1. Treaty of Versailles and Resentment in Germany:
* After World War I, the Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh terms on Germany, including significant territorial losses, reparations, and restrictions on its military.
* This caused widespread resentment and a desire for revenge among many Germans, fueling the rise of extreme nationalist and militarist movements.
2. Rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazism:
* Adolf Hitler, the leader of the Nazi Party (National Socialist German Workers' Party), gained prominence in the 1930s with his aggressive nationalist agenda.
* Hitler promised to restore Germany to its former glory, rearm the country, and defy the Treaty of Versailles.
3. Appeasement Policy:
* In the face of Hitler's growing power, many Western countries, particularly Britain and France, adopted a policy of appeasement.
* This meant conceding to some of Hitler's demands to avoid armed conflict, culminating in the infamous Munich Agreement of 1938, which allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia without resistance.
4. Japanese Expansionism:
* In Asia, Japan was pursuing an aggressive expansionist policy, aiming to establish a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.
* Japan invaded and occupied Manchuria in 1931 and continued its military aggressions in China throughout the 1930s.
5. Italian Fascism and Mussolini's Ambitions:
* Benito Mussolini, the fascist dictator of Italy, sought to expand Italy's territories and restore its former Roman glory.
* Mussolini aligned with Hitler, forming the Rome-Berlin Axis in 1936, and engaged in conquests such as the invasion of Ethiopia in 1935.
6. Outbreak of War:
* In September 1939, Germany invaded Poland, using the fabricated Gleiwitz incident as a pretext.
* Britain and France, bound by treaties to protect Poland, declared war on Germany, marking the official start of World War II.
In conclusion, World War II was a result of a complex web of factors, including the aftermath of World War I, the rise of aggressive nationalist leaders like Hitler and Mussolini, the policy of appeasement, and the ongoing conflicts and expansionist policies in Europe and Asia. The combination of these factors created an environment ripe for the outbreak of global conflict.