What was the immediate cause of the Second World War? Give reasons for it.

The immediate cause was HITLER’S INVASION OF POLAND on 1 September 1939.

Reasons for the attack: (1) Hitler demanded the return of DANZIG, a German-speaking port placed under the League of Nations by the Treaty of Versailles, and a corridor across the Polish Corridor to link Germany with East Prussia; Poland refused. (2) He wished to undo the Treaty of Versailles and to win LEBENSRAUM — living space — for the German people in the east; Nazi propaganda also accused Poland of ill-treating the German minority. (3) The NAZI-SOVIET PACT of 23 August 1939 secured his eastern flank and secretly divided Poland with the USSR, while the earlier policy of appeasement had convinced him that Britain and France would again do nothing. They declared war on 3 September 1939.

Three marks: name the event, then give reasons. The date, 1 September 1939, must appear. Danzig and the Polish Corridor are the specific demands and must be named; a general answer about wanting land earns little. The Nazi-Soviet Pact explains the TIMING — why September 1939 and not earlier — and is the strongest third reason.