Reasons for the outbreak of WW2

What were the causes of the Second World War?

• Hitler was to blame
  • In Mein Kampf Hitler said that the only way to make Germany strong again was to fight to overturn the Treaty of Versailles and take Lebensraum.
  • Some historians say that Hitler hated Communism and wanted to stop it by controlling Russia. To do this he would have to invade, starting a war.
  • Hitler's foreign policy aims were to overturn the Treaty of Versailles, create a Greater Germany to unite all German-speaking people and to acquire Lebensraum.
    • Meant Hitler would have to invade countries, which would start a war.
• The Failure of the League of Nations
  • Failure in Manchuria.
    • Showed that the League was weak.
  • The Abyssinian Crisis.
    • Showed that Britain and France were willing to undermine the League.
    • Showed that acts of aggression would not be dealt with…