West European Studies

Nationalism is a term used to describe ones devotion and loyalty to his or her country. This concept can lead an individual or citizens of any given country to do anything in defense of their nation even if it means sacrificing. Nationalism can therefore be regarded as source of inspiration and social solidarity. Nationalism has been viewed as a major instigator of major wars between countries across the world including World War II. World War II has been described as the worst war to have ever been experienced by man in his period of existence in the world. This is in regard to the losses that were experienced as the aftermath of the war both in terms of human life and economy. The world was left in shambles. This paper will explore the nationalism lessons that we can learn from the events that led to the Germany invasion of Poland and the onset of the Second World War.

The Events before the WWII and Nationalism
The Germans were unhappy with the economic suffering of the 1920s and 1930s. They experienced a hyperinflation in 1923 and this was blamed for the reparations that were imposed on Germany following the end of World War I. This coupled with the severe deflation that was experienced between 1929 and 1933 due to great depression of 1930s increased Germans frustrations. Adolf Hitler rose to power in 1933 on the promise that he was going to tackle the increasing economic woes of Germany through the policies of his Nazi party. Once in power, Hitler went on to destroy the Versailles Peace Treaty that had been signed to avoid any aggressive activities directed towards other countries. The reparation payment had been suspended and thus Hitler invested heavily in rearming the army which enabled him to start attacking the neighboring states including Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland. It can be argued that nationalism led to the highly militaristic and aggressive attitude of the Germany leaders.

The Nazi were so proud of themselves that they wanted to eliminate other people from their country. They developed the idea that the Aryans were a super race and therefore wanted no contamination from the other races that were considered as inferior and therefore unfit to occupy the Aryans land. They had to be eliminated as they were seen as rivals and competing for the few resources meant for the super race. The Jews were the main target and propaganda was rampant in schools, newspapers, and within the government security forces. The Germans were generally frustrated but they got inspiration in Hitlers publication, Main Kamp, in which he detailed his views on how nationalism could restore Germany back to a super power status.

The events that preceded the World War II can be said to have triggered the feelings of nationalism amongst the Germans whose frustrations were growing year after year as they yearned to restore the lost glory of the past. All the violent activities of the Nazis that were characterized by hatred and racism can be attributed to excessive feelings of nationalism. The frustration of the Germans about their economic position in the 1920s and 1930s coupled by the reparations that they had to pay brought about the feeling of nationalism amongst the Germans. The Nazis love for their country led to the notion that they were a superior race which had the responsibility to govern all the other races and this led them to initiate the war with its neighbors despite the existence of the Versailles Treaty.