“The expansionist policies of the fascist states were the major cause of World War II”.

When World War One ended on the 11th of November 1918, the world thought there would never again be such an event. However, they were proved wrong as it would only be 21 years later, in 1938 when France and England would declare war on Germany after their invasion of Poland. The expansionist policies of the fascist states were one of the main causes of World War Two, however, it can be argued that the effects of the Great Depression and the failure of the League of Nations were equally significant contributors. Combined all of these factors resulted in a disastrous world event, that would affect everyone in a devastating manner. The Expansionist Policies formed by the fascist states and their dictators is first and foremost why World War 2 occurred. During the 1920s and early 1930s, the leaders of Japan, Italy and most importantly Germany were building their empires in order to conquer surrounding countries and enhance their nation’s power. The transition of a weak to strong Germany commenced in 1933, when Hitler became the Chancellor. He implemented an extraordinary propaganda campaign that resulted in uniting a fearless nation. Hitler’s Germany went on to conquer the land of others. Between 1936 and 1938 Hitler and the Nazi’s invaded Rhineland, prepared Germany for war and took over Austria. In late 1938 and early 1939 German troops conquered Czechoslovakia. After these expansions of Germany’s boarders, France and Britain feared that Poland would be Hitler’s next target . With these fearful predictions France and Britain threatened Germany with war if they were to invade Poland. However, Hitler did not take this threat seriously and on the 1st of September 1939, the Nazi’s invaded Poland and on the 2nd of Germany, the world was at war once more.
Benito Mussolini was another one of the world’s most powerful dictators who conquered Abyssinia in 1934 and who was strongly supported by their powerful ally, Germany . Japan was also one of Germany’s strongest