The Causes Of WWII

Question 1

What were the main causes of WWII?

Answer 1

Treaty of Versailles 
Japanese expansion 
Hitler and the nazi party
Appeasement 
The Great Depression

Question 2

Causes of WWII: Treaty of Versailles

Answer 2

The Treaty of Versailles ended WWI between the allied powers and Germany. Germany lost the war and they put a very harsh treaty against Germany, one of the terms was that they had to accept the full responsibility of causing the war. It also meant that Germany had to pay huge reparations and meant that Germany was left in ruins. People were starving.

Question 3

Causes of WWII: Japanese Expansion

Answer 3

In the period before World War II, Japan was growing rapidly. However, as an island nation they did not have the land or the natural resources to sustain their growth. Japan began to look to grow their empire in order to gain new resources. They invaded Manchuria in 1931 and China in 1937.

Question 4

Causes of WWII: Hitler and the Nazi party

Answer 4

Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party were the most powerful in Germany. The Germans wanted someone who would bring economic prosperity. Hitler offered them hope and he was proclaimed the leader and became dictator of Germany. Hitler secretly rearmed Germany. He allied with Mussolini. He wanted to expand and in 1938 he took over Austria.

Question 5

Causes of WWII: Appeasement

Answer 5

After World War 1, the nations of Europe were weary and did not want another war. When countries such as Italy and Germany became aggressive and began to take over their neighbors and build up their armies, countries such as Britain and France hoped to keep peace through “appeasement.” This meant that they tried to make Germany and Hitler happy rather than try to stop him. They hoped that by meeting his demands he would be satisfied and there wouldn’t be any war.

Unfortunately, the policy of appeasement backfired. It only made Hitler bolder. It also gave him time to build up his army.

Question 6

Causes of WWII: The Great Depression

Answer 6

There was a period of great suffering before WWII. Many people were out of work and struggling to survive. It created unstable governments which led to WWII