Paragraph 1: The effects of the First World War were a long term economic cause of the Second World War as there was instability and insecurity.

• Cost of WW1; impact of Versailles Settlement – weakness of European economies led to insecurity, economic terms of settlement weakened new liberal democracies; led to direct military intervention by French in 1923, undermined League and collective security, reliant on US economy [outside League].

Paragraph 2:  The Great Depression that impacted globally in the 1930s was the most significant economic cause of the Second World War as it led to a collapse in international trade and domestic instability and crises

• Rise of Hitler directly related to rise in German unemployment. Details of economic impact of depression on Germany, US loans etc.  Hitler’s actions in 1930s, rearmament, Anschluss, and expansion Eastwards were economically motivated.
• Mussolini’s Italy, although less directly impacted by Great Depression was also driven by economic motives to invade Abyssinia in 1935 as his Corporate state was failing and there were potential material gains and a distraction from domestic issues in a war of conquest in East Africa.
• Japan’s economy was also devastated by the Great depression, silk, US loans etc.  Japan’s invasion of Manchuria in 1931 was economically motivated to gain raw materials, markets etc.  Japan’s invasion of South East Asia economically motivated to maintain war in China after 1940, and attack on Pearl Harbour was economically driven re oil.

Paragraph 3: In addition…

• Arguably, the inability of the League to respond effectively to acts of aggression and expansion was due to it dependency on economic sanctions…  Britain and France were also economically motivated to appease the aggressor states due to domestic economics issues….
• USA isolationist lobby was economically motivated… Japan key economic asset, view of Japan bringing order good for business in China… delayed economic sanctions…

Paragraph 4:  However, Ideological factors were also a key cause of the Second World War as extremist ideologies such as Nazism had aims that could only be achieved through war…

• Nazi ideology aimed to unite all Germans / Aryans to create a dominate Third Reich empire in Europe.  It identified the Slavs as ‘subhuman’ and aimed to conquer countries in the East and turn the Slavs into a slave race for the Third Reich.  Nazi ideology’s main focus was the destruction of Communism and the USSR.  Once in power, Hitler pursued his ideological goals… actions in 1930’s through to invasion of Poland in 1939.
• Italian Fascism, like Nazism also promoted war and conquest, and Mussolini aimed to create a great Italian empire through conflict.  Ideologically war was good for society and therefore, in the 1930s he pursued his ideological aims… 1935, 1936… ideology was a driving factor in uniting to Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy and led to the end of League’s power, Stresa etc.
• Japan’s militarists became increasingly ideologically motivated allying with the fascist powers in the Anti-Comintern pact, attitude towards other Asians, justifications for expansion of control in China, actions in China and occupied territories, Tripartite Pact.

 Paragraph 5:  It could also be argued the British policy of appeasement was driven by the fear of Communist ideology.

• It could also be argued the British policy of appeasement was driven by the fear of Communist ideology… events re. appeasement of expansion eastwards, Munich… NIC in Spain, failure to work with USSR in anti-fascist Popular Front.   In addition, there were key political limitations for liberal democracies, e.g. impact of popular opinion and pursuit of appeasement and neutrality.  US concern at potential for increased Soviet influence in China, CCP from 1921 etc.  Role of Communist USSR, ideology re. western capitalism, shift to agreement with Hitler – Nazi Soviet Pact.

Paragraph 6:  Nevertheless, it could also be argued that the causes of the Second World War were more traditional territorial claims and ambitions…

• Territorial elements of Versailles Settlement; evidence of territorial disputes in 1920s in Europe and Asia. 
• Hitler’s aims and actions once in power – revise territorial clauses of Versailles 1934-38; aims and actions to gain lebensraum - living space 1938-39; further imperial ambitions hegemony in Europe, overseas empire
• Italians aims and actions in 1930s – territorial expansion of empire in East Africa; living space; domination in med and Balkans
• Japan’s actions were motivated by territorial ambitions, the conquest of living space for its surplus populations… 1931… empire building…

Introduction: Set up the debate, explaining the two sides of the argument. You should also state what your key argument will be in the essay.

Paragraph 1: Always address the issue given in the title first. Here you need to set out aims of  Hitler’s  / Nazi ideology.  Consider the evidence of long-term planning before he gets to power and then link this to the actions that Hitler takes after 1933 in pursuit of his ideology. Bring in the views of historians mentioned in this chapter to support your views.

Paragraph 2: Now consider the role of communism or rather the ‘fear of communism’ as a causal factor in the policy of appeasement . Look at the role of appeasement in encouraging Hitler into actions that he might not have considered otherwise. Also, reflect on whether he was brought into a war for which he had not planned. Again, refer specifically to historians here in support of these arguments.

In his book Churchill, Hitler and the Unnecessary War: How Britain Lost its Empire and the West Lost the World (2008), Patrick Buchanan argues that the critical mistake was made by Britain when it gave Poland the guarantee that made war ‘inevitable’. He goes on to suggest that by doing this, Britain unleashed the ‘bloodiest war in all of history’, lost their own empire and created the conditions for the ensuing Cold War.

Paragraph 3: A counter-argument could be that it was a continuity of  German foreign policy ambitions rather than a war caused specifically by Nazi ideology . There was in fact a great deal of continuity between World War I and World War II. This is a major argument of Fritz Fischer. Fischer suggested that there was continuity in the aims of German policy-makers in 1914 and Nazi leaders in the 1930s. This continuity was founded on the powerful industrial and landowning classes, which remained in authoritative positions. They had played a vital role in bringing Hitler to power in 1933. Both Wilhelmine and Nazi Germany wanted to establish control over Eastern Europe to provide economic benefits.

When comparing and contrasting the objectives of German foreign policy prior to both world wars, there are some vivid similarities: Wilhelmine Germany was pursuing an expansionist foreign policy before 1914, and attained this goal, temporarily, in Europe in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. The domination of Central and Eastern Europe, and the creation of an overseas empire, were objectives for both Kaiser Wilhelm and Hitler.

Conclusion: This should reflect the weighting that you have given the different sides of the argument in the body of your essay.

Introduction:  State that your case study will be the Second World War and XX.  Explain your main thematic points through which you will examine the role of the war on the land in determining the outcome, including the idea that the final outcome was also determined by events in the war at sea and in the air.

Paragraph 1:   The war on the land determined the outcome of the Second World War in Europe...

Paragraph 2:   Furthermore, it could also be argued that the war on the land was important in determining the outcome of the war in Asia…

Paragraph 3:   The war on the land was also significant in determining the outcome of XX war…

Paragraph 4:  Nevertheless, allied success in the war on the land may have been determined by aerial warfare in the Second World War…

Paragraph 5: In addition Allied victory in the Second World war may have been based on success in the war at sea which was often key to waging war on the land…

Paragraph 6: Indeed, in XX conflict the naval warfare was a significant factor in the outcome…