What event helped cause world war 2?>

was it the German invasion of Poland ?

Yes, that was one of the events.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-invade-poland

Yes, the German invasion of Poland was one of the significant events that helped cause World War II. To provide a more detailed explanation:

1. Rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany: The rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Germany in the 1930s laid the foundation for the outbreak of World War II. Hitler's aggressive foreign policies, territorial ambitions, and ideology of German superiority played a critical role in the conflict.

2. German invasion of Poland: On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, marking the start of World War II. This action violated international treaties and triggered military responses from other nations, primarily France and the United Kingdom, who had pledged to defend Polish sovereignty.

3. Declarations of war: As a direct response to the German invasion of Poland, France and the United Kingdom declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939. This act formalized the beginning of the global conflict as other nations subsequently joined the conflict.

4. Treaty of Versailles: The Treaty of Versailles, signed at the end of World War I, imposed harsh conditions on Germany, including territorial losses, financial reparations, and military limitations. These punitive measures created a sense of resentment within Germany and later became a rallying point for Hitler and the Nazis.

While the German invasion of Poland was a crucial event in the sequence of events leading to World War II, it is important to note that it was preceded by the actions of other nations and geopolitical factors that contributed to the overall instability and tensions in Europe at the time.