria, Abyssinia).

Conclusion: While the League had some successes in its early years and on humanitarian
issues, its fundamental structural weaknesses and the unwillingness of member states to
commit to collective security ultimately led to its collapse as an effective peace-keeping body,
especially when faced with determined aggression from major powers.

Origins and Outbreak of WW2

What Did Hitler Want?

Hitler's foreign policy aims were driven by a desire to:

Reverse the Treaty of Versailles: Abolish its terms, including reparations and territorial
losses.
Unite all German-speaking peoples: Create a "Greater Germany" by annexing territories with
German populations (e.g., Austria, Sudetenland).
Lebensraum ("Living Space"): Acquire territory in Eastern Europe for German settlement and
resources, displacing or eliminating Slavic populations.
Destroy Communism: Viewed the Soviet Union as a major enemy and a target for expansion.
Establish German Hegemony: Make Germany the dominant power in Europe.

Reaction to Hitler's Foreign Policy

Initial Hesitation: Many European powers were initially hesitant to confront Hitler, partly due
to guilt over the Treaty of Versailles, fear of another war, and economic problems.
Appeasement: Britain and France adopted a policy of appeasement, making concessions to
Hitler in the hope of avoiding war.
Support from Some: Some nationalist groups in other countries admired Hitler's strength and
authoritarianism.

Rearmament and the Road to War

German Rearmament: Hitler began secretly rearming Germany almost immediately upon
coming to power, openly defying the Treaty of Versailles. This included rebuilding the army,
navy, and air force.
Remilitarization of the Rhineland (1936): Hitler sent troops into the Rhineland, a demilitarized
zone according to the Treaty of Versailles. France and Britain protested but took no military
action. This emboldened Hitler.

Reoccupation of the Rhineland (1936)

What: German troops marched into the Rhineland, violating the Treaty of Versailles and the
Locarno Treaties.
Reaction: France was outraged and wanted to act, but Britain was reluctant, viewing it as
Hitler "marching into his own back garden."
Significance: This was a crucial turning point. It showed the weakness of the international
system and the willingness of Hitler to defy international agreements without serious
consequence.

Which Countries Supported Hitler?

Direct Allies:
Italy: Formed the Rome-Berlin Axis in 1936.
Japan: Signed the Anti-Comintern Pact with Germany in 1936, later joining the war as part
of the Axis powers.

Sympathetic/Neutral (Initially):
Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria: Gradually aligned with Germany or were occupied by them.
 Spain: General Franco received German and Italian support during the Spanish Civil War.
Britain and France (Appeasement): While not supporting Hitler's ultimate aims, their policy
of appeasement effectively allowed him to achieve his early goals.

Anschluss with Austria (1938)

What: The annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany.
How it Happened: Hitler pressured the Austrian Chancellor to appoint Nazis to key positions.
In March 1938, German troops marched into Austria, and Hitler declared the Anschluss. There
was little international opposition.
Reaction: Most Austrians welcomed it, and Britain and France lodged protests but did not act.

The Sudeten Crisis (1938)

What: Hitler demanded the Sudetenland, a region of Czechoslovakia with a large German-
speaking population.
Hitler's Threat: Hitler threatened war if his demands were not met.
Munich Agreement (September 1938): Britain, France, Italy, and Germany met in Munich.
They agreed to Hitler's demands, forcing Czechoslovakia to cede the Sudetenland to
Germany. Czechoslovakia was not consulted.
Appeasement's Peak: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain famously declared he had
achieved "peace for our time."

Britain and Appeasement (Neville Chamberlain)

Policy: The policy of appeasement, strongly associated with Neville Chamberlain, involved
making concessions to Hitler to avoid war.
Motivations: Fear of war, belief that the Treaty of Versailles was too harsh, underestimation of
Hitler's ambitions, and a desire to focus on domestic issues.
Consequences: Appeasement emboldened Hitler, convincing him that Britain and France
would not fight. It allowed Germany to grow stronger and more aggressive. The failure of
appeasement became clear when Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia in March 1939.

The Nazi-Soviet Pact (August 1939)

What: A non-aggression pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, signed just days
before the invasion of Poland.
Secret Clauses: Included a secret protocol dividing Eastern Europe into German and Soviet
spheres of influence. Poland was to be partitioned.
Significance:
Freed Hitler from the fear of fighting a two-front war (at least temporarily).
Allowed Hitler to invade Poland without immediate Soviet interference.
Shocked the world, as Nazism and Communism were ideologically opposed.

The Invasion of Poland (September 1, 1939) and the

Declaration of War
Invasion: Germany invaded Poland using its new "Blitzkrieg" (lightning war) tactics.
 Declaration of War: Britain and France, having guaranteed Poland's independence, issued an
ultimatum to Germany. When Germany did not withdraw, Britain and France declared war on
Germany on September 3, 1939.

Summary - Why Did WW2 Break Out?

World War II was the result of a complex interplay of factors:

Unresolved Issues from WWI: The harshness of the Treaty of Versailles and German
resentment created a desire for revision.
Aggressive Expansionist Policies of Dictators: Hitler's pursuit of Lebensraum, Mussolini's
imperial ambitions, and Japan's expansionism.
Failure of Collective Security: The League of Nations proved ineffective in preventing
aggression.
Policy of Appeasement: Britain and France's concessions emboldened Hitler and allowed
Germany to grow stronger.
Economic Hardship: The Great Depression fueled extremist movements and instability.
Ideological Conflicts: The clash between democracy, fascism, and communism.
Specific Triggers: Hitler's invasion of Poland, following a series of aggressive actions
(Rhineland, Austria, Czechoslovakia), finally prompted Britain and France to act.