How Did The Rise Of Russia's Potential Power
Just as the fear of Russia’s potential power was responsible for the onset of World War I, World War II was initiated for the same reason. Punished greatly for their role as the aggressor in World War I, Germany fell into a deep economic depression. This depression and loss of land led to the rise of one of the most insidious actors’ in world politics: Adolf Hitler. Hitler desired a major war as soon as he became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, because he greatly feared Russia’s potential power, and the rise of Bolshevism ideology. This ideology sought to destroy capitalism and the traditional upper class. At an organizational level, the German military officials (predominantly situated in the upper-class rankings) wanted to halt Russia’s power
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As a result of the Versailles Treaty, Germany lost substantial land mass to other countries, and longed to gain it back. Germany recognized that they could not infringe on their western borders due to their agreement in the Locarno Treaty, however, this treaty did not specifically state that Germany could not pursue expansion in the east. So, Germany’s military forces engaged in a series of localized conflicts, in order to force some territorial changes. The success of these conflicts proved their military superiority, and prepared them for the launch of an all-out world war. Hitler and the German military were in agreement about the need for a preemptive war, however, they differed on when they believed Germany would be ready for it. As of 1938, Germany was in a position where they would have to defeat Great Britain and France on the western front, while attempting to overpower Russia on the eastern front. Hitler was willing to take this risk, however, because according to dynamic differentials theory, a state in decline is more
As a result of the Versailles Treaty, Germany lost substantial land mass to other countries, and longed to gain it back. Germany recognized that they could not infringe on their western borders due to their agreement in the Locarno Treaty, however, this treaty did not specifically state that Germany could not pursue expansion in the east. So, Germany’s military forces engaged in a series of localized conflicts, in order to force some territorial changes. The success of these conflicts proved their military superiority, and prepared them for the launch of an all-out world war. Hitler and the German military were in agreement about the need for a preemptive war, however, they differed on when they believed Germany would be ready for it. As of 1938, Germany was in a position where they would have to defeat Great Britain and France on the western front, while attempting to overpower Russia on the eastern front. Hitler was willing to take this risk, however, because according to dynamic differentials theory, a state in decline is more