Who Was Behind the World Wars?

Twice in one century, the world was dragged into the abyss of global conflict, claiming millions of lives: World War I and World War II. The question “who was behind it?” often arises, even fueling speculation about secret elite groups. However, a deep historical review shows these wars weren’t the result of a single conspiracy, but rather the fruit of a complex web of politics, economics, and ideologies involving many actors with differing interests. Understanding the root causes and the roles of national leaders is key to unveiling the truth behind these greatest humanitarian disasters.

World War I: A Web of Alliances and Burning Nationalism

World War I, which spanned from 1914 to 1918, is often called the “Great War” that ended an old era in Europe. Its primary trigger was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary on June 28, 1914, by a Serbian nationalist, Gavrilo Princip. This event, though seemingly local, quickly sparked a series of war declarations due to a complex system of military alliances in Europe.

Opposing Blocs

On one side stood the Allied Powers (Triple Entente), consisting of Britain, France, and Russia, later joined by the United States and Italy. On the other side was the Central Powers (Triple Alliance), spearheaded by Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire (Turkey), and Bulgaria. Historians emphasize that this war was an accumulation of tensions caused by several fundamental factors:

• Extreme Nationalism: The rise of aggressive nationalism in various European countries, especially in the Balkans, created desires for dominance and autonomy.
• Imperialism: Fierce competition among European powers for colonial territories and global economic resources.
• Militarism: An intense arms race and the glorification of military power created a ready-to-explode atmosphere of war.
• Rigid Alliance System: Closely intertwined mutual defense pacts caused regional conflicts to quickly escalate into global ones.

Leaders like Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany with his militaristic ambitions, and Nicholas II of Russia who eventually mobilized his forces, played crucial roles in the conflict’s escalation.

World War II: Aggression of Totalitarian Ideologies and Diplomatic Failure

Just two decades later, the world plunged into World War II (1939-1945) again, this time with a far more massive scale of destruction. Its immediate trigger was the German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939. However, the seeds of this war had been sown much earlier, particularly in Asia with Japan’s aggression against China since 1937.

Key Players and Triggering Ideologies

This war pitted the Allied Powers (Britain, France, Soviet Union, United States, China) against the Axis Powers(Germany, Italy, Japan). The main factors behind this conflict were the rise of totalitarian ideologies and expansionist ambitions:

• Nazism in Germany: Led by Adolf Hitler, the racist and expansionist Nazi ideology aimed to dominate Europe through military conquest and ethnic cleansing.
• Fascism in Italy: Under Benito Mussolini, Italy also embraced an aggressive fascist ideology and sought to rebuild the Roman Empire.
• Japanese Militarism: Led by Emperor Hirohito and the militarist faction, Japan had ambitions to create a “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere” through conquest.
• Treaty of Versailles and German Revanchism: Germany’s dissatisfaction with the peace treaty after World War I fueled a desire for revenge.
• Failure of the League of Nations: This international organization, formed after WWI, failed to prevent the aggression of the Axis powers.

Figures like Winston Churchill of Britain, Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States, and Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union became symbols of the Allied resistance against the ambitions of the Axis Powers. [Image: German tank during the invasion of Poland, 1939. Alt text: Nazi German tank invading Poland, trigger of World War II].

Debunking Conspiracy Narratives: Fact Versus Fiction

Conspiracy theories claiming that “a group of secret elites scheduled” the World Wars have no factual basis in history. Historical consensus rejects this idea, as existing evidence shows that wars are the result of:

• Human Decisions: Wars erupted because of decisions made by national leaders in official positions of power, not by secret entities.
• Geopolitical Dynamics: Tensions between nations, struggles for hegemony, and ambitions to expand influence.
• Economic Crises: The Great Depression of the 1930s worsened the global situation and pushed countries towards extremism.

For instance, the German invasion of Poland and Japanese aggression in Asia are clearly recorded historical events, documented by thousands of archives and testimonies. There is no evidence from declassified archives of various countries indicating a centralized scheme by “secret elites.”