What were the causes of the Second World War?

Treaty of Versailles- The treaty of Versailles humiliated Germany. It was far too harsh thanks to the French President’s wish to get revenge of Germany for the First World War. The main clauses that Germany found the most offensive were|: the war guilt clause (this meant Germany had to accept all accountability for the outbreak of the war), the repayment of reparations (this equated to around £6.6 million), disarmament of Germany. Only allowed to have a small army, six naval ships, no tanks, no airforce and the Rhineland was demilitarised, territorial clauses also humiliated Germany, and they were forced to give large amounts of land back to other countries, including Alsace-Lorriane to France, and an Anschluss with Austria was forbidden. The actions of Hitler also contributed to the outbreak of war in 1939. After Hitler became chancellor in 1933, he began rebuilding Germany’s armaments. He began building a German airforce, more warships and introduced compulsory military service in order to rebuild the army. Britain and France allowed this to continue because they believed the terms of the treaty were slightly too harsh and a stronger Germany would be a good buffer against communism in Russia. In 1936, Hitler ordered troops to enter the demilitarised Rhineland. Britain and France did not want to start another war and decided not to challenge the German army, even though they could have been defeated because they were not very strong at this point. In 1936, Hilter also allied himself with Mussolini’s Italy and Japan. In March 1938, German troops entered Austria to cheers from the public. The Austrian government was forced to have a vote on an Anschluss between the two countries. 99% of the vote agreed on one. The Austrian government asked for aid from Britain and France, but hitler declared this this was the end of his expansion and to avoid the risk of a war, he was not challenged. Six months later, Hitler demanded the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia, claiming that many Germans lived in this region and had been annexed from Germany due to the treaty of versailles. Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister travelled to Germany to discuss with Hitler a solution that would prevent war. The Munich Agreement stated that Hitler could have the Sudetenland if he promised not to invade the rest of Czechoslovakia. Chamberlain knew not to trust Hitler and believed that through his process of appeasement, he had managed to delay war for a year. He began rearming Britain for war. Of course, Hitler did not stay true to his word and in March 1939, he invaded the rest of the Sudetenland. Britain and France were called on by the Czech government to help them but they refused to help so as they had more time to prepare for war. They believed that Poland was next and agreed to take action if it was invaded. Chamberlain believed that Hitler would stop his invasions at the possibility of war against Britain and France. However, a Nazi-Soviet pact was created between Hitler and Stalin. Hitler promised a part of Poland to the Soviet Union so as they could keep the peace between the two countries. Germany could not fight a war on two fronts. Stalin knew Hitler wouldn't keep his word, and began mobilising his army. Stalin was right. Two years after Germany invaded Poland on September 1st 1939, Hitler turned on him and invaded the Soviet Union.