Video Summary

World War II was ignited by the aggressive expansionism of the Axis powers: Germany, Italy, and Japan. Germany, under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, pursued a policy of territorial expansion, fueled by nationalist ideology and resentment over the Treaty of Versailles. Italy, under Benito Mussolini, sought to recreate a Roman Empire, invading Ethiopia and Albania. Japan, driven by a desire for resources and empire, invaded Manchuria and later much of China. The Axis powers also formed alliances, aiming to counter the growing power of the Allied nations (Britain, France, the Soviet Union, and later the United States). These aggressive actions, combined with the failure of the League of Nations to effectively enforce international law, ultimately led to the outbreak of the most devastating conflict in human history.