How World War 2 Began

A detailed account of the origins of the Second World War.

This video isn’t sponsored. If you want to support me, here are the best ways to do it:

1) Watch the whole video
2) Share it with a friend

0:00 Intro
2:17 Wilson's New World
21:09 The Spread of Extremism
29:39 Fascism in Italy
36:53 Hitler Takes Germany
1:00:49 - Japan Takes Manchuria
1:10:20 - Italy Takes Ethiopia
1:19:47 - Germany Breaks the Treaty
1:26:07 - The Symbolism of the Spanish Civil War
1:29:17 - Japanese Militarism Spreads
1:31:43 - Last Steps Before War
1:48:57 - Conclusion

Sources:

Paris 1919 - Margaret MacMillan
A History of Political Theory - George Sabine
The Dark Valley - Piers Brendon
The Road to War - Richard Overy
Appeasement - Tim Bouverie
The Third Reich in Power - Richard Evans
Blood and Power - John Foot
The Rising Sun - John Toland
Adolf Hitler - John Toland
The Coming of the Third Reich - Richard Evans
The Spectre of War - Jonathan Haslam
The Moralist - Patricia O'Toole
The Age of Extremes - Eric Hobsbawm
The Deluge - Adam Tooze
Japan Prepares for Total War - Michael Banhart
Oxford's Fascism Reader - Ed. Roger Griffin
The Origins of the First and Second World Wars - Frank McDonough
The Origins of the Second World War Reconsidered - Ed. Gordon Martel
Europe - Norman Davies
Mein Kampf - Adolf Hitler
Hitler's Second Book - Adolf Hitler
Documents on Nazism - ed. Jeremy Noakes & Geoffrey Pridham
A History of the Twentieth Century - Martin Gilbert

[realryanchapman]

As you can probably tell, this was not a small effort. I spent eight months on this video: five across 2023 and also the first three months of 2024. I hope you enjoy it and that it was time well spent. I say this on all of my videos but cannot emphasize it enough here; the only reason I'm able to take on a production like this is because of people who choose to support me either on Patreon or through the membership program here. It's the only way I was able to make a living doing this work during the quiet production months. So as always, a huge thank you to all of you who have been doing that. If you're interested, the membership program is only $1 a month and comes with access to more casual/intimate videos that I upload between the main channel videos.

I'm sure criticism will come in and I'll have notes that I want to add to the video, but for now that's all I have to say. Enjoy!

Edit: I just wanted to say that I'm touched by the outpouring of support for this video so far. I have never gotten so many donations through comments before or have received such positive feedback for a single video. I feel it's best to not be on here constantly replying to comments, but I do see and appreciate it. Thank you.

- Ryan

[Dan-qpel]

Humans never change. The worst mistake the people of the United States can make, is feeling like it can't happen here.

[richarddehoop]

Imagine being born in Western Europe at around 1880. You grow up in a world of endless growth, new inventions and advancements in science around every corner and above all a long peace. You do not even know what war is like. Then you live through the horrors of The First World War, maybe even serve in it. When it is all over the world you go back to is unstable volatile and violent. A hunch op optimism in the 20s is crushed by the economic crisis in 1929. And then in the last years of your life you see the world sliding back into the horror of The Second World War.

[OverNineousend]

When a single dude makes a better non padded full info documentary, so better that it surpasses big Media houses. You sir, have a sub. Good work!

[hypefogg]

"History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes" and its beginning to rhyme

[Ladondorf]

"An era of a weakening middle. Even a hollowing middle. And the expansion of the further-left and the further-right."
Sounds a lot like today.

[soniaprovard]

This is so well done! I’m only an hour or so in but. . .wow!! I’m sharing this with my 4 adult children because I think they need to understand past history to really grasp what’s happening in the world today. The relevance is uncanny! Bravo, Ryan!!

[dasraffnix]

Imagine telling a woman in 1918, who lost her man and her sons in the great war, who's daughter starved to death during the turnip winter, that all of her loss, all the terror and suffering would only be remembered as the prelude to a conflict even worse and even more terrible.

[janusjones]

One important thing you left out, which seems to be the case with all content about the Paris peace conference was the fact the China never signed the treaty. This was because despite being on the Allied side and contributing thousands of labourers to france to assist the war effort, many of whom dies digging trenches and building fortifications on the front line, the treaty ceded German colonial possessions in China to japan instead of returning them to China. This event almost single handedly cause the rise of nationalism in China. combined later with the League’s failure to defend China when Japan annexed Manchuria, it lead to disillusionment with Western values and democracy and a turn toward Communism as an alternative.

[Romulo_V]

What you said 28:18 - 28:39 is exactly what I've learned from studying history extensively since the 4th grade. I'm 29 now. And I've gone so far back in history to understand every nations creation and fall. The patterns are yet again repeating again i fear. One of my favorite quotes is from Mark Twain. "History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes".

[sounknownkid]

this guy is pretty chill. I like the statement near the end saying " I encourage you to come up with your own conclusion about what was prosented here".

[jamescarter]

Wow...just brilliant!! I can't thank you enough for simplifying such an complex subject!! Really hitting all the high points and in great order!! Bravo

[alexwilson]

It’s taken me two days to finish this video, it’s amazing to me the audacity of human beings in power, they think they’re unstoppable. Something that still remains unchanged to this day sadly.

[leburiktarsa]

As a Ethiopian and who knows its history, I was amazed by the recognition and accuracy of the historical account though the atrocities were understated. Ethiopia was member of league of nation and is Founding member of United Nations.

[daletag]

Absolutely STELLAR narration and sourcing. 5 out of 5 stars. BRAVO, young man!!!

[karlthomson]

Exceptional. Elegant, well researched and presented, with plenty of cited sources. Thanks Ryan.

[RobertEgbers]

Excellent use of references. Highlighted and book thumbnailed in the corner. Stellar work. It’s too bad it’s so hard to do this level of production.

[Bemandyd]

Almost a million views which means your hard work paid off. someone like me would never be interested in this history, but as a 34 year old mother now seeing our world collapse and desiring to know more to protect my child from what’s right and wrong with this world. I appreciate this so much. It’s so easy to understand. Thank you!

[Josh-ekpw]

What an amazing video. It's very refreshing to see a much more detailed view of the reasons why each country felt the way they did.

[dc]

This was amazing, thank you so much for putting this together. Well done!