During the interwar period (roughly 1919 to 1939), fascism, extreme nationalism, racist ideologies, and the failure of appeasement pushed Europe toward World War II. French and British fears of another war, American isolationism, and deep distrust between Western democracies and the communist Soviet Union let fascist states rearm and expand their territory with little resistance.
Why This Matters for the AP European History Exam
This topic is about causation: how political and ideological factors in the years between the world wars produced the catastrophe of World War II. You will use it to explain why aggressive fascist states were able to act unchecked and why diplomacy failed to stop them.
These developments also support continuity and change reasoning across Unit 8. The choices made in the interwar period connect the unresolved problems of the Versailles settlement and the Great Depression to the outbreak of war in 1939. Expect to use this content as evidence in arguments about why World War II happened and to compare democratic and authoritarian responses to crisis.
Key Takeaways
- Three forces stand out as causes of World War II in this period: fascism, extreme nationalism, and racist ideologies, combined with the failure of appeasement.
- French and British fears of another war, American isolationism, and distrust between Western democracies and the Soviet Union allowed fascist states to rearm and expand.
- A series of aggressive moves went largely unchallenged, including the remilitarization of the Rhineland, the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, the annexation of Austria, the Munich Agreement and its violation, and the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact.
- Appeasement, the policy of giving concessions to avoid war, did not satisfy fascist ambitions and instead encouraged further expansion.
- The interwar story is best understood as a chain of causes, not a single event, linking economic crisis, weak international institutions, and ideology to war.
How Fascist States Expanded Unchecked
The core idea is that several conditions kept Western powers from stopping fascist aggression. French and British leaders feared repeating the losses of World War I. The United States had turned inward toward isolationism. And there was deep distrust between Western democratic, capitalist nations and the authoritarian, communist Soviet Union. With no united front, fascist states rearmed and took territory.
These specific actions are useful examples of expansion that European powers allowed:
| Action | What happened and why it mattered |
|---|---|
| Remilitarization of the Rhineland (1936) | Germany sent troops into the Rhineland, an area that the Treaty of Versailles had required to stay demilitarized. France did not intervene, which signaled that aggressive moves could go unpunished. |
| Italian invasion of Ethiopia (1935) | Mussolini invaded Ethiopia to expand Italian holdings. International institutions failed to take meaningful action to stop it, exposing their weakness. |
| Annexation of Austria, the Anschluss (1938) | Germany absorbed Austria with little outside resistance, showing again that other European powers were unwilling to confront expansion. |
| Munich Agreement and its violation (1938) | Britain and France agreed to let Germany annex the Sudetenland in exchange for promises of no further expansion. Germany later violated the agreement, a clear example of appeasement failing. |
| Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact (1939) | Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union agreed not to attack each other, removing a major obstacle to German aggression and clearing the path toward war. |
The Failure of Appeasement
Appeasement means giving in to some demands in hopes of avoiding a larger conflict. Britain and France used this approach in the 1930s, making concessions to Nazi Germany to keep peace. The Munich Agreement is the clearest case: allowing Germany to take the Sudetenland was meant to stop further aggression but instead encouraged it. The failure of appeasement is one of the named factors that led to World War II, alongside fascism, extreme nationalism, and racist ideologies.
How to Use This on the AP European History Exam
Causation
When a prompt asks why World War II happened, build your explanation around the interaction of factors rather than a single cause. Pair an ideological cause (fascism, extreme nationalism, racist ideologies) with a diplomatic cause (the failure of appeasement, American isolationism, distrust of the Soviet Union). That combination shows the complex reasoning AP readers reward.
Using Specific Evidence
Have a few concrete examples ready to support a claim that fascist states expanded with little resistance. The Rhineland, Ethiopia, the Anschluss, Munich and its violation, and the Nazi-Soviet Pact all work well. Use them as evidence, then connect each one back to your argument about why diplomacy failed.
Continuity and Change
You can link this topic to earlier parts of Unit 8. The Versailles settlement left grievances unresolved, the Great Depression destabilized democracies, and the interwar choices then channeled those problems into war. Showing this chain across time strengthens continuity and change responses.
Common Trap
Do not let "appeasement" become your only explanation. The exam expects you to weigh multiple political and ideological factors. Appeasement is part of the answer, not the whole answer.
Common Misconceptions
- Appeasement was not the single cause of World War II. It was one factor among several, including fascism, extreme nationalism, racist ideologies, American isolationism, and distrust between Western democracies and the Soviet Union.
- The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact did not mean Germany and the Soviet Union were long-term allies. It was a temporary arrangement that removed an obstacle to German aggression.
- Fascist expansion was not unstoppable from the start. The point is that other powers chose not to confront it early, when resistance might have been more effective.
- American isolationism is not the same as the failure of an international institution. Isolationism describes the United States turning inward, while the broader problem was that no major power was willing to enforce collective security.
- The interwar period was not only about Germany. Italy's invasion of Ethiopia and the wider rise of authoritarian regimes show that aggression and instability were spread across Europe and beyond.
Related AP European History Guides
Vocabulary
The following words are mentioned explicitly in the College Board Course and Exam Description for this topic.Term | Definition |
|---|---|
American isolationism | The United States policy of avoiding political and military involvement in European affairs during the interwar period. |
Annexation of Austria | Nazi Germany's 1938 incorporation of Austria into the Third Reich, violating the Treaty of Versailles. |
Appeasement | A diplomatic policy of making concessions to an aggressive power to avoid conflict, notably pursued toward Nazi Germany in the 1930s. |
Extreme nationalism | An intense form of national pride and loyalty that prioritizes the nation above all other considerations, often leading to aggressive foreign policy. |
Fascism | An authoritarian political ideology that emerged in the early 20th century, characterized by extreme nationalism, rejection of democracy, centralized autocratic government, and often the glorification of war and a charismatic leader. |
fascist states | Totalitarian nations governed by fascist ideology, including Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan during the interwar and World War II periods. |
Italian invasion of Ethiopia | Italy's 1935 military conquest of Ethiopia, demonstrating fascist expansion and the League of Nations' inability to stop aggression. |
Munich Agreement | The 1938 agreement between Britain, France, Germany, and Italy that allowed Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia. |
Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact | The 1939 agreement between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union pledging mutual non-aggression and secretly dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence. |
Racist ideologies | Systems of belief asserting the superiority or inferiority of certain racial groups, used to justify discrimination and violence. |
Remilitarization of the Rhineland | Nazi Germany's 1936 military reoccupation of the Rhineland, a demilitarized zone established by the Treaty of Versailles. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the interwar period in Europe?
The interwar period was the time between World War I and World War II, roughly 1919 to 1939. For AP Euro 8.7, the focus is how political and ideological factors helped lead to World War II.
How did fascism contribute to World War II?
Fascism contributed to World War II by promoting authoritarian rule, extreme nationalism, racist ideologies, militarism, and territorial expansion. Fascist states used these ideas to justify rearmament and expansion.
What was appeasement?
Appeasement was the policy of making concessions to aggressive states in hopes of avoiding a larger conflict. The Munich Agreement is the key AP Euro example because Britain and France allowed Germany to take the Sudetenland.
Why did Britain and France avoid confronting fascist expansion early?
Britain and France feared another major war after World War I. American isolationism and distrust between Western democracies and the Soviet Union also made coordinated resistance harder.
What examples should I know for AP Euro 8.7?
Useful examples include the remilitarization of the Rhineland, Italian invasion of Ethiopia, annexation of Austria, Munich Agreement and its violation, and the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact.
How is Europe during the interwar period tested on the AP Euro exam?
AP Euro questions often ask you to explain causation: how fascism, extreme nationalism, racist ideologies, appeasement, isolationism, and distrust of the Soviet Union helped produce World War II.