History Assignment
Alvin Wong 12GY
Compare and Contrast the causes of WWI and WWII.
Despite of numerous breakthroughs in science and technology, the two world wars of the twentieth century marred the history of human civilization with memories of bloodsheds, horrible trench warfare and Holocaust. Throughout the years of historical debate on the origins of the two world wars, historians are divided into two camps: the intentionalists and the structuralists. Intentionalists such as Fritz Fischer believe that there is continuity in German foreign policy from Bismarck to Hitler; whereas the structuralists claimed that Hitler is neither a master planner nor an opportunist. It was circumstances that paved German’s road to both world wars. However, this essay will concentrate on the causes of both world wars politically, socially, culturally and economically to determine whether the causes of the two world wars are similar or fundamentally different in nature.
When we investigate in the political causes of the two world wars, we can find great similarities between them. This is exceptionally apparent in German foreign policies under Bismarck and Hitler respectively. Bismarck’s pursuit of a Greater Germany after the unification of Germany draws parallel to Hitler’s determination in restoring national pride of Germany after the humiliation in the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler’s concept of Lebensraum, which was one of the central themes of Mein Kampf, can be traced back to the propaganda materials produced by the Pan-German League before 1914. It is very similar to the objective of Mitteleuropa followed by Kaiser Wilhelm where both were convinced that German dominance in Eastern Europe as well as the subordination of the Slavs was justified. The major difference between Bismarck and Hitler is that Bismarck is more prudent and conservative than Hitler in plotting his foreign policies. Hitler was more drawn into short-term gain, whereas Bismarck targeted at long-term political stability and security of German’s political status he established.