Question

The League of Nations was unable to eliminate power struggles leading to another World War. In this context, describe how the following were connected with the Second World War:

1. Japanese invasion of China.
2. Ideological differences between nations.
3. Hitler's invasion of Poland.

Answer 1

1. Japan's expansionist policy was a significant cause of World War II. After World War I, Japan aimed to dominate the Far East. In 1931, it invaded Manchuria and, despite opposition from the League of Nations, established control by setting up a puppet government. Around the same time, Japan began an undeclared war against China. Although China appealed to the League for sanctions against Japan, Britain and France ignored the request. Japan aligned with Germany and Italy by joining the Berlin-Rome Axis, forming the Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis to advance its goals. In 1933, Japan withdrew from the League of Nations and began seizing British and American properties in China. Britain and France, hoping Japan would weaken China, pursued a policy of appeasement. These actions heightened tensions, making war unavoidable.
2. The USA, Britain, and France followed liberal democracies with regular elections, civil liberties, freedom of speech, and protection from arbitrary arrests. In contrast, Italy and Germany had authoritarian regimes led by Mussolini and Hitler, where only one political party held power. Hitler eliminated all opposition, making the Nazi Party the sole political party in Germany. Similarly, Mussolini emphasised that their struggle allowed no compromise it was either their ideology or that of the opposing democracies. Both Axis powers, Germany and Italy, pursued aggressive expansion, making conflict between the two camps inevitable.
3. Hitler invaded Poland in September 1939 for the following reasons:
   1. Germany wanted to reclaim the territories it had lost after World War I.
   2. The city of Danzig, with a German population, was important to connect Germany with East Prussia through the Danzig Corridor.
   3. In August 1939, Germany signed a non-aggression pact with Russia. It then accused Poland of mistreating Germans living there.
   4. On September 1, 1939, German forces invaded Poland.
   5. Britain and France gave Germany an ultimatum to withdraw.
   6. In response, Germany launched attacks on France.
   7. On September 3, Britain and France declared war on Germany.
   8. Within three weeks, German forces conquered Poland, ensuring no help could arrive.
   9. The invasion of Poland officially started World War II.