Question

Explain the factors responsible for the Second World War – Fascism and Nazism

Answer 1

Fascism, particularly in Italy under Benito Mussolini, and Nazism, under Adolf Hitler in Germany, were key ideologies that directly contributed to the outbreak of the Second World War. Fascist regimes, built on authoritarian rule, extreme nationalism, and militarism, sought territorial expansion and the establishment of totalitarian states. Hitler’s Nazi regime, in particular, had expansionist ambitions, seeking to establish a Greater Germany and dominate Europe. The aggression displayed by fascist states in Europe, including the invasion of neighboring countries and the establishment of oppressive regimes, led to the breakdown of international peace and security, contributing directly to the outbreak of war in 1939.