Final answer:
Option (C), World War I directly led to World War II primarily due to the Treaty of Versailles, which imposed severe reparations and territorial losses on Germany, fostering resentment and economic hardship that enabled the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party.
Step-by-step explanation:
How WWI Led to WWII
It is said that World War I (WWI) led directly to World War II (WWII) for several interconnected reasons. One of the main pieces of evidence supporting this claim is the Treaty of Versailles, which ended WWI by imposing harsh penalties on Germany. These penalties included excessive reparations, territorial losses, and military restrictions that fueled German resentment and economic hardship, creating fertile ground for the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. The treaty, therefore, laid a foundation for future conflict.
Additionally, WWI did not resolve the underlying issues of nationalism and imperial competition that initially sparked the war. Instead, the post-war era saw a rise in totalitarian regimes and nationalist sentiment, particularly in countries that were dissatisfied with the outcomes of WWI. In Germany, the belief in the "Stab in the Back" myth helped Hitler gain popular support by promoting the idea that Germany's loss in WWI was due to internal betrayal rather than military defeat.
Furthermore, WWI had a profound impact on the global balance of power, leading to revolutions, the rise of communism in Russia, and an upsurge in fascist and totalitarian governments in Europe. The failure of the League of Nations to enforce collective security, the economic turmoil of the Great Depression, and the aggressive expansion of Japan in Asia also contributed to global instability. All these factors combined to ignite the flames of WWII.