Q. How did improper behaviour of France prove a potent cause of the second world war?

France had had to bear the maximum physicaal brunt of the First World War. As a result, it was bent upon extracting revenge upon Germany. This prompted the overly harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles which created more problems than it solved. Many German territories in Europe were annexed and new states were created out of them. All the German colonies were taken away, a huge war indemnity was imposed and Getrman military was greatly reduced. Later still, when Hitler began his aggressive expansionist programme in Europe, the same French political leadership let him continue. They followed a policy of appeasement since it was beleived Germany had a legitimate grievance emanating from the humilitation of the Versailles treaty. This unwittingly contributed to the onset of the Second World War.