Causes of WWII

The Treaty of Versailles Treaty which ended WWI and required Germany to accept sole responsibility for causing WWI, to disarm, make substantial territorial concessions and pay reparations to certain countries that had formed the Entente powers. (132 billion Marks (then $31.4 billion, £6.6 billion) in 1921 which is roughly equivalent to $400 Billion US Dollars as of 2010, a sum that many economists at the time deemed to be excessive. This was a sum that many economists deemed to be excessive because it would have taken Germany until 1988 to pay.

Totalitarianism A political system in which the government exercises complete control over the people.

Fascism Political philosophy that advocates a strong centralized, nationalistic government headed by a powerful dictator.

Appeasement The granting of concessions (giving in) to a hostile power in order to keep the peace. Munich Agreement (1938) Settlement reached by Germany, France, Britain, and Italy permitting German annexation of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland. Adolf Hitler's threats to occupy the German-populated part of Czechoslovakia stemmed from his avowed broader goal of reuniting Europe's German-populated areas. Britain's Neville Chamberlain negotiated an agreement permitting Germany to occupy the areas but promising that all future differences would be resolved through consultation.

Nationalism Extreme pride and patriotism in ones own country.

Militarism Predominance of the armed forces in the administration or policy of the state, which results in the build-up of the military.

Imperialism The policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political control over other nations.

Germany’s Invasion of Poland The immediate cause of WWII was the German invasion of Poland on September 1st, 1939. This was due to the land and important seaports lost by Germany to Poland as part of the Treaty of Versailles.

Alliances AXIS ALLIES Adolf Hitler: Germany Franklin Roosevelt: USA Benito Mussolini: Italy Winston Churchill: Britain Hideki Tojo: Japan Joseph Stalin: Soviet Union

Allies Declare War on Germany The invasion of Poland led to Great Britain and France to declare war on Germany on September 3, 1939. Italy then declared war on Great Britain and France.