Question

World War II -

1. The causes of the Great War
2. The course of the Great War
3. Japan's entry into World War II

Answer 1

The Second World War proved to be more destructive than the First World War. It was certainly more extensive than the First World War and its warfare was technologically more advanced.

1. The causes of the Great War - 
   1. The ‘League of Nations’ intended to avoid conflicts between nations. The Nazis under the leadership of Hitler grabbed the power in Germany.
   2. Hitler began to escalate Germany’s military power so as to avenge the demeaning conditions imposed on Germany by the Versailles treaty.
   3. Meanwhile, Soviet Russia, a communist nation was becoming more powerful. It made the nations like England, America and France uneasy.
   4. Soviet Russia and imperialist Germany viewed each other as arch enemies. Keeping this in view, England and France ignored Germany’s advances, thinking that it will keep Soviet Russia’s increasing power under control.
   5. Actually, Poland was looked upon as a neutral country by all European nations. In spite of this, Hitler attacked and conquered Poland. Therefore, England declared war against Germany.
2. The course of the Great War -
   1. The Second World War was fought during 1939-1945 C.E.
   2. India was involved in the war episodes happening in North Africa, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Greece, Myanmar and Malaya.
   3. However, India contributed to the rehabilitation of Malaya, Indonesia and China after the war was over.
   4. Indians in the Air Force of British India participated in the war at Assam and Myanmar, while Indians in the Navy of British India fought in the naval war in Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.
   5. England exploited India and its resources heavily to achieve victory in this world war.
   6. India, by itself, did not have anything to gain from this war but it was pulled in forcibly by the British Government.For them India was their colony and they took it in their right to use it as a source of supplying industrial products, cloth and other commodities of daily use to their allied nations. The British Government established several factories in India to meet the requirement of supply of these materials.
3. Japan's entry into World War II - 
   1. Japan entered in this war, in support of Germany. In 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbour and destroyed the American naval base.
   2. This resulted in America declaring war against Japan. Thus, the war field of the Second World War expanded further.
   3. Later, Japan went on capturing the regions of Philippines, Myanmar, Malaya and Singapore. In addition Japan even marched up to Assam, Arakan and Imphal. This drove the British to act against Japan’s aggression.
   4. When Japan seemed to have been going ahead undaunted with their aggressive policies, America launched aerial attacks on two Japanese cities with atom bombs, first on Hiroshima and then Nagasaki.
   5. At last, Japan surrendered on 15th August 1945. This put an end to the Second World War.