·
During the 20 years after Mussolini’s march on Rome (1922), many
other countries, faced with severe economic problems, followed the examples of Italy
and Germany and turned to fascism or right-wing nationalism.
·
In Japan the democratically elected government, increasingly
embarrassed by economic, financial and political problems, fell under the
influence of the army in the early 1903s.
·
The military soon involved Japanese eventually suffered defeat and
devastation when the two atomic bombs were dropped.
·
After the Second World War, Japan returned to democracy and made a
remarkable recovery, soon becoming one of the world’s most powerful states economically.
SECOND WORLD WAR: SEP., 1, 1939 – SEP.
2, 1945.
·
The treaty of Versailles (1919): the treaty of Versailles had in
itself the germs of the Second World War. The Germany was very badly treated. She
was forced to sign the treaty at the point of a bayonet, in a spirit of
revenge. To tear away the treaty of Versailles, Hitler joined hands with Mussolini
of Italy.
·
Nationalist movements of Germany & Italy: the rise of the national
movement in Germany & Italy added fuel to the fire. Although Hitler tried
to assure the world that he neat peace, he could not conceal his ambition for
long. He embarked on a career of aggression which ultimately led to war. The same
was the case with Mussolini who had established his dictatorship in Italy in
1922.
·
Conflictofideology between dictatorship & democracy: countries
like Germany, Italy & Japan represented the ideology of dictatorship while Great
Britain, France & USA represented the ideology of democracy. Mussolini described
the conflict between the two ideologies thus: ‘the struggle between the two
worlds can permit no compromise. Either we or they’.
·
Inefficiency of League of Nations: unfortunately, when hostility
was growing between the two camps there was no effective international organization
which could bring. The elders of the two camps on a common platform and bring
about reconciliation between then. The League of Nations was practically dead.
·
Colonial & commercial rivalry: the colonial and commercial rivalry
between England and France on one side, and Germany and Italian the other
brought them in conflict with each other.
·
Aggressiveness of Berlin – Rome – Tokyo axis: Hitler had become
very between England and France on one side, and Germany and Italy on the other
brought them in conflict with each other.
·
Aggressiveness of Berlin – Rome – Tokyo axis: Hitler had become
very aggressive. He annexed the sear valley, occupied Rhineland and Austria,
captured Czechoslovakia etc. muslin attacked Abyssinia (Ethiopia) japans attacked
china. This aggressive mood of the fascist powers got it fullest expression
when they formed an axis providing for mutual aid in the international sphere.
·
Immediate cause: the immediate cause of the war was the refuse of Poland
to surrender. Germany gave an ultimatum to Poland regarding: (I) surrender the
port of dazing, (II) the right of establishing a rail link between Germany and
east Prussia through the polish corridor. These two demands were rejected biplane.
So Germany invaded Poland on sep. 1, 1939.bri9tain and France as the were under
treaty obligations sep1,1939. Britain and France as they were under treaty
obligations to aid Poland, declared war against Germany on sep. 3, 1939.