Which leader is responsible for initiating World War II by invading Poland?

Which leader is responsible for initiating World War II by invading Poland?

• A. Stalin
• B. Mussolini
• C. Hitler
• D. Franco

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is identifying who triggered World War II by the act of invading Poland. Adolf Hitler led Nazi Germany and launched the invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939. That assault prompted Britain and France to declare war on Germany, which marks the start of World War II in Europe. Hitler had already pursued aggressive expansion—violating the Treaty of Versailles, annexing Austria, and dismembering Czechoslovakia—in the years leading up to it. Stalin did move into eastern Poland later in 1939 after the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, but his invasion did not initiate the war. Mussolini and Franco were involved in other conflicts (Italy’s actions in Africa and Spain’s Civil War) and did not start World War II by invading Poland. So, the leader responsible for initiating World War II by invading Poland is Adolf Hitler.

The main idea here is identifying who triggered World War II by the act of invading Poland. Adolf Hitler led Nazi Germany and launched the invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939. That assault prompted Britain and France to declare war on Germany, which marks the start of World War II in Europe. Hitler had already pursued aggressive expansion—violating the Treaty of Versailles, annexing Austria, and dismembering Czechoslovakia—in the years leading up to it. Stalin did move into eastern Poland later in 1939 after the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, but his invasion did not initiate the war. Mussolini and Franco were involved in other conflicts (Italy’s actions in Africa and Spain’s Civil War) and did not start World War II by invading Poland. So, the leader responsible for initiating World War II by invading Poland is Adolf Hitler.