How did World War II start?


The second world war fought from 1st September 1939 to 2nd September 1945 between the allied forces (Great Britain, France, Soviet Union, United States and china to some extent) and Axis powers (Germany, Italy and Japan). It is considered as a direct result of the consequences of World War 1, due to unresolved tensions and anger from the previous conflict.
Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles

 After the end of World War 1 the Allied forces imposed certain military, territorial and economic provisions on Germany under the Treaty of Versailles. It had to give up Alsace-Lorraine to France. Apart from this it was also made to pay US$33 billion in reparations to accommodate for civilian damages and its army was to have no more than 10,000 men with no heavy artillery, no tanks, no aircraft's and no airships. This humiliated Germany to a great extent, and gave rise to the emergence of a new leader in Germany, Adolf Hitler.
After the end of World War 1 the Allied forces imposed certain military, territorial and economic provisions on Germany under the Treaty of Versailles. It had to give up Alsace-Lorraine to France. Apart from this it was also made to pay US$33 billion in reparations to accommodate for civilian damages and its army was to have no more than 10,000 men with no heavy artillery, no tanks, no aircraft's and no airships. This humiliated Germany to a great extent, and gave rise to the emergence of a new leader in Germany, Adolf Hitler.


Rise of Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler
Rise of Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler

After coming to power in 1933, Adolf Hitler assured the people of Nazi Germany that he will help in restoring the lost glory and reputation of their motherland. He started increasing its army extensively and also ordered to reoccupy the demilitarized left bank of the Rhine on March 1936.



Geographical representation of Rhineland
Geographical representation of Rhineland

After signing alliances with Italy and Japan against Soviet Union, Hitler sent troops to occupy Austria in 1939 and the next year annexed Czechoslovakia. Hitler’s open aggression went unchecked by The Soviet Union, France, Great Britain and The United States. In August 1939 Hitler signed German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, which contained a secret clause about the division of Poland.
Hitler had long planned the invasion of Poland, a nation to which Great Britain and France had agreed to provide military support if it was attacked by the German forces. On 30th August, 1939 Hitler sent an Ultimatum to Poland regarding Polish Corridor and the Free City of Danzig. On 1st September, 1939 without any response to its Ultimatum, the Nazi troops invaded Poland and prompting Britain and France to declare a war on Nazi Germany, starting World War II.
Headlines in newspaper after attack of Germany on Poland
Headlines in newspaper after attack of Germany on Poland

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