With reference to the causes of the Second World War, explain the following :

(a) Unjust Treaty of Versailles.

(b) Clash of imperialistic interests.

(c) Weakening of the League of Nations.

(a) The Treaty of Versailles imposed on Germany was very harsh.

1. The defeated nations, especially Germany had to cede many of her territories, and all her colonies were forcibly taken away from her.
2. Germany was divided into two parts for the benefit of Poland.
3. She was burdened with huge war-indemnity which she could never pay.
4. Her military power was considerably reduced.

This harsh treaty created hatred in the minds of the Germans. It was a black spot for the Germans and they wanted to wash it away. This could never be done without armament and as such war became quite inevitable.

(b) The clash between the rising Axis powers (Germany, Italy, Japan) and the existing colonial powers ultimately contributed to the outbreak of World War II.

1. In 1931, Japan attacked China and seized Manchuria. Many Chinese cities fell into the hands of the Japanese.
2. Italy captured Abyssinia and Albania.
3. Germany wanted to regain its lost territories (especially Danzig and Prussia). Hitler invaded Poland in September 1939.
4. Germany signed a Mutual Non-Aggression Pact with the Soviet Union in August 1939. Both countries agreed to divide Poland and the USSR would get Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania.
5. On 10 May 1940, Germany invaded Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. Paris was occupied on 14 June 1940.
6. By June 1941, Germany and Italy had conquered all of Europe, except Britain and the Soviet Union.
7. During the Second World War, Japan joined the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis and entered the war in 1941 to gain more territories.
8. Japan expanded in Asia while Germany and Italy expanded in Eastern Europe and Africa.

(c) League of Nations was set up to maintain peace in the world and to prevent wars. However, it couldn't check the rise of dictatorship and aggressive nationalism in Germany and Italy. When Germany, Italy, and Japan started acquiring colonies, the League of Nations could not take any action against them due to lack of military power, so the member-nations lost their faith in the League and started preparing for the war on a large scale.