What were some causes of World War II?
History · Middle School · Tue Nov 03 2020
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World War II, which lasted from 1939 to 1945, was a result of several interconnected causes:
1. Treaty of Versailles: The harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles imposed on Germany after World War I caused severe economic problems and national humiliation. The crippling reparations and territorial losses created resentment among the German people, which was used by Adolf Hitler to fuel nationalist passions and revanchism.
2. Rise of Fascism: In response to political instability, economic crises, and the fear of communism after World War I, fascist regimes took power in countries like Italy, Germany, and Japan. These dictatorial governments, led by figures like Hitler and Mussolini, sought to expand their territories and were often aggressively nationalist and militaristic.
3. Expansionist Policies: Aggressive expansionism by totalitarian states such as Germany, Italy, and Japan directly threatened world peace. Germany's annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland, Italy's invasion of Ethiopia, and Japan's invasion of China were all indicative of their ambitions for territorial gain.
4. Failure of the League of Nations: The League of Nations, an international diplomatic group, was ineffective in preventing conflict as it could not enforce decisions due to the lack of a standing military and the absence of key world powers like the United States. This allowed aggressive nations to defy the League with no real consequences.
5. Appeasement: Britain and France followed a policy of appeasement, which involved making concessions to the aggressive demands of Germany and Italy in hopes of maintaining peace. This, however, only emboldened the fascist leaders and paved the way for further expansion.
6. Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact: The 1939 agreement between Hitler and Stalin allowed Germany to invade Poland without fear of Soviet intervention, leading to the immediate cause of World War II. This pact also divided Eastern Europe into German and Soviet spheres of influence.
7. Invasion of Poland: The immediate cause of World War II was Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1st, 1939. Despite warnings, Hitler assumed Western powers would not actually go to war over Poland. However, Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later, marking the start of World War II.