Account for the responses of the European democracies to the military aggression by Italy and Germany during the 1930s.

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These were pivotal times in the annals of world history in the 20th century. Mussolini and Hitler’s rise to power was clearly a threat to the freedoms of the United States and its Allies. Through God’s grace and omnipotence, the US alliance, industrialization and intellectual might, we had the resources required to overcome the fierce and mighty threat of Fascism in the Free World. In the 1930s, European governments found it necessary to appease Hitler and Mussolini. Appeasement is the word that clearly sums up the policies and actions that were taken by the European governments. There were a few reasons that these concessions were offered by European countries: none of the countries wanted another World War, the devastating effects that the Great Depression had on each country, and the European governmental chaos and political turmoil was widespread. A famous quote by FDR at his First Inaugural Address was, “Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself” came to mind when thinking of most European democracies position’s when it came to the military aggression by Italy and Germany. However, it is easy to understand why they would make concessions, albeit short-lived, rather than run the risk of another World War and all of the noxious energy that comes with it. On the other hand, to trust the “devilish nature” of both Hitler and Mussolini would turn out to be costly moves that were fortunately corrected by the strength of the United States and its Allies in time. This was definitely a tough predicament for Europe to be in. In the aftermath of World War I, literally tens of millions were mortally wounded and missing, there were devastating effects on morale and view towards war, which would make most any weakened society ... ... middle of paper ... ...ble for so many death’s including the Holocaust specifically, was the worst that the world had ever witnessed. The appeasement’s offered by Europe, specifically France and Britain, may have accelerated the push by Germany, Italy and Japan to eventually form the Axis to become the aggressors to launch World War II. If anyone ever gets down about the way things are “in the present moment” at this time, perhaps they should try to fathom the plights of other races such as the Jewish in the holocaust, and the masses of casualties with the destruction of European countries in World War II, an then maybe they could see a glimmer of light “at the end of the tunnel”. Oh my, what a wonderful world that we live in today, with our founding fathers being led by God, to give us the precious freedom that we truly experience “in the present moment”.

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