The document discusses several factors that contributed to the outbreak of World War 2 in 1939, including flawed peace settlements after World War 1 that made Germany resentful, a weak League of Nations that failed to stop aggression, the economic depression that led to the rise of extreme right-wing governments, countries adopting aggressive foreign policies for economic reasons, Hitler breaking the Treaty of Versailles and using force to expand Germany, the aggression of Italy and Japan, the appeasement of Germany by Britain and France that encouraged further aggression, and the failure of Britain, France and Russia to form an alliance against Germany due to ideological differences.

1. CONTENT
ROAD TO WAR
WHY WORLD WAR 2
BROKE OUT IN 1939?
13

2. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exTN6kIrT-o&t=22s

3. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D
INTRODUCTION
World War 2 did not break out for only few reasons. It was a clear result
of a multitude of reasons and complications.

4. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D
THE TREATY AND THE LEAGUE
The peace settlements of 1919-1923 were flawed.
They made Germany resentful and wanting revenge for the harsh
treatment through the Treaty of Versailles.
The League of Nations was weak. By not taking clear action and
standing up to Japan and Italy over Manchuria and Abyssinia, it
showed that countries could get away with aggression.

5. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc352jIpilk

6. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D
THE DEPRESSION
The Depression led to extreme right-wing governments like Hitler’s
coming to power.

7. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D
AGGRESSIVE FOREIGN POLICIES
It also led to some countries adopting aggressive foreign policies for
economic reasons and to countries being more concerned about their
own affairs than what was going on in the rest of Europe.

8. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D
HITLER
Hitler must take a lot of the blame. He broke the Treaty of Versailles
and used force to get want he wanted. The aggressiveness of Italy and
Japan were also factors.

9. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D
APPEASEMENT
Appeasement of Germany by Britain and France was also to blame.
It led Hitler to believe he could get away with anything and
encouraged him to be more aggressive.

10. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D
FAILING TO STAND AGAINST COMMUNISM
Britain, France and Russia failed to stand together against Germany.
Britain and France were reluctant to ally with Russia because it was
communist.
This encouraged Russia to sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact with Germany,
which made Hitler’s invasion of Poland invisible.