Second World War Commemorated; Experts Discuss the Conflict's Origins

The origins of World War II came under scrutiny last night as four Harvard experts gathered to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the conflict.

A crowd of more than 250 packed Jefferson Hall for the two-hour symposium, which included 20-minute presentations by Dillon Professor of the Civilization of France Stanley H. Hoffmann, Gurney Professor of Political Science Adam B. Ulam and Cowles Professor of Government Judith N. Shklar. Charles S. Maier '60, professor of history, moderated the panel and fielded questions from the audience.

Hoffmann spoke on the reasons for the appeasement of Germany by the West that occured prior to the war. While Germany was ready to fight another war, the opposite was true of the West, Hoffmannn said, adding that in 1939, appeasement was not nessesarily a poor tactic'. "If one looks at England and France one sees an enormous battle fatigue," Hoffmann said.

This fatigue, combined with a "sense that fascism and communism were the wave of the future" in England and France, developed a feeling of defeatism in western Europe that led to the appeasement policies, Hoffman said.

Hoffmann also spoke about the difficulty the French had in organizing quickly against German occupying forces, but was not critical of the French people's slow reaction.

"I find it hard to condemn people for not being heroes," said Hoffmann.

Ulam spoke on the reasons for the neutrality pact between Germany and England, arguing that it was possible that if Hitler had not made the pact he would not have started the war. Hitler's generals were not willing to fight another two front-war after losing the previous one.

Ulam also refuted theories that Stalin actually trusted Hitler to hold up Germany's end of the treaty. "Any man who would have two brothers-in-law shot and his friends liquidated would not trust a man like Hitler," Ulam said.

Shklar discussed the reasons the Germans followed Hitler. She paid particular attention to Hitler's ability to communicate and his mastery of the radio. In addition, the prospect of winning a new war seemed both possible and desirable to many Germans, Shklar said.

The Center for European Studies and Harvard-Radcliffe Hillel sponsored the event, entitled "World War II in Retrospect."