How the Research Is Empirically Examined 93
the nation and preached an extreme version of realism, known as “power
politics” (in German, Machtpolitik), for justifying the forceful expansion
of influence of Germany and the other axis powers that were its allies.
Germany also rose up against the penalties that were imposed on it by the
powers that won the First World War (France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan,
and the United States). The Treaty of Versailles (1919) led to destruction of
Germany’s military forces; a loss of territories, such as the Alsace-Lorraine
region, which Germany had annexed after the Franco-Prussian War (1870–
1871); and to compensation payments that were imposed on it because of
the damage caused by German militarism. The Austro-Hungarian empire
was divided into separate political units. The Treaty of Versailles punished
Germany, but the most significant and painful fact was that it prevented
Germany from returning to the global system as a member of equal stand-
ing. It was denied membership in the League of Nations until 1926.
A few researchers argued that the Second World War was not possible
without the leader of Nazi Germany and his plan to conquer the world by
force. Based on the assertion of German supremacy as a master race and
based on anti-Semitism and anticommunism that prevailed in Germany,
Hitler chose to start a war to form an empire that in his view could solve
once and for all the historical competition and instability of the great pow-
ers in Europe and destroy Germany’s enemies.^85
Systemic Analysis of the Outbreak of the Second World War. Before the
Second World War, the conflicts were difficult to prevent because it was
not clear which polar power or country would join an effort to prevent
German power.^86 In addition, before the war, five polar powers acted in
Europe—Britain, France, the Soviet Union, Germany, and Italy—and there
were also seven small powers—Belgium, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Aus-
tria, Hungary, Romania, and Finland. These relations led to a number of
conflicts: (1) Germany against Britain, France, the Soviet Union, Czecho-
slovakia, Poland, and Austria; (2) Czechoslovakia against Poland and
Hungary; and (3) Romania against Hungary. The multitude of conflicts
increased the chances of outbreak of wars. Many of the interests of the
countries in each of these conflicts were mutual and increased the risk
that each of the conflicts that became violent would catalyze a total war,
which was what indeed happened in 1939. Before the war, Germany could
join forces with other countries against a number of small countries and
act so that other countries would join it. In 1939, Germany strengthened
its power by joining forces with Poland and Hungary to divide Czecho-
slovakia and then join up with Russia against Poland. In 1938, Germany
persecuted the Czech Republic until it surrendered in the Sudetenland
and persecuted Austria until its total surrender. Through these successes,
Germany broadened its power and became much stronger than its nearby
neighbors. Therefore, it made deterrence much more effective.^87