Factors that causing the involvement of German in World War 2

After doing a research on the World War 2 , we found that there are several factor that makes the
German involve in the World War 2.The factor is the problems with the Treaty of Versailles , the
expansionism policy , Nazi dictatorship and the Great World Depression .
The problems with the Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was the peace treaty to end the World War 1.This treaty was
signed at the Versailles Palace near Paris.The country that was involve in this treaty is the
Germany and the Allies which is the United States , French and British.The Allies viewing the
Germany as the cause of the conflict in the World War 1.They decided to punish the Germany by
imposing a strict treaty obligations. The content in the treaty was makes by the so called Big
Three after months of argument and negotiation.The Big Three are the representative of the
Allies.The first one is David Lloyd George which is the representatives for Britan.He had two
opinion on how Germany should be punish.He think that if he being soft on Germany he would
have been removed from the office.He also afraid that the public will not support him in the
elections.Beside that , he also feared that the rise of communism in Russia will propagate into the
Western Europe.He did not want the Germany citizen to become obsessed with their government
that will makes them change to communism.The second one is George Clemencau who is the
representative for France.He believe that the Germany should be heavily punish so that the
Germany could never start a war again.Last but not least is the representative for the America
which is Woodrow Wilson.He stated that Germany should be punished but in a way that would
lead to European reconciliation.(http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/treaty_of_versailles.htm)
The problems of the Treaty of Versailles lies in the content itself.The first problem is the
German lost many of their territory.The territories that lost by the German is Alsace-Lorraine
which was given to France , Eupen and Malmedy which was given to the Belgium.Another
territories that German lost is Northern Schleswig which was given to Denmark and Hultschin
which was given to the Czechoslovakia.The territories of German which is Saar , Danzig , and
Memel is being controlled by the League of nations.The peoples of this territory is allowed to
choose whether to stay in Germany or not in a future referendum

The second problem of the Treaty of Versailles is regarding the military expansion of the
German.In the treaty , it stated that the German army must be reduced to 100,000 men.The
German army is prohibited from having tanks.The German also is not allowed to have an
airforce.She only can have six capital naval ship without a submarine in its naval forces.There
was also a demilitarized zone (DMZ) which situated at the west of the Rhineland and 50kms east
of the Rhine River.This DMZ is restricted for the German soldier or weapon.The allies army
must occupied and controlled this zone for 15 years.
Beside that , another problem with the Treaty of Versailles is regarding the economy of
German.Some of the territories that they lost was the main economic source for them.The coal
from the Saar and Upper Silesia was a big loss to them.The harsh monetary reparation that have
been imposed on them makes the German thinks that the Allies want the Germany to going
bankruptcy.The

German

also

is

not

allowed

to

makes

unification

with Austria.

(www.historylearningsite.co.uk/treaty_of_versailles.htm)
Expansionism
After Adolf Hitler took over the power and became the chancellor of Germany in
January 1933 , the financial provisions of the Treaty of Versailles had already been
recheck.Hitler objective was to take back the remaining military and territorial provision of the
treaty including the ethnic German who was in the Reich to form a German empire in
Europe.The German army was rearmament in secrecy since before the Nazi took over the
power.The Nazis fully supported the rearmament and increase the arms production.The Nazis
also reintroduced the military conscription and announced the expansion of the German army
which is approximately more than 500,000 men.The German border with France and Belgium
have been recognized violate in the Treaty of Locarno on 1925.The DMZ of the Rhineland also
have been violated by the Hitler.He ordered his German forces which is the Wehrmacht to enter
the zone.This action resulted the condemnation by the Britain and France.The German troops
entered into the Austria and annexed it after receiving support from most of the population.(
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005439)

Nazi Dictactorship

After the Adolf Hitler was appointed as the chancellor on 30th January 1933 , he has gain
more power than the former top politician of the Weimar Republic.Hitler has combined the
chancellors and presidents positions into one when the President Hindenburg died.Hitler has
becomes the Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor.Hitler has created a one party state within month after
becoming the chancellor.Hitler will threat war if the reasonable demands by the German is not
fulfilled.When the opponent try to calm him , he accepted the offered and then move to the next
target.This strategy can be seen when the Germany violate the Treaty of Versailles and the
forming of alliance between the German and Italy.
(www.historylearningsite.co.uk/Nazi_Germany_dictatorship.htm)
Great World Depression
The Great World Depression in 1929 was the important factor that cause the involvement
of the German in World War 2.It is because the German economy is totally in critical condition
during this period.The number of unemployed peoples in German increase rapidly.Many peoples
believe that Hitler is leading them to solve the depression without realize the truth.They fully
support the Nazi (NSDAP) and Communist (KPD) parties.Hitler has use this problem to gain
power in the authority.His objective and personal goals is to dominate Europe and the whole
world.
(http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_were_the_causes_for_World_War_2&altQ=What_were_the_causes_of
_World_War_2)

German Military Development during World War 2

In 1933 , Hitler has ordered his army generals to prepare a large number of army which is
approximately 300,000 men.He also ordered the Air Ministry to makes a plan of producing 1,000
war planes.Military building like barracks also been built.Hitler withdraw from the Geneva
Disarmament Conference after the French refuse to accept his plan that the French must also
followed the German which is to disarm the same level as German otherwise the German will rearm the same level with the French.The German military has expanded in secrecy within two
years.After he feel that he is strong enough to go public on the military expansion , he violate the

Treaty of Versailles.Hitler had 2,500 war planes of Luftwaffe and 300,000 men in Wehrmacht.In
1935 , an agreement was sign between the German and the Britain which known as the AngloGerman Naval Agreement.This agreement allowed the German to have one third of the British
German Military Doctrine
The German armies has provide a doctrine in order to develop their military.The German
military doctrine has clear objective of doctrine and their doctrine is fit with the technology they
develop.The German believe that the doctrine can guide them to develop the technology they
need in war.The impact of operational doctrine upon equipment development and procurement
has been proof by their ground force and air force technology.After the end of World War 1 , the
German army that been led Hans von Seeckt who is the Chief of the General Staff has establish
a massive study or post-mortem to develop a new operational doctrine for the army and the air
force.Approximately about five hundred German military officers including commanders ,
General Staff officers and technical experts has been cooperate each other to analyzing every
aspect of the operations of the war which is mountain operation , tanks operation , bombing
operations and fighter defense.
In 1930 , all of the officers have completed their deep study of the wars lessons and the
new military doctrine known as Army Regulation 487 , Leadership and Battle with Combined
Arms has been establish.The officer that in charge of this study Von Seeckt believe that
maneuver was the dominant or the key element in warfare and in order to execute it , mobility
was essential.The German is more strongly believe on offensive.The German also choose a
doctrine of warfare which relied upon two different armies.The first army would be the elite
force which is heavily armed and equip with the latest weaponry and highly mobile.The elite
forces will become the offensive force that will obtain the decisive battle and take out the
opponent using maneuver.The second army will become the primary infantry and mostly consist
of the reservist.This second army function is to become the defensive component or capacity.The
German military doctrine or the Army Regulation 487 consist of a number of general principles
that have to be followed by the military personnel.The German doctrine emphasize on the
combined arms operations and the airpower played an important role in the German Army
operational regulations.Beside that , the tanks also are the important parts in the German Army
operational regulations.This doctrine has led the German Army to the technological directions.In

1920s , German has develop a communication system of the army and air force for rapid
communication.In addition , the German doctrine also pressure on coordination of the air and
ground forces at the operational level as well as the roles of tanks and armored vehicles.The
doctrine of maneuver have pushed the German Army toward the study of motorization
German Air Doctrine
The German air doctrine was set up on 1920s.They found that bombers were the primary
weapon.In an air campaign , the main priority of the air force is to gain the air superiority.The air
superiority battle will be won by taking the war the enemy and destroyed the air force before it
take off from the airfields.The air force doctrine outline the used of two air force which is one air
force will be an army support force , flying short range reconnaissance missions , observation
missions , provide the fighter defense for the army and execute ground attacks.The second air
force would be an independent air force that serve under the strategic but not under the
operational direction by the High Command.Strategic mission is under the independent air
force.The German concept of strategic air war was based on the strategic effect.The independent
air force consist of bomber force and a long-range force.The target of the independent forces is
the one that produce the most decisive effect.The target would probably the enemy armaments
industry but usually they will bombing the enemy army or their transportation.The German air
doctrine has include some of the Prussian Armys most traditional principles to the new aerial
weapon.The reestablishment of the Luftwaffe has produce a new operational regulation.The
Luftwaffe that use during the war in 1939-1940 was the bomber heavy force that was resulted
from the doctrine of the interwar years.The German doctrine also stated for fighter escort of the
bombers and the Me 110 long range fighter was produce for this mission.Cooperation between
the two forces which is army and air forces is the important part of the doctrine so as the result of
that organization ewuip with mobile communication system has been created.
Technology
One of the main component in war is the technology.A large size of army need support from the
tanks , armored vehicles , air power and artillery.German engineers have spent about a years after
World War 1 to design and produce the weapons and equipment that will make the Germany
more stronger than other country

Ground Forces
The tank is the most important component in the Blitzkrieg tactic.The most advance tank
during that time is the Panzer II.The Panzer II was used massively in the invasion of Russia in
1941.The Panzer II is equipped with 55 caliber long cannon which is more powerful than the
machine gun equipped in Panzer I.The Panzer II armor is better than the Panzer I.The panzer II is
considered as the amphibious vehicle.It was operated by three men.It fuel capacity is 170 liters.It
speed can achieve 40 km/h.
Another vehicle that was used by the German is the half-tracks.The German army needed
a transport to brought the infantry units fast as the movement of the Panzers.This half-tracks is
the solution for this problem.The infantry unit of tank division which known as the
Panzergrenadiers were transported by using this vehicles.These half-tracks wheels have been
replaced with the treads similar to the tanks.The function of this tread is to allow for a better offroad movement.This vehicles also was equipped with anti-aircraft guns , artillery , medical unit
and the light folding assault bridges.Most the half-tracks went to serve in the elite Waffen SS
Divisions
Navy Forces
The German Navy which known as Kriegsmarine was developed from 1935 to 1945.The
Anglo-German Naval Agreement have allowed the German to build a navy forces that equivalent
to 35% of the British surface ship and 45% of British submarine.The Plan Z which is the
blueprint for the German naval construction program consist of a production of 800 ships over
the next eight years including 10 battleships , battlecruisers , 4 aircraft carriers , 15 armoured
ships , 5 heavy cruisers , 44 light cruisers , 158 destroyers and torpedo boats.The plan also stated
the production of 249 submarines.On 1 September 1939 , the navy have total personnel strength
of only 78,000 and it was not ready yet for played a major role in the war.After the German
predict that they will win a fast victory by land,they have redirected the plan to the construction
of the U-boats.

Air Force
In 1939 until 1940 , the Luftwaffe has helped the German army to gain a rapid success in
both Eastern and Western Europe but it has failed to win the control of the Britain skies.It also
cannot prevent the day by day Allied bombing of Germanys factories and cities that overwhelm
the force of bombers which is located in England.The Luftwaffe was the worlds first jet fighter
and the worlds only rocket powered fighter into action during the war
The Luftwaffe also consist of bombers.The most famous bombers is the Junkers Ju 87
which was design by Hermann Pohlmann as a dive bomber.It is easily recognizable by it inverted
gull wings and fixed undercarriage.It wailing siren becoming the symbol of German air power.Its
main objective is to bomb the infrastructure of opposing force.Officers with a specialized
technical background in civil aviation were placed in the technical and special staffs of the
Luftwaffe.Several historians including Richard Overy have suggested that the Luftwaffe is
suffered from serious leadership difficulties since the Luftwaffe officers were brought from the
civil aviation.

References

James S. Corum (1994) : A Clash of Military Cultures : German & French Approaches to
Technology Between the World Wars. US. USAF Academy Symposium
MAJ Thomas B. Gukeisen : The Operational Art of Blitzkrieg : Its Strengths and Weaknesses in
Sytems Perspective. Kansas. Fort Leavenworth