The Causes of World War One and World War Two

In What ways did the causes of the Second World War differ from the causes of the First World War?

 

The best way to approach this question is probably to explain the causes of the Second World War, showing how each one differed from causes in the First World War. 

Using this structure it should be possible for you to meet the requirements of the question, most notably the need to avoid description.

Germany should be considered as a cause of both:

• Hitler’s aggression,
• The Kaiser’s policies and ambitions

Nationalism also played a part:

• In the Second World War was mainly Hitler’s desire for “living space”
• In theFirst World War it was mainly in the Balkans.

Similarly Imperialism: 

• Hitler's expansionist aims in the East (Lebensraum) during the Second World War
• The desire for colonies (The race for a 'Place in the Sun' or German 'Weltpolitik') in the First World War.

Other factors which might be linked include Appeasement and The Arms Race.  One way to link these two would be to look at the question of alliances and the failure of diplomacy.

• WWII- The Nazi-Soviet Pact, the Stressa Front, The Rome-Berlin Axis, The Anti-Comintern Pact
• WWI- The Triple Alliance, the Triple Entente

As far as "sparks" are concerned:

• Hitler’s invasion of Poland
• The assassination at Sarajevo  

 
Factors which are unique:

• The failure of the Paris Peace Conferences (WWII)
• The Weaknesses of the League of Nations (WWII)
• The mobilization plans of the Great Powers (WWI)

The May 2008 Markscheme for this question reads:

For comparison candidates could include: both wars were to some extent caused by German aggression and ambition; both involved nationalism; both involved alliances which led to greater participation than the original immediate cause; both involved a build up of arms, and fear of this.

For contrast: the cause for the First World War was the shooting of two individuals, the Second World War started with the invasion of a country. The First World War was caused by a combination of actions by various governments, especially Germany and Austria-Hungary, the Second World War was largely caused by the aggression of Hitler. Colonial rivalry was important for First World War but not for Second World War.

The Second World War was partly the result of the failure of the settlements that ended First World War (Versailles

etc.), and the failure of appeasement. The alliances were different, at least partially for the two wars.

Please attempt to write an introduction for this essay and plan the structure of your paragraphs

(May 2004)