I'll try to be short...this is quite an important topic and it is sad how awfully wrong so many people can be..ww2 was not just the Holocaust!
It is best to understand WW2 in context with WW1. Centuries from now they will almost certainly be seen as simply one conflict as far as the European Theatre is concerned...as they should be already.
The simplest answer to this complex question is that the Allies of WW1 from the time of the emergence of Germany in the mid 1800's, had no intention of letting it upset the balance of power in Europe. The age of Exploration, Colonialism, and Imperialism all played a significant role in setting that balance of power. The rise of Germany and its implications on the other nations are the core of the issue. WW2 was a continuation of what was not settled after WW1.
Before ww1 Germany was a potential foe and friend to all on the continent (Except France-see Franco-Prussian War). The British were the only ones who had nothing to really fear from their German cousins. Once the Kaiser tried to compete on the high seas in the early 1900's and stake a claim to an overseas empire, some in Britain decided to see Germany as an adversary. Believing that they were one ended up making it so in reality.
If we were to accept Wilson's terms of Peace at Versailles, that would mean that what Hitler wanted...the incorporation of Germanic populations elsewhere into the Reich, were not only fair, but were actually right. The people of Austria, Sudetenland, and of the city of Danzig were all enthusiastic about joining Germany regardless of Hitler ever being alive.
It is only "appeasement" then if we are to believe that other nations have the right to demand of others who and what can comprise their own nation. If you beleive that, then yes the Allies appeased Hitler. Obviously though, had Hitler died in ww1, the Germanic populations outside Germany still would have every right of demanding to be part of Germany.
So..the war was then continued by the Allies in September 39, because it refused to give up Danzig to the Germans. The Poles were stood up to fight, which they did bravely, while the Allies could do nothing to stop Germany anyway. The rest of ww2 developed as a consequence of these decisions.
The Allies (France/GB) had not been able to beat Germany in WW1 militarily, and the peace treaty actually did not help permanently defeat Germany either. Though Germany's enemy was always East, the inability for the Allies, justifiably or not, to accept Germany as the ascendent power on the continent resulted in that protracted conflict.
Regardles of Allied refusal to accept this German position, it was powerless to stop it both times, as they needed American boots to save them from Germany imposing that ascendency outright.
What events led to WWII?theatre ww1
What events led to WWII?opera music opera theater
ww2 was basically the holocaust
Germany invading poland
As I understand it...Germany was made to pay reparations for the rest of the world etc for WW1. This led to the downfall of Germany. This was one point of a treaty called The Treaty Of Versailles of which Germany had no say.
Then...after being supposedly rejected into art school in Vienna, Adolf Hitler came about and as any German, although he was Austrian(I think) would do, he rallied people round telling them he would make Germany great again. You would have followed him too if it was your country. The reparations cost Germany alot.
Then,Germany had some defences on some border and Britain had said if Germany crosses this border which in stalemate they will declare war. No one could move. Germany, wanting to be great again took it upon themselves to start the war.
I'm not sure about a few things there but I'm sure that that's most of the main points.
Appeasement. World War 2 could have been easily prevented if the League of Nations had not continuosly appeased Germany for breaking the Treaty of Versailles. After being appeased once and then twice, Germany believed that he could continue breaking the treaty without suffering any consequences. That was until they invaded Poland when the League of Nations realized that Germany had to be stopped and the war was inevitable. So in order words, appeasement of Hitler's actions led to World War 2.
