Why did the invasion of Poland launch World War II?
A. It violated Hitler's nonaggression pact with Stalin.
B. It led Britain and France to abandon the policy of appeasement.
C. It led the United States to abandon the policy of neutrality.
D. It was the first time German forces used the blitzkrieg strategy.
B. It led Britain and France to abandon the policy of appeasement.
How did World War I contribute to the events leading up to World War II?
A. Germans wanted to expand their nation to regain territory in the Soviet Union.
B. Britain and France wanted to force Germany to make reparation payments.
C. Germans hated the Versailles treaty and supported Hitler's actions to defy it.
D. The Soviet Union wanted to take over German territory in Eastern Europe.
C. Germans hated the Versailles treaty and supported Hitler's actions to defy it.
Why was the Battle of the Bulge significant?
A. It ended the war in Europe.
B. It was the last Axis victory in World War II.
C. It led to the liberation of France.
D. It was the last time Nazi forces went on the offensive.
D. It was the last time Nazi forces went on the offensive.
To determine the correct answer, let's break down the options and evaluate their relevance to the start of World War II:
A. It violated Hitler's nonaggression pact with Stalin.
Explanation: The nonaggression pact between Adolf Hitler's Germany and Joseph Stalin's Soviet Union was signed in August 1939. This pact included a secret clause dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence. However, the invasion of Poland in September 1939 did violate this pact, as Germany attacked Poland, which was previously agreed to be in the Soviet sphere of influence. While this act did strain the relations between Germany and the Soviet Union, it alone does not fully explain why the invasion of Poland launched World War II.
B. It led Britain and France to abandon the policy of appeasement.
Explanation: Appeasement was a policy followed by Britain and France towards Germany in the late 1930s. The policy aimed to avoid war by making concessions to Hitler's demands. However, the invasion of Poland shattered the appeasement policy as it demonstrated Hitler's expansionist ambitions. Britain and France, recognizing the threat, declared war on Germany two days after its invasion of Poland. Therefore, this option is a more accurate explanation for why World War II started, as it shows the shift in British and French policies.
C. It led the United States to abandon the policy of neutrality.
Explanation: At the beginning of World War II, the United States maintained a policy of neutrality and stayed out of the conflict in Europe. The invasion of Poland in 1939 initially did not compel the United States to change this policy. It was not until the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan on December 7, 1941, that the United States officially entered the war. Therefore, this option is not directly related to the launch of World War II.
D. It was the first time German forces used the blitzkrieg strategy.
Explanation: The blitzkrieg strategy, characterized by rapid and overwhelming force, was employed by the German forces during the invasion of Poland. However, while the use of this strategy was significant, it alone does not explain why the invasion of Poland launched World War II.
Considering the above explanations, the most accurate answer to the question would be:
B. It led Britain and France to abandon the policy of appeasement.
Although factors such as the violation of the nonaggression pact with the Soviet Union, the use of the blitzkrieg strategy, and the eventual involvement of the United States did contribute to the course of the war, the abandonment of appeasement by Britain and France in response to the invasion of Poland is considered a major catalyst that led to the launch of World War II.