What were the causes of World War 2?
http://www.ducksters.com/history/world_war_ii/causes_of_ww2.php
This gives some background leading up to World War II in Europe:
http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwarii/a/wwiieurcauses.htm
And this covers Japan, too:
http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwarii/a/wwiieurcauses.htm
Sorry, that was a duplicate link. This is the one I intended:
http://www.worldwar2facts.org/causes-of-world-war-2.html
The causes of World War 2 were complex and intertwined. To understand them, we need to consider several key factors:
1. Treaty of Versailles: The harsh terms imposed on Germany after World War 1 by the Treaty of Versailles fueled resentment and a desire for revenge. It led to widespread economic instability and political unrest in Germany, which laid the groundwork for the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.
2. Failure of Appeasement: In the 1930s, European powers pursued a policy of appeasement towards Hitler's aggressive expansionist policies, particularly with regard to Germany's occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1938. The failure to confront Hitler's actions early on allowed him to gain significant territorial gains before triggering the war.
3. Expansionist ambitions: Hitler's ideology of Nazi Germany emphasized territorial expansion and the establishment of a German-dominated empire. Hitler sought to conquer and annex territories, including Austria, Poland, and parts of Eastern Europe, to fulfill his vision of German supremacy.
4. Failure of collective security: The League of Nations, which was established after World War 1 to prevent future conflicts, proved ineffective in maintaining international security. The League's failure to take decisive action against aggressive nations, combined with the lack of a united front by major powers, further emboldened Hitler and other aggressive states.
5. Nationalism and ideological conflicts: Nationalism was a powerful force during this time, and it fueled tensions in regions like Eastern Europe, where there were various territorial disputes and unresolved ethnic conflicts. The rise of fascist and nationalist ideologies, including German Nazism and Italian Fascism, further destabilized the European balance of power.
Ultimately, the combination of these factors, along with Hitler's relentless expansionist ambitions and the failure of international diplomacy, culminated in the outbreak of World War 2.