W.43: Geographic Features and Natural Resources in World War II

What role did geographic features and natural resources play in increasing tensions prior to World War II?

• They provided abundant resources for all countries.

• They led to increased competition and conflict.

• They had no impact on political ambitions.

• They were irrelevant to military strategies.

Which countries experienced increasing tensions due to geographic features and natural resources prior to World War II?

• Germany and Japan

• France and Italy

• USA and Canada

• China and India

What was a significant factor in Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939?

• Desire for more land

• Control of natural resources

• Expansion of cultural influence

• Establishment of trade routes

Why did Japan expand into Southeast Asia prior to World War II?

• To spread democracy

• To secure access to oil and rubber

• To establish new trade partners

• To promote tourism

What was a shared goal of Germany's alliance with Italy and Japan's alliance with other Axis powers?

• To promote peace

• To secure access to key resources

• To develop new technologies

• To explore new territories

How did Germany's central location in Europe affect its strategic importance?

• It made it isolated from conflicts.

• It made it a key strategic battleground.

• It reduced its military influence.

• It increased its economic stability.

What geographic feature made Japan vulnerable to blockades and military threats?

• Mountainous terrain

• Island geography

• Desert regions

• Dense forests

What was a consequence of the competition for natural resources between Germany, Japan, and the Allied powers?

• Formation of alliances

• Decrease in military tensions

• Increase in global trade

• Development of new technologies

What did the strategic importance of geographic locations contribute to prior to World War II?

• Decrease in military expansion

• Formation of alliances

• Reduction in political tensions

• Increase in cultural exchanges

What was a key resource that Germany lacked access to, leading to increased tensions?

• Timber

• Oil

• Grain

• Water