The Causes of World War 2 Essay Example

The basic causes of World War II were nationalistic tensions, unresolved issues, and resentments resulting from the First World War and the interwar period in Europe, plus the effects of the Great Depression in the 1930s. The culmination of events that led to the outbreak of war are generally understood to be the 1939 invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany and the 1937 invasion of the Republic of China by the Empire of Japan. These military aggressions were the decisions made by authoritarian ruling Nazi elite in Germany and by the leadership of the Kwantung Army in the case of Japan. World War II started after these aggressive actions were met with an official declaration of war and/or armed resistance. Contents[hide] * 1 Ideologies, doctrines, and philosophies * 1.1 Anti-communism * 1.2 Expansionism (imperialism/colonialism) * 1.3 Fascism * 1.4 Militarism * 1.5 Nationalism * 1.6 Racism * 2 Interrelations and economics * 2.1 Problems with the Treaty of Versailles * 2.2 Issues after the dissolution of Austria-Hungary * 2.3 Competition for resources and markets * 2.4 Problems with the League of Nations * 2.5 European Civil War * 3 Specific events * 3.1 Franco-Prussian War * 3.2 World War I * 3.3 Weimar Republic * 3.4 The Great Depression * 3.5 Rise of Fascism in Italy * 3.6 Nazi dictatorship * 3.7 Italian invasion of Ethiopia * 3.8 Spanish Civil War * 3.9 Second Sino-Japanese War * 3.10 Anschluss * 3.11 Munich Agreement * 3.11.1 German occupation and Slovak independence * 3.12 Italian invasion of Albania * 3.13 Soviet-Japanese Border War * 3.14 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact * 3.15 Invasion of Poland * 3.16 Final diplomatic strategy * 3.17 Invasion of the Soviet Union * 3.18 Attack on Pearl Harbor * 4 See also * 5 References * 6 Further reading * 7 External links |
[edit] Ideologies, doctrines, and