The contribution of other nations to the outbreak of war.

The idea

While Germany bore primary responsibility for the outbreak of war in 1939, other nations contributed through their actions and inactions. Britain and France pursued appeasement, notably at Munich in 1938, which encouraged Hitler to believe further expansion would go unchallenged. The USSR signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact in August 1939, removing a potential eastern front and enabling the invasion of Poland. Italy, though initially cautious, signed the Pact of Steel in May 1939, aligning itself with Germany. Japan's earlier expansionism in Manchuria and China diverted international attention and undermined the League of Nations. The USA remained isolationist, passing Neutrality Acts that limited early opposition. Thus, the war resulted from a complex interplay of German aggression and the policies of other powers.

What earns the marks

• Explains how British and French appeasement, especially the Munich Agreement, emboldened Hitler and weakened collective security.
• Analyses the Soviet decision to sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact, including Stalin's security concerns and the secret protocol dividing eastern Europe.
• Assesses Italy's role through the Pact of Steel and its foreign policy ambitions, which reinforced the Axis but did not commit Italy to immediate war.
• Discusses the impact of US isolationism and the 1930s Neutrality Acts in limiting early opposition to German expansion.
• Evaluates Japan's expansionism in Manchuria and China as a factor that undermined the League of Nations and distracted other powers.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Claiming that appeasement caused the war directly.

  Put it right: It was a contributing factor that shaped Hitler's perceptions, but German aggression remained the primary driver.

• Overstating Soviet responsibility by ignoring Stalin's security dilemma.

  Put it right: The Nazi-Soviet Pact was a pragmatic move, not an ideological alliance, and should be explained in context.

• Assuming the USA was entirely uninvolved.

  Put it right: While isolationist and bound by Neutrality Acts, President Roosevelt's moral condemnations and naval rearmament showed growing concern, even if direct intervention was avoided before 1939.

Exam tips

• Avoid a narrative of the 1930s; instead, select specific actions of other nations and analyse their consequences for Hitler's decision-making.
• Use terms like 'collective security', 'appeasement', and 'isolationism' accurately and explain their significance.