How important was Social Darwinism as a factor in the origins of the First World War?

How important was Social Darwinism as a factor in the origins of the First World War?

The theory of social Darwin indicates that the human race and group are subjected to a similar law of natural selection.  This theory was used to perceive the nature of animals and plants where the strong fight to survive over the weak. The theory was a popular factor in the First World War. According to the theory of social Darwinism, the life of the people in society is a struggle for existence, where the strong will rule and survive.  This follows the ideology of survival for the fittest. These ideas of Darwin influenced most of the countries in the 20^th century, such as Germany. The Germans were among the first nation to embrace this ideology, where they believed the idea of struggler for life.

The superpower nations, including the Germans, embrace this ideology of social Darwinism in the fight of resources and power as a surviving technique. This ignited the war as the nation fought for resources and their existence to maintain life. These fighting nations, such as the Germans, believed that some people held greater rights, especially those who were considered valuable in society to existence than the rest.  The Germans used this ideology mainly on race. The Germans believed in their superiority, which was led by the Nazis. Through this leadership, Germans destroyed nations that were considered inferior. The countries such as Germany thought that it is the destiny of the master race is to eliminate in order to dominate the inferior race, and the only approach to achieve this was through war. With this, all the powerful nations competed for survival, and the ones who did not fight in the war perished. From this, it was clear that war was inevitable. This fight for existence, power, and resources triggered the war as it was the only channel of existence.

2. “The First World War was the father of women’s emancipation.” Discuss.

Before the war, women in the community were considered to be inferior as their position in the community was unfavorable. For instance, in the workplace, the women were poorly paid and work under men with inferior work. Mostly, women were considered to provide domestic services only, and this made them give up their work once they get married and focus on the “traditional” role of being a housekeeper and a wife. However, on the eve of the war, most men were involved in the war, leaving an economic gap in the nation. The absence of the men created space for women both economically and politically. This window was the rise of women as most technical positions were taken over by women from the men. With this, the window increased the number of employed women with better pay in the labor market. The war granted major legacies to women. One is a wide range of employment opportunities. Secondly, the war speed up the downfall perceived traditional employment for women such as domestic services, which deprived and robbed women full potential. With such an opportunity, the women in society were able to participate in community development and participated fully in building the economy. From this, it is clear that the war showed women with more power and advantages in society.

3. “The Bolsheviks did not seize power, they picked it up.” Do you agree?

Bolsheviks revolution, also known as the October revolution, according to Julian calendar, make the Bolshevik leader Lenin announce a peaceful and bloodless coup d tat with the aim of ruling out provisional Government commanded by the Russians. Lenin targeted the Government, which will be ruled by the Soviet Government, allowing the workers, peasants, and the soldier has a say. This allowed Lenin’s Government to rule over Petrograd, forming a new government.  This saw Lenin becoming a first dictator ruling over the communist state in the world. Late in 1917, a war was experienced in Russia, which involved the white and the red armies. The reds supported the Bolshevik government fought for the larger group, including those who supported democratic socialism, capitalist, and the monarchists. Later in 1923, the red army became victorious and formed a soviet union. This victory paved the way to form the rise of communist and the establishment of the Soviet Union as one of the powerful nations which challenged the United States. From this, it is clear that the Bolsheviks never seized power, but they picked up the power after the soviet union was established.

4. What impact did the growth of mass culture and mass leisure have on European society in the 1920s and 1930s?

This period between 1920 to 1930 was also known as the roaring twenties, brought several changes to the population. For instance, Berlin in German become a city of entertainment. Many movie theaters, jazz clubs, and cinemas were built. People would watch different movies and dance to jazz tunes and different other music from a different culture. This connected different culture as they shared similar activities. For instance, jazz music was associated with black America, but it became a very common dance in Europe. Also, the number of people attending cinemas increases due to the development of film making. With improved film making and communication trough radios, it presented a mass form of entertainment and mass form of communication, unlike printed papers as the number of the audience increased. Also, mass leisure was experienced in this century after the new working pattern had been developed after world war. This pattern increased the free time, which was an advantage for worker. In 1920, eight working hours had become a norm for most of the workers in Europe. This gave them much time for leisure time. For example, sporting events introduced a platform for mass audiences, becoming one of the essential features of mass leisure. Also, tourism added more avenues for mass leisure.

5. Why did European governments find it so difficult to deal with the rise in unemployment in the early 1930s?

After the war, most of the European nations were in a depression situation. The economy of these countries was dragged down as the stock market was crashed, triggering deflation on assets and a drop in commodity price disturbing trade and, in turn, caused unemployment. Two main phenomena related to unemployment in this period. One of the factors is the decline of production for the products of exchange and the services. This reduced the available jobs and, in turn, increasing the rate of unemployment. The second factor is the underutilization of equipment and plants in the economy. Most of the industries, especially the private sector organizations, closed down, rendering most of the people jobless. These also increased the rate of unemployment as most of the people were jobless and the shutting down of the industries. In 1930s, most of the countries were trying to improve their economy, but during this period, the output was still normal, and this prevented an increase in unemployment. However, the problem was not solved as the rate of unemployment was still an issue.

6. Was Fascism the movement of a particular social group? Answer with reference to anyone European State.

Yes, Fascism was a movement of a specific social group that was used by the prominent Europeans nations such as the Italians and the Germans. For instance, Fascism in German took shape after the formation of Nazism, which was established after WW1 in the Weimar republic. Nazi party took advantage of soaring rate of unemployment, inflation and political division to dominate and proper. The party led by Hitler promised the citizens German pride and stability in the country while blaming the marginalized groups for the instability in the country. On the other hand, fascism movement in Italy also started after WW1 under the leadership of Mussolini. This movement used black-clad paramilitary forces to threaten and frighten the politicians who supported social equality to be able to rise into power. The leader, Mussolini, targeted political opponents, attacked democratic institutions, opposed freedom of speech, and installed massive surveillance. From these two examples, it is clear that Fascism targeted particular social groups. The people who were fighting for power had to oppress others or threaten them, especially those who were against their plan and mission to be able to rise to power. Only the groups who supported the missions were favored.

7. To what extent did Franco owe victory in the Spanish Civil War to Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany?

Franco was a dictator, and he took advantage of the first fascist movement in Spain led by Jose. Franco recruited members of the previous José’s regime and absorbed them into the dictatorship military, which depicted several fascist characteristics, unlike José’s regime.  Franco, while he was leading in the Spanish civil war, announced victorious against the Nazi and the Italians because the Spanish troops contained a more significant number of citizens who were non-Spanish participating in several positions such as advisory and combat positions.  Compared to the troop from the opponents, the Germans, and the Italians, Spanish had more support and a more extensive military to be able to take down the combination of the powerful nation, Italy, and Germany.  For instance, Franco received contributions such as financial support, man power, and munitions from Portugal.  Also, other countries such as France and Mexico added more support to the loyalist of the Spanish republic led by Franco. The support was extended even after the signing of a non-intervention agreement by the European nations. The Spanish continued and stayed on the battlefield with the help of other nations as they feared for another war once they give up.  Fear drove other countries to stop the power of Italian and Germans by supporting Spanish. However, Mussolini and Hitler answered the plea of the nationalist and ended the war.

8. How justified is criticism of the Catholic Church for its attitude towards Fascism and Nazism in the period 1930-1945?

During the collaboration between the Italians and the Nazis (the Germans), Mussolini made different changes to be able to build a strong alliance with the Germans led by Hitler.  For instance, anti-Semitic had been rejected in Italy. Still, after the collision with Germans, Mussolini had to enact a measure of anti-Semitic to strengthen his alliance between him and Hitler, who supported antisemitic.  In addition, secular liberal stresses on fascism ideology on religious roots, including the protestant scholars and the Roman Catholic Church who had emphasized on their secular origins of social conservativeness pointing out on populist and socialist aspects.  Such social radicals supported and defended elitism and capitalism. For this reason, Fascism lacked universal definition. With the critic from the Roman Catholic, it was easy to identify the general common feature depicted by Fascism between this period (1930 to 1945). It is clear that the Roman Catholic did not support Fascism but focused on equality.

9. Why did the French Republic, victorious in 1918, collapse so hopelessly in 1940?

The defeat of the French in 1940 contrasts their earlier victory in WW1.  The fall of France was a result of the hopeless division in the French political elite, rudimentary tactics used by the French military, and lack of leadership to provide quality leadership in the military. A strong leadership was needed to strengthen the military support.  Hitler was known for his speech, and his firm stand support he provided to his troops.  Also, he (Hitler) had a different technique that he used to defeat other opponents making him well known as the father of propaganda. France lacked such kind of strong leadership. The French faced more prepared opponents (Germans) who used sophisticated tactics and advanced weapons.

10. Why did the Polish crisis of 1939 lead to a European war, when the Rhineland, Austria, and Czech crises had not?

This crisis was caused by the Germans conquering Poland and controlled the territory being led by Adolf Hitler. The rule of Germans over Poland territories made the French, and the British intervened.  On 3^rd September 1939, they declared war on Germans, which led to the Second World War. The Germans occupied Austria and the Czech.  The German enemies, the French and British, planned to make Poland an independent country and stop Hitler’s mission of expanding his territories. The British had signed a new treaty with the Polish Government to fight against the Germans.

The British and French had permitted the Germans to get its military from Rhineland.  Germans had invaded Austria in the year 938 and had also taken Czech borders.  They had pressured the French ally Czech to accept their demand to rule over Czechoslovakia.  The French and the British had assured the polish government support against Germans to prevent Hitler’s mission.

1. “The Second World War was decided on the Eastern Front.” Discuss.

The eastern front, which was Germany was the center of the plan on World War II, which was between the union of the soviet socialist republic and the European axis among other allies.  It occurred between the years 1939 to 1945.  The eastern front was made up of big military, causing massive destruction, lack of food, diseases, and loss of lives.  The war began when the Germans invaded Poland, but the French and the United Kingdom declared war against the Germans. The war ended by the western allies conquering the Germans and the climax of the USSR taking over Berlin and surrender of Germans.