THE WORLD BETWEEN THE GREAT WARS - HISTORY - 2025

The world between the Great Wars was immersed in geopolitical changes as a consequence of the transfer of the world center of Europe, devastated by the war, to the United States, a triumphant nation. Also called the interwar period, it includes the time between the end of World War I and the beginning of World War II.

The hope with which the first conflict ended and which led to the creation of the League of Nations to prevent further wars, was soon overtaken by events. On the one hand, many authors consider that the treaties that ended the First War were not very well designed.

The losers, especially Germany, found themselves in a situation that they considered humiliating; and the winners, in Europe, were not strong enough to maintain stability. To this must be added the American isolationism, unwilling to help Europe, especially when the Crisis of 29 broke out.

The socialist regime of the Soviet Union became another source of instability on the continent. With this mixed panorama, the appearance of strongly nationalist ideologies in Germany, Italy and Spain made a new contest almost inevitable.

Social, political and economic situation

When the First World War ended, Europe was practically completely wrecked. Apart from the millions of human losses, the economic fabric was non-existent, as were the communications systems. In addition, the map of the continent had to be completely rebuilt after the disappearance of great empires.

Most of the countries had unpayable debts and all productive sectors were paralyzed. This was important when negotiating the surrender of the losing states, which were asked large sums as payment for their actions.

From the beginning it was clear that Germany was not willing to settle what was agreed in the Treaty of Versailles and continued to be a focus of conflict. It was only in the second half of the 1920s, especially in France and the UK, that life regained its pre-war rhythm somewhat.

The world turned to the United States, especially in the economy. London ceased to be the financial capital and New York took over.

Increased power of the United States

In the United States there had always been a political struggle between supporters of isolationism and those of interventionism abroad. In the First World War the seconds had expired, but as soon as it was over, the country closed in on itself.

President Wilson's attempt to enter the newly created League of Nations was rejected by Congress.

On the economic side, everything seemed to be going very well. The country took advantage of the thousands of European refugees who emigrated fleeing poverty and the industry developed rapidly.

The 1920s were a time of economic, social and technological take-off, with the appearance of great fortunes and a stock market that did not stop rising.

Political situation in Europe

The scars of the war did not allow the political situation in Europe to calm down.

On the one hand, Germany was not satisfied with what was signed in the Treaty of Versailles. The cost of war reparations that he had to pay and the loss of several territories were aspects that he never accepted and that, in the long run, were used by Hitler to achieve power.

On the other hand, the winning countries had been greatly weakened. This made it impossible for them to force the Germans to comply with what was agreed. Without the help of the United States, which chose not to interfere, France and Great Britain were not enough to maintain order.

The situation worsened when Mussolini seized power in Italy and, later, when fascism triumphed in Spain after the civil war.

The sovietic Union

The eastern flank also did not achieve any stability. The Soviet Union sought to expand its borders, extending its influence to the Baltic countries and part of Poland.

The rest of Eastern Europe, where all borders had been restructured, was a powder keg waiting to explode.

Crisis of 29

Not even the United States was going to get rid of instability, although in its case it was motivated by the great economic crisis that began in 1929. This crisis, which spread throughout the world, put an end to any international solidarity project. Economic nationalism was the answer almost everywhere.

Historians point out that the great culprit of this crisis was the debt contracted to buy products. The resulting inflation ended up causing defaults in all areas, both in families and in companies. This was followed by layoffs and panic, which made the situation worse

Despite the cooperative attempt at the London International Economic Conference in 1933, world leaders failed to reach common agreements.

For example, Great Britain opted for protectionism and a certain isolationism. In the United States, President Roosevelt initiated the New Deal, equally isolationist.

Finally, in Germany, which suffered the crisis like the others, they chose to strengthen the military industry as a way to accelerate the economy, as well as to reclaim the lost territories.

Situation of socialism, national socialism and fascism

Socialism

Socialism as an ideology was born in the 19th century, based on the works of Karl Marx. He wanted the change of capitalist society towards one in which the workers were the owners of the means of production. In this way, he wanted to organize a classless society, in which there was no exploitation of man by man.

The great triumph of communism, a doctrine that grew out of primordial socialism, occurred in the Soviet Union. There a revolution triumphed in 1917 that ended the government of the tsars.

The German Nazis were totally anti-communist, although it is true that both states came to sign a non-aggression pact. According to most historians, neither Hitler nor Stalin were willing to comply.

National Socialism

German nationalism after the war saw the birth of the National Socialist Party, known as the Nazi party. Its leader was Adolf Hitler and it had certain characteristics similar to fascism, although with a nationalistic charge based on the roots of German romanticism.

The reasons for the success of this political movement were varied, but almost all with the same origin: the feeling of humiliation as a country that the Treaty of Versailles supposed.

The leaders during the period called the Weimar Republic were overwhelmed by the effect of the Great Depression caused by the economic crisis. Socially the altercations followed one another, with communist and Nazi groups practically fighting openly in the street.

Hitler was able to convey to his compatriots a message to regain pride. Apart from his racist theories, he proposed to promote militarization to be able to enjoy independence, which was lost, according to him, to the victorious powers of the previous war. He came to power promising to regain lost territory.

Fascism

Although, with the arrival of the war, the Italian fascist regime was in tow of Germany, the truth is that Mussolini reached the presidency of his country with great energy.

Italian fascism was based on a nationalism that was linked to the ancient Roman Empire. This feeling of national exaltation was joined by an economic component based on corporatism. He despised liberal institutions, including political parties.

Towards World War II

World War II broke out on the European front in 1939 after Germany invaded Poland. The eastern front, with Japan facing off against the allies, was triggered by the occupation of China and, later, the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Invasion of the Sudetenland and Czechoslovakia

The end of the interwar period only confirmed the bad feelings that European politics conveyed in recent years. The Nazis kept their promise to occupy the Sudetenland, one of the territories it had previously lost.

At first the European powers tried to avoid war, to the point of accepting that invasion. However, shortly afterwards Germany occupied all of Czechoslovakia, without respecting what was agreed.

Invasion of Poland

By then it was clear that Hitler was not going to stop his expansionist policy. His next target was Poland, which had defense agreements signed with the British.

The invasion began on September 1, 1939. The allies gave him an ultimatum: to withdraw in two days. By ignoring this warning, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, France and Canada declared war on Germany. This war lasted until 1945.

References

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