Causes of World War II

The expansionist policies of the Axis powers were significant factors leading to World War II. Germany sought Lebensraum, or living space, through the annexation of territories with German populations, such as Austria and the Sudetenland. The militarization of the Rhineland violated the Treaty of Versailles, while the Munich Conference showcased the failure of appeasement, leading to further invasions of Czechoslovakia. Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935 and Albania in 1939. Japan pursued similar expansion in the Pacific, invading Manchuria. The shifting alliances, including the Franco-Soviet Pact and various agreements among Britain, Italy, and Germany, shaped the pre-war landscape.