World War II had several causes, and here are some key points explained simply:
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Treaty of Versailles: After World War I, the Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh penalties on Germany. It had to pay large reparations and lose land, which caused anger and resentment among Germans.
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Economic Problems: The Great Depression in the 1930s led to severe economic hardships around the world, including in Germany. This instability made people more willing to follow extremist leaders who promised change.
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Rise of Dictators: In the years leading up to World War II, several countries saw the rise of dictators. Adolf Hitler in Germany, Benito Mussolini in Italy, and militarists in Japan gained power by promising to restore their nations' former glory.
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Expansionist Policies: The aggressive actions of these dictators contributed to the war. Germany, Italy, and Japan aimed to expand their territories. Hitler invaded neighboring countries, starting with Austria and Czechoslovakia.
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Failure of the League of Nations: The League of Nations was created to maintain peace, but it was weak and unable to stop the aggression of countries like Italy and Japan. This lack of action encouraged further expansion.
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Appeasement: Some countries, particularly Britain and France, tried to avoid conflict by allowing Hitler to take certain territories without facing consequences. This policy of "appeasement" only encouraged more aggression.
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Nazi-Soviet Pact: In 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression pact, agreeing not to attack each other. This allowed Hitler to invade Poland without fear of a Soviet attack, which triggered the war.
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Invasion of Poland: On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. This act of aggression prompted Britain and France to declare war on Germany, officially starting World War II.
These causes combined created a situation where conflict became inevitable, leading to one of the largest and deadliest wars in history.