To What Extent Were Hitler and Mussolini Responsible for the Outbreak of War in 1939

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Hitler and Mussolini were both responsible for the outbreak of war in 1939, though mainly due to both Nazi and fascist ideologies; two ideologies that both dictators allied together to spread the fascist ideologies internationally. Hitler is more responsible for the outbreak of war in 1939 as he demonstrates his aggressive behaviour and intelligence in the belief of building a Lebensraum (fixing the economic problem from WW1 and expanding to attain more land with a growing population), revising the Treaty of Versailles and creating an Aryan race in which he believed Jews and Slav’s were an inferior race; in which were considered as mere slaves. Throughout the 1930s, from Hitler’s first moment of being appointed chancellor the League of Nations is foreshadowed as very weak as it will not possess potential power to appease peace or intervention upon the actions of both dictators. The League of Nations had one purpose; to preserve world peace. But throughout the 1930s towards WW2, the League of Nations is shown to be very weak; hence it couldn’t prevent the Abyssinia Crisis. In 1934 Mussolini attempted a coup with Austrian Nazis to overthrow President Dollfuss, however the plan failed and Dollfuss was murdered. At this point France and Italy formed an alliance which would guarantee Austria’s sovereignty. Two months later Mussolini learned of Germany’s rearmament program and began to grow suspicion of Hitler. During April 1915, the “Stresa Front” took place, which consisted of Britain, France and Italy; in which all three nations Criticised Hitler’s gamble in Austria and was reminded that his aggressive actions had breached the spirit of the Locarno Conference. Hence, Hitler temporarily backed off additional territorial gains, but was able to exploit British sympathy from the harsh peace terms in 1919 (Treaty of Versailles), in which Britain appeased to develop a new
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