what caused world war 2?

Answer 1

Hitler's decision to invade Poland on Sept 1, 1939 forced the British empire and much of Europe to declare war on Germany, which started WW2.

Like others have already answered above, Germany was made to be humilliated over and over again for being the loser of WW1. Then along came a very charismatic(yet crazy) leader that helped to restore German pride. Keep in mind that before the onset of WW2, the entire world was in the grips of the "Great Depression". Germany, despite all the restrictions that were imposed on it by the League of Nations was doing alot better than most.

There never would have been a second world war if western leaders and the League of Nations had just alittle bit of back-bone. While Germany was building it's war-machines and threatening it's neibours, breaking every rule the League had imposed on it, and commiting human-rights abuses, the world did nothing to stop it. We hoped it would all work out through diplomacy.

You can easily compare the situation in 1939 to our present situation. The League of Nations was no more than a debaters club and failed us miserably. The United Nations hasn't had teeth for many years now. You can't really compare Afghanistan and Al-Qaida to Nazi-Germany and the Third Reich, but we must never forget what can happen when we let rogue nations and evil dictators to do as they please.

The US didn't enter the war for two more years and it wasn't untill they were actually attacked. Unlike many countries that were not imediately effected or attacked that came to the aid of Europe right away.

Capt. John is alittle confused about the German and Russian situation. While Germany and Italy were beginning their conquests, Russia was planning it's own. The USSR invaded Finland and failed miserably, losing many soldiers before pulling back. Once the axis had made it's way to the Atlantic ocean and believing they had England isolated and crippled-through air raids and U-boat blockades, they made the fateful decision to turn back east and to go for Moscow. Germany and the USSR had the same dreams of world-domination and ofcourse they didn't trust each other. Even if germany never attacked Russia, there would have been a war eventually between the two. The Soviet military was pitiful at the start of WW2 but, through desperation thanks to the Nazi invasion, they got their act together and became one of the most forminable fighting forces in the world.

Answer 2

What a vague question. Any particular event of WW2 that you would like clarification on? Are you looking for the economics or political or world view...throw us a bone here. Germany invaded Poland in 1939 that pretty much involved all of europe as the Blitzkreig strated to sweep through Europe the countries that were part of the League of Nations began to mobilize to assist with the other nations involved. The blitzkreig then changed directions from going towards russia to sweeping Belgium and France. the French and the English retreated to Dunkirk where in a miracle the Brits were rescued by their countrymen. the US was still hiding her head in the sand being isolationist and supplying aid. December 1941 the Japanese who were an ally of the Germans decided it was time to attack the US and destroy her pacific fleet. They mostly succeeded with a sneak attack at Pearl Harbor, but as a japanese admiral was quoted as saying "I am afraid we have woken a sleeping giant." The US war machine went into high gear and instead of just sending aid we started sending troops and equipment. War was pretty much declared by all interested parties with the Russians switching sides.
Does that help at all?

Answer 3

After the 1st world war Germany was reduced massively partly due to the opinion it should never be able to declare war again. Unfortunately it bred resentment and when an effective leader such as Hitler filled the void, with a strong, if ruthless, political stance of recreating a strong Germany the public backed it.
He wanted to gain financial power and resources and when this involved invading Poland England offered an ultimatum.
Hitler believed it to be a bluff and continued, we went to war.
Our allies were then brought in as well.
This is all a bit reduced down, and I can't quote from memory eg entente cordial, appeasement etc, but if you're researching it it should give you a start point to google.

Answer 4

It followed on from the cause of World War 2. Hitler wanted to expand Germany after its defeat in World War I The Japanese wanted to start an East Asian empire and Mussolini wanted an Italian army. The victor powers Britain and France were greatly weakened by the war and the Great Depression and the Americans had returned to isolationism. The League of Nations failed to prevent war

Answer 5

The Armistice of WWI had Germany pay the expenses of the victors, causing disastrous civil conditions in Germany. That made it ripe for a leader, Hitler, demanding revenge [read: The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich]. Meanwhile, in the 1930's, Japan had already started their bid for World domination [read: Flags of our Fathers].

Answer 6

Well there are a lot of reasons. To understand why World War II was fought you need to start with the rise of Nationalism and World War I, and the aftermath of Word War I and the economics of the times.

The war was not fought simply because the Axis powers were, "EVIL". There were many reasons.

The treaty of Versailles ruined Germany economically even before the depression. It left people hopeless, starving, and without work. Germany was overburdened with debt it could not possibly pay.

Germany did not rush off to war alone in 1914. There was dancing in the streets in Paris and London when it was announced. When the war had ended Germany was the only nation footing the bill though.

The depression hit Italy hard as well and this atmosphere of desperation let radical groups like the Nazis and Fascists take over those countries. These extremist men were encouraged and assisted by wealthy industrialists in their countries like Krupp manufactering in Germany. In fact Only after Hitler had garnered the support of these wealthy men did he make his bid for power.

Japan was a different story. Japan was a rising power and an ally of ours in WW I. They were insulted by the treaties that treated them like a 3rd rate power, and with the bullying ways of the U.S. throughout the pacific rim.

They were also desperatly short of natural resources that were required if they were to expand their influence and power in the far east. They began expanding their influence, by force when necessary, to get valuable resources like lumber, steel, rubber, oil, and other materials the required to feed their industry.

Many western powers had colonies (Philippines, Indochina, Singapore, etc...) in the far east used to give them access to these same resources and markets. Japan wnted to edge out western powers that had interfered and with trade in the far east, and become a power unto themselves. This way they could rule over an Asian empire that held equal footing with the west.

The U.S. enacted trade embargoes to punish the Japanese for their aggressive tactics and invasion of surrounding areas. The Japanese had warned us not to interfere, and when we refused to lift the embargo it gave radicals in the military and the government enough pull to urge them to war with the U.S. thus placing us on the road to war.

Since Italy, Germany, and Japan shared common opponents it made sense to form the Axis Powers pact.

After Germany invaded Poland, France and Britain declared war upon Germany. thus beginning WW II

Answer 7

Munich Deal of 1938 between Britain, France and Germany.

Answer 8

In Europe, it was Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939. For the U.S. it was the Japanese attack on U.S. military installations on Oahu Island in the Territory of Hawaii on December 7, 1941. Following that event, Germany declared war on the U.S. a few days later.

Answer 9

In a nutshell:
all the countries that were involved in WWI decided that it was Germany's fault and they made them pay for everything.
Germany was a poor country and started to collapse for many reasons.
Then Hitler came along and people believed he was a good leader because they needed SOMETHING, but they he turned his back on all of the people and it started hell.

Answer 10

The Germans, and the Japanese and there aggressive behavior.