The Causes that led to the outbreak of the Second World War

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9th September 2001                                                                                           Jessica Roach 11A

The Causes that led to the outbreak of the Second World War

The reason war broke out in 1939 is almost completely because of the long-term causes that the treaty of Versailles besotted upon the world, in particular Germany. The other contributors to the outbreak of war were the aggressive nationalism of Germany, Italy and Japan, the League of Nations and the policy of appeasement.

        Italy and Japan’s attitude had a huge impact on Germany and especially Hitler. Japan’s invasion of Manchurian in 1931-1933 and their plans to expand throughout more of China encouraged Hitler and in 1933 before he even came to power Hitler had plans about the foreign policy. He intended to expand through Russia and Eastern Europe and believed that by taking over these countries he would make an important victory over the communists and Jews.

        The policy of appeasement is the attitude of France and even more so Britain to Germany and it’s aggressive manner. Many people in Britain believed that the Treaty of Versailles had been too harsh and so when Germany led by Hitler began to make plans and break it’s rules France and Britain did little to stop it and hoped that by letting Germany grow stronger the bitterness caused by the Treaty would disappear.

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        In 1933 Hitler began to secretly rearm Germany and in 1935 went public and announced conscription, an army 600,000 strong and the establishment of an air force. Britain, France and Italy did nothing to stop Hitler’s rearmament and Britain even signed a contract with Germany allowing them to build it’s navy to 35% the size of Britain’s.

        In October 1935 Mussolini ordered the invasion of Abyssinia and by May had conquered it. Also in 1935 the League condemned Italy as an aggressor and imposed sanctions these ended with the invasion of Abyssinian. Britain and France did very little to stop ...

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