The Second World War (1939-45)

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The war began because aggressive policies by Germany, Italy, and Japan created a tense world situation. The immediate trigger was Germany's attack on Poland on 1 September 1939, after which Britain an…

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The Treaty of Versailles was very harsh on Germany. It took away territories and colonies, reduced military power, and imposed a huge war-indemnity. Germans felt humiliated, and this created hatred an…

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Adolf Hitler became the Dictator of Germany by 1934 with all powers in his hands. He rejected the Treaty of Versailles, increased military power, and annexed Rhineland, Austria, Sudetenland, and Czech…

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Fascism in Italy was a dictatorship under Benito Mussolini. He wanted to revive the glory of the Old Roman Empire, built military strength, and followed an aggressive policy. Italy captured Abyssinia …

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Japan followed a policy of expansion. It seized Manchuria from China in 1931 and fought another war with China in 1937. Later, Japan joined the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis and entered the war in 1941 to ga…

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The Munich Conference was held on 29 and 30 September 1938 between Britain, France, Hitler, and Mussolini. It dealt with the Sudetenland issue, and the leaders of Britain and France accepted Hitler's …

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Churchill used this phrase because the agreement gave in to Hitler's demands and encouraged aggression. It became a symbol of weakness and showed that force was being rewarded instead of stopped.

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Appeasement means trying to avoid war by giving in to the demands of an aggressive power. Britain and later France followed this policy to avoid conflict with Germany and Italy, but it failed to preve…