Question

With reference to the cause of the second world war answer the following question.
Explain how the ideologies of Fascism and Nazism led to the second world war.

Answer 1

Hint: 1)The only difference between Fascism and Nazism is that the former worked on a political ideology whereas the latter was totally based on racial hatred.
2)Hitler wanted Poland to sign the Anit-Communist Pact with Germany and Japan.

Complete answer:
Fascism is a form of authoritarian ultra-nationalism. It is characterized by dictatorial power and forceful suppression of the opposition. Nazism is also considered as a form of fascism, the only difference being that fascism worked on a political ideology whereas Nazism was totally based on racial hatred.

Hitler along with all the Nazis took control of Germany in 1933 - 34. It turned Germany into a dictatorship with a hostile attitude towards the Jews. The main tactics that the Nazis used to take control of neighbouring countries were that he would propose somewhat reasonable demands and if they were not met, then he would threaten them with war. Once concessions were made and terms accepted, he would then propose a new demand.
Hitler used this aggressive strategy and over the next few years, he remilitarized Rhineland, formed an alliance with Italy, supported France in its Spanish war, seized Austria, took over Czechoslovakia, formed peace with Russia and finally in 1939, invaded Poland.
Germany had signed the anti-communist Pact with Japan and wanted Poland to do the same.

But Poland believed that in doing so they would lose their independence. Hence, they refused. Hitler was agitated and declared that it was not because of the Pact that they were invading but because they wanted more ‘living space’ in the East. Both France and England supported Poland and declared that if Germany invades Poland then it would commence a war. Hitler refused and invaded Poland on the 1st of September in 1939.

Hence, World War II was declared on the 3rd of September 1939.

Note: 1)The Anti-Communist Pact that Germany and Japan had signed was called The Anti-Comintern Pact or the Agreement Against the Communist International. This was later signed by Italy and Spain and other countries.
2)At its commencement, it was supposed to be an alliance against the Soviet.
3)But after Germany and Soviet signed a non-aggression pact called Molotov-Ribbentrov Pact, it soon became popular as the anti-western and anti-British pact.