- 08 Jan 2013 20:43
#14143876
I do not think that any nation is hopeless to change; however, I think that some nations do require a lot more effort than others to become changed. - Verv
This is a topic of what the countries/leaders wanted before the war started mostly and not how it played out. And i would like people to think and express their opinions before they post and not just say everybody wanted to 'conquer the world'.
Britain/France: Didn't want the war. After they won WW1 pasifict tendecies and the their victory made the situation in their favoure. They were the top dogs of the world, they wouldn't want anything could shatter that position. France mostly concentrated on fortifying its Majenought line in the 30s while Britain tried to restrain germany politically, even by some concetions.
Germany: Obviously the one who wanted the war to restore its power. Since the nazis came to power persude heavy militarisation policies in preparation for this war. Tried restoring german power in a peaceful way but failed. At some point realised that they dont have enough manpower to fulfill the conquest of europe dream, so the 'genocide' policies were a consequence of this.
Soviet Union: So what exactly did the Union want? Well after the defeat of Trotsky, Stalin happily adopted most of his policies that he was against, so a socialist europe was on his mind. Specially the molotov-ribentrop pact fits into this. It started the war and let Hitler conquer most of europe. Significant buildup in the 20s and 30s means that the union didn't want to sit this one out. So in the end, soviet union wanted to participate, so why the molotov-ribentrop pact? Well in my opinion Stalin wanted to pull out a Napoleon-Alexander scenario. Let Hitler conquer most of europe then attack him and 'free' all of europe. Would have made whole europe communist in the process and would also solve the problem of persuading the countries to be socialist. If he just attacked before the war started, the resistance would be severe but if he is the saviore, things get rather simple.
At some point Hitler might have figured out the plan or just go really lucky. Probably the 1st because german army started Barbarossa totally unprepared for it(Means they were in a hurry) or they really believed that it won't last longer than 9 months. Anyways it played like it did and it seems Stalins plan worked, although hitlers attack let him conquer only half of europe.
Britain/France: Didn't want the war. After they won WW1 pasifict tendecies and the their victory made the situation in their favoure. They were the top dogs of the world, they wouldn't want anything could shatter that position. France mostly concentrated on fortifying its Majenought line in the 30s while Britain tried to restrain germany politically, even by some concetions.
Germany: Obviously the one who wanted the war to restore its power. Since the nazis came to power persude heavy militarisation policies in preparation for this war. Tried restoring german power in a peaceful way but failed. At some point realised that they dont have enough manpower to fulfill the conquest of europe dream, so the 'genocide' policies were a consequence of this.
Soviet Union: So what exactly did the Union want? Well after the defeat of Trotsky, Stalin happily adopted most of his policies that he was against, so a socialist europe was on his mind. Specially the molotov-ribentrop pact fits into this. It started the war and let Hitler conquer most of europe. Significant buildup in the 20s and 30s means that the union didn't want to sit this one out. So in the end, soviet union wanted to participate, so why the molotov-ribentrop pact? Well in my opinion Stalin wanted to pull out a Napoleon-Alexander scenario. Let Hitler conquer most of europe then attack him and 'free' all of europe. Would have made whole europe communist in the process and would also solve the problem of persuading the countries to be socialist. If he just attacked before the war started, the resistance would be severe but if he is the saviore, things get rather simple.
At some point Hitler might have figured out the plan or just go really lucky. Probably the 1st because german army started Barbarossa totally unprepared for it(Means they were in a hurry) or they really believed that it won't last longer than 9 months. Anyways it played like it did and it seems Stalins plan worked, although hitlers attack let him conquer only half of europe.
I do not think that any nation is hopeless to change; however, I think that some nations do require a lot more effort than others to become changed. - Verv