World War Ii: the Battle for Europe

The Great depression was one of the many reasons for World War II (WWII).   The Great Depression was in an economic slump in North America, Europe and other industrial parts of the world. (www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/depression/about.htm)   The Great Depression happened in October, 1929 when the New York Stock Market suddenly collapsed. (www.thecorner.org/hists/total/n -german.htm # great-dep). Although the US economy had gone through a depression six months earlier it was nothing compared to this.   This was the longest and most severe slump ever to hit the industrialized world.   During the next three years stock prices continued to fall and by 1932 they were 20 percent of their original value.   Although it began in the United States it quickly turned into a worldwide phenomenon.   The countries that lost World War I quickly found them broke, having been forced to pay reparations, then dealing with this giant slump.   Most countries became desperate and unrest began to appear.   This paved the way for dictators to rise. (www.englixh.uiuc.edu/maps/depression/about.htm).

Adolf Hitler, the leader of Germany in WWII, was a big reason for WWII.   He fought in WWI and was bitterly disappointed when Germany lost.   He believed Germany did not lose the war but that the German government was weak and could not handle the pressure.   Hitler was a failed artist; he tried to get into Vienna Academy of Fine Arts and did not pass the two day entrance exam.   After WWI, Hitler joined the German Workers Party.   He was delighted to find that they shared the same political views he did.   The party was so unorganized that Hitler saw that he could be the leader.   About four years later Hitler wrote a book titled ‘Mein Kampf.’   “Mein kampf” in English means “my struggle.”   It sold poorly largely because it was just an unorganized hard-to-follow book written by a self–educated man.   But Hitler was a spellbinding speaker with a powerful personality and in 1933 Hitler was elected president...