Overview
- Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, wanted to become powerful again after being harshly punished in the Treaty of Versailles.
- Hitler broke the rules of the treaty, built up Germany’s military, and took over land from other countries.
- Britain and France tried to avoid another war by letting him get away with it, a policy called appeasement. But Hitler didn’t stop.
- In 1939, he made a secret deal with the Soviet Union and invaded Poland. That’s when Britain and France finally declared war, starting World War II.
Key Causes
- Germany was punished harshly, leading to anger and calls for revenge.
- Hitler’s foreign policy aimed at overturning Versailles, uniting all German speakers, and gaining Lebensraum (living space).
- Britain and France kept giving in to Hitler’s demands (e.g., Munich Agreement 1938) instead of stopping him.
- The League of Nations didn’t stop Italy or Germany in the 1930s.
- Nazi-Soviet Pact (1939)
- Germany and the USSR agreed to divide Poland.
- Hitler invaded Poland days later.
- Poland invasion
- On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland.
- Britain and France declared war.
Key Events
- 1939–40: Blitzkrieg ("Lightning War"): Germany used fast, modern warfare to conquer Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France.
- June 1940: France surrendered. Britain stood alone.
- Battle of Britain (1940): The German Luftwaffe bombed British cities but failed to gain air control.
- Operation Barbarossa (June 1941): Hitler invaded the Soviet Union. This opened the Eastern Front.
Hint
- Germany looked unstoppable in 1940, but failed to defeat Britain and then overextended itself in the USSR.
- The turning point came in 1941, when Hitler invaded Russia and the USA joined the war after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941.
The Wartime Alliance (1941–1945)
- The "Grand Alliance"
- Formed after 1941: Britain, the Soviet Union, and the United States.
- Even though they had different ideologies (democracy vs communism), they worked together to defeat the Axis.
- Key Conferences
- Tehran (1943): Planned D-Day invasion, confirmed Soviet entry into the war against Japan.
- Yalta (Feb 1945): Discussed post-war Europe; tensions began to rise.
- Potsdam (July 1945): Confirmed surrender terms, but cooperation between Allies began to break down.
Exam technique
- Use the wartime alliance to explain both military success and growing tensions that would lead to the Cold War.
- Refer to how military cooperation masked deep political differences.
Axis Defeat and Allied Victory
- Why the Axis Lost
- Germany fought on too many fronts (especially after invading USSR).
- Failed to defeat Britain or USSR early.
- Underestimated Soviet resistance and the Russian winter.
- Lack of raw materials and fuel (especially after 1943).
- Italy was a weak ally and a burden to Germany.
- Why the Allies Won
- Industrial power of the USA
- Supplied tanks, planes, ships (Arsenal of Democracy).
- Soviet manpower
- Massive army, huge counteroffensives after 1942 (e.g., Stalingrad).
- Allied air power
- Bombed German cities and disrupted industry.
- Better coordination and intelligence e.g., breaking German code Enigma).
- Opening of new fronts
- D-Day in France (June 1944)
- Italy invasion (1943).
Exam technique
| Skill | What to do |
|---|---|
| Use case studies | Include examples like the Battle of Britain, Stalingrad, and D-Day. |
| Explain, don’t list | For causes, show how each factor pushed Europe toward war. |
| Avoid overgeneralizing | Be specific about timelines (e.g., 1939–41 is development; 1941–45 is escalation). |
| Use structure | or "reasons for Allied victory", break into economic, military, and strategic factors. |
Common Mistake
- Saying “Hitler caused WWII” with no explanation (Explain his foreign policy goals and how appeasement allowed him to act)
- Ignoring Soviet or US roles (Show how Soviet resistance and US production were decisive)
- Writing only about WWII as a whole doesn’t answer Paper 3 focus (Emphasize the European theater and developments within the IB time frame you're assigned)
Case study
The Allied Invasion of Normandy (June 6, 1944)
- D-Day (code name for Operation Overlord) was the massive Allied invasion of German-occupied France during World War II.
- On June 6, 1944, over 150,000 Allied troops (mostly American, British, and Canadian) landed on the beaches of Normandy, in northern France.
- It was the largest seaborne invasion in history
Aims of the Operation
- Open a Western Front against Nazi Germany.
- Begin the liberation of France and Western Europe.
- Relieve pressure on the Soviet Union.
- Force Germany into a two-front war that would speed up its defeat.
What Happened
- The Allies landed on five beaches: Utah, Omaha (USA), Gold, Juno (Canada), and Sword (UK).
- Fighting was especially intense on Omaha Beach.
- The Allies had secured a foothold in France.
Significance
- It marked the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany.
- The successful landing allowed the Allies to advance through France and eventually liberate Paris by August 1944.
- It forced Germany to fight a two-front war, weakening its ability to defend itself.
- The coordination between the Allies showed the strength of the wartime alliance (USA, UK, Canada, Free French forces).
Exam technique
- Don’t just describe the landing. Show how it helped defeat Germany.
- Use D-Day to explain how strategy, cooperation, and military power contributed to Allied victory.
- In a broader essay, compare D-Day with other events (e.g., Battle of Stalingrad, Operation Barbarossa).
Self review
- To what extent was the failure of collective security responsible for the outbreak of WWII in Europe?
- Evaluate the reasons for Allied victory in Europe by 1945.
- Discuss the development of the European conflict between 1939 and 1941.
- Assess the role of strategic and economic factors in the defeat of the Axis powers.
