this is for class 10 I.C.S.E and only covers the content under the 25% reduction mainly talks about the causes of world war 2

1. z
The second
world war
By Karthik

2. z
Introduction to the second world war
 The second world war is not a continuation of the first world war
 Although the immediate cause of the world war was the Invasion
of Poland by Germany there are many other reasons
 Dissatisfaction of the treaty of Versailles
 Rise of fascism and Nazism
 Japanese invasion on china
 Failure of the league of nations

3. z
Dissatisfaction of the treaty of Versailles
{causes of world war 2}
 The treaty of Versailles created more problems than it solved
 It was based on the spirit of revenge and Germany was forced to sign the
treaty
 The treaty demanded annexation annexation of Germany and creation of
many states which sowed seeds of bitter conflict
 German colonies were forcibly taken, and Germany was forced with war
indemnity it could not pay
 Germany was looking for a way to do away with the policy, but it was
difficult without an aggressive policy and armaments
 Hence the war was inevitable.

4. z
Rise of Fascism and Nazism
{causes of world war 2}
 The rise of nationalism in the form of Fascism and Nazism contributed to the
causes which led to the world war 2
 Italy wanted to retrieve the glory of the old roman empire
 So it joined the anti-comintern pact in 1937and formed a 10 years alliance with
Germany in 1939 to strengthen its position
 Mussolini established dictatorship in Italy and opposed the treaty of Versailles and
demonstrated its imperialism by attacking Abyssinia
 The league of nations failed to take any action which demonstrated its weakness
 In Germany Hitler wanted to re-establish Germany's prestige
 He disregarded the military clauses in the treaty of Versailles and declared re-
armament
 In 1938 he annexed Austria and dismembered Czechoslovakia

5. z
Japanese invasion of china
{causes of world war 2}
 Japan was determined to dominate the far east
 In 1931 japan intervened in Manchuria and inspite of the league’s
opposition set up a government there
 Japan also started an undeclared war against china in 1939
 Japan then joined the Berlin-Rome axis to further its expansionist
policies and conquest and formed the Berlin-Rome-Tokyo axis
 In 1933 japan left the league of nations to start conquering British
and American properties in China.
 Britain and France followed the policy if appeasement thinking that
the Japanese could be used to weaken China

6. z
Failure of the league of nations
{causes of world war 2}
 The league of nations was the first world war to prevent future wars
 However it suffered an early blow as the USA did not join the league
 Even those who joined the league were not interested in the principle
of collective security
 The authority of the league was disregarded when
 Japan seized Manchuria
 Italy conquered Ethiopia
 Besides the league failed to maintain peace and the countries of
Europe lost faith in its usefulness
 Thereafter they themselves entered into mutual political and military
alliances

7. z
Hitler’s invasion of Poland
{causes of world war 2}
 Hitler invaded Poland on September 1939 because of the
following reasons
 By the treaty of Versailles Germany was divided into 2 parts in
order to give a land route to Poland up to the sea and the port of
danzing was also given to Poland. Germany also wanted to regain
her lost territories
 By occupying the city of danzing which was inhabited by Germans ,
Germany could connect with East Prussia
 Germany signed a nonaggression pact with Russia in august 1939
at the time Poland was accused of committing atrocities against
Germans living there

8. z
Hitler’s invasion of Poland Continued…
{causes of world war 2}
 On September 1, 1939, the German armies marched into Poland
 France and Britain gave Germany an Ultimatum in reply Germany
attacked France
 On September 3 Britain and France declared war against Germany
 Thus the invasion of Poland marked the beginning of the second
world war
 The German armies completed the conquest in less than 3 weeks so
that no aid would reach Poland
 During September 1939 to April 1940 there was very little fighting
therefore the war during this period was dormant