World War II

Causes

Main articles: Causes of World War II, Events preceding World War II in Europe, Events preceding World War II in Asia

Related Topics:
Causes of World War II - Events preceding World War II in Europe - Events preceding World War II in Asia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The causes of World War II are naturally a debated subject, but the regular views tie them to the expansionism of Germany and Japan: Germany was in a depression and wanted to make Germany great again.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• In Germany there was a strong desire to escape the bonds of the World War I Treaty of Versailles, and eventually, Hitler and the Nazis assumed control of the country. They led Germany through a chain of events: rearmament, reoccupation of the Rhineland, a merger with Austria (Anschluss), incorporation of Czechoslovakia and finally the invasion of Poland.
• In Asia, Japan's efforts to become a world power and the rise of militaristic leadership led to conflicts with first China and later the United States.