--- title: "Causes of WWII and its effects" subject: "Technology, Environment and Society" chapter: 3 key: "semester_7/technology_environment_and_society:wwii-causes-effects" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/wwii-causes-effects site: BCT Engineering --- # Causes of WWII and its effects Technology, Environment and Society · Chapter 3: Brief History of Human Civilization - Asked in: 2079 Bhadra, 8 marks - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/wwii-causes-effects - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/chapter-3 ## Question Discuss the key reasons those caused to happen world war II with its political and economic effects. ## Short answer World War II was caused by the harsh Treaty of Versailles, the Great Depression, rise of fascism, failure of the League of Nations, appeasement, and Germany's invasion of Poland. Politically it led to the UN, US–Soviet Cold War and decolonisation; economically it brought massive destruction, Bretton Woods institutions, Marshall Plan, US dominance and technological spin-offs. ## Answer **World War II (1939–1945)** was a global war between the **Allies** (Britain, France, USSR, USA, China) and the **Axis** (Germany, Italy, Japan). It ended with Germany's surrender in May 1945 and Japan's surrender in August 1945 after the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. #### Key reasons (causes) of World War II 1. **Treaty of Versailles (1919)** – Germany was humiliated: it lost territory and colonies, its army was limited and it had to pay huge reparations; this created anger and a desire for revenge. 2. **Great Depression (1929)** – world economic crisis caused mass unemployment and poverty, helping extremist parties gain power. 3. **Rise of Fascism and Nazism** – Mussolini in Italy (1922), Hitler in Germany (1933) and militarists in Japan wanted expansion and glorified war. 4. **Failure of the League of Nations** – it could not stop Japan's invasion of Manchuria (1931) or Italy's attack on Ethiopia (1935); it had no army and the USA was not a member. 5. **Policy of appeasement** – Britain and France gave in to Hitler (Rhineland 1936, Austria 1938, Sudetenland at Munich 1938), which encouraged more aggression. 6. **Expansionism and alliances** – Rome–Berlin–Tokyo Axis; Nazi–Soviet Non-Aggression Pact (August 1939). 7. **Immediate cause** – Germany invaded **Poland on 1 September 1939**; Britain and France declared war on 3 September 1939. The USA joined after Japan attacked **Pearl Harbor (7 December 1941)**. #### Political effects - **United Nations** founded in 1945 to maintain peace. - **USA and USSR** emerged as superpowers; Britain and France declined. - **Cold War** – ideological rivalry between capitalist West (NATO, 1949) and communist East (Warsaw Pact, 1955); nuclear arms race. - **Division of Germany** (East and West) and of Korea; Communist China (1949). - **Decolonisation** – India and Pakistan (1947), Burma, Indonesia and most African countries gained independence. - Creation of Israel (1948); Nuremberg and Tokyo war-crime trials; Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). #### Economic effects - Massive destruction of industry, cities and transport in Europe and Asia; huge debts and inflation. - **Bretton Woods system (1944)** – IMF and World Bank; the US dollar became the world reserve currency. - **Marshall Plan (1948)** – US aid rebuilt Western Europe; later "economic miracles" in West Germany and Japan. - USA became the largest industrial and creditor nation. - War technologies (jet engines, radar, computers, nuclear power, synthetic rubber) boosted post-war industry. - Growth of GATT (1947) and free trade; rise of welfare states in Europe. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. How did the Treaty of Versailles (1919) contribute to WWII? A. It humiliated Germany with territorial loss and reparations, creating desire for revenge B. It gave Germany new colonies C. It created the United Nations D. It ended the Great Depression Answer: A. Harsh terms left Germany angry and seeking revenge. (Key point: Versailles) 2. What was the effect of appeasement by Britain and France? A. It stopped Hitler's expansion B. It encouraged more aggression by giving in to Hitler C. It started the Cold War D. It formed the Axis Answer: B. Concessions like the Rhineland, Austria and Sudetenland encouraged Hitler to demand more. (Key point: Appeasement) 3. What was the immediate cause of WWII? A. Attack on Pearl Harbor B. Assassination at Sarajevo C. Germany's invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 D. Japan's invasion of Manchuria Answer: C. Germany invaded Poland on 1 Sept 1939 and Britain and France declared war on 3 Sept. (Key point: Immediate cause) ## Related in Technology, Environment and Society - [Causes and impacts of World War I and II](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aworld-wars-causes-impacts) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 3 - [Economic, social and political impacts of WWII](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Awwii-impacts) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 3, asked 2× - [Short note: Impact of World War I and II](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aworld-wars-impact-note) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 3, asked 2× - [Air pollution: causes, effects and mitigation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aair-pollution-causes-mitigation) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 5, asked 3× ## Related in other subjects - [GLOF: occurrence, causes and effects](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Aglof-occurrence-effects) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 5, asked 9× - [Water logging: causes, effects, remedies](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Firrigation_and_drainage_engineering%3Awater-logging-causes-effects-remedies) — Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, chapter 9, asked 13× - [Causes of deterioration; effects of steel corrosion](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Acauses-deterioration-corrosion-effects) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 6, asked 2× - [Floods: causes, effects and mitigation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fengineering_hydrology%3Afloods-causes-effects-mitigation) — Engineering Hydrology, chapter 6