The legacy of the First World War

The effects of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany were harsh and there is no doubt that the Germans felt both humiliated and unfairly treated. Hitler provided them with the chance to regain their self respect.

The war had other consequences or legacies in addition to the bitterness of the Germans. Altogether, over eight million soldiers lost their lives and there was a real determination that this war should have been the 'war to end all wars'. There was anger because the war seemed to have been fought for no worthwhile cause. The men who returned from the trenches, many of them mutilated, faced a life without the dignity of work and were dependent on an inadequate pension. They felt cheated. They had been told they were fighting for 'King and Country' and were promised a 'land fit for heroes' on their return. Instead, they quickly found themselves out of work and the promised homes remained just that - promises.

Pacifism

During the 1920s many Britons came to believe that war could no longer be justified. They believed that if the leaders of nations behaved sensibly they could always find a peaceful solution to every crisis. These pacifists were especially active during the 1930s and in 1936 they set up the Peace Pledge Union. Its members swore to take no part in any future war.

Neil Demarco: The era of the Second World War; Oxford University Press, 1993/2000, page 8