World War II: Argentina's Neutrality and Global Origins
Argentina's Stance in World War II
In Argentina, after the outbreak of World War II (1939), the country seemed a fertile ground for economic growth. Belligerent nations increased their demand for foodstuffs and limited their exports of manufactured goods. The war also proved challenging and redefined the political landscape. Despite persistent government fraud and corruption, Argentina maintained its neutrality.
The 1943 Military Coup
On June 4, 1943, a group of military officers, led by General Arturo Rawson, overthrew President Ramón Castillo. The coup was initially welcomed by much of the political spectrum, which had hoped for a call for elections. However, just two days later, General Pedro Ramírez replaced Rawson as president. The new government initiated a policy of repression and control over trade unions, intervened in political parties and universities, and promoted religious education in public schools. These actions tended to characterize the new regime as Fascist.
Defining a Corporatist State
A corporatist state is one that structures the relationship between capitalists and workers, often through state-controlled organizations.
The Rise of Nazism in Germany
Hitler's Path to Power
Hitler, upon leaving prison, began to reorganize his party: the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP), which reintegrated into political life in 1926. In the parliamentary elections of 1928 and the Reichstag elections of 1930, the NSDAP became the second strongest political force in the country. Finally, they obtained the most seats in the Reichstag in the 1932 elections. In the absence of a clear majority, President Hindenburg appointed Hitler as chancellor in January 1933. Hitler then proclaimed himself Führer of the Third Reich, effectively ending the Weimar Republic.
Key Triggers of World War II
European and Asian Flashpoints
World War II involved many nations and was fought across different theaters and fronts, separated by great distances. Although the causes for the outbreak of hostilities varied on every front, historically, the invasion of Poland in 1939 and the Attack on Pearl Harbor (1941) are considered the primary triggers of the war in Europe and Asia, respectively.
In Japan, World War II is often studied together with the Second Sino-Japanese War or even earlier events. From this perspective, the triggers for the war in Asia would have been the Marco Polo Bridge Incident in 1937 and the Mukden Incident in 1931.