Objectives: To fight British with external help (Japan) for India's liberation.

Contribution of Subhas Chandra Bose: Revived INA, inspired soldiers, gave "Jai Hind" slogan, organized provisional government.

Cabinet Mission Plan (1946) - Clauses:
- United India, federal structure.
- Groupings of provinces (A, B, C) with autonomy.
- Interim Government.
- Constituent Assembly.
Mountbatten Plan (June 3, 1947) - Clauses & Acceptance:
- Partition of India into India & Pakistan.
- Plebiscite in NWFP & Sylhet.
- Princely states could join either dominion or remain independent.
- Accepted by Congress & Muslim League.
Indian Independence Act of 1947 - Clauses:
- Ended British rule, declared India independent from August 15, 1947.
- Created two independent dominions: India & Pakistan.
- Abolished office of Viceroy, transferred powers to Constituent Assemblies.
- Granted princely states freedom to accede.

Causes:
- Nationalism & Imperialism: Intense competition for colonies, national rivalries.
- Armament Race: Build-up of military power, naval competition (Britain-Germany).
- Division of Europe: Triple Alliance (Germany, A-H, Italy) vs. Triple Entente (Britain, France, Russia).
- Sarajevo Crisis: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (A-H heir) by Serbian nationalist.
Results:
- Treaty of Versailles (1919): Harsh terms for Germany (war guilt, reparations, territorial losses).
- Territorial Rearrangements: Collapse of Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, Russian empires; new nations (Poland, Yugoslavia).
- Formation of League of Nations: International organization for peace (failed).

Causes for Rise of Fascism in Italy: Post-WWI economic distress, political instability, fear of communism, national humiliation, charismatic leadership of Mussolini.
Causes for Rise of Nazism in Germany: Humiliation of Treaty of Versailles, economic crisis (Great Depression), political instability (Weimar Republic), fear of communism, anti-Semitism, Hitler's charisma.
Comparative Study:
- Mussolini (Fascism): Extreme nationalism, totalitarian state, one-party rule, glorification of war, corporate state.
- Hitler (Nazism): Extreme nationalism, racial superiority (Aryan race), anti-Semitism, totalitarian state, expansionism, lebensraum.

Causes:
- Dissatisfaction with Treaty of Versailles: German resentment.
- Rise of Fascism and Nazism: Aggressive expansionist policies.
- Policy of Appeasement: Britain/France failed to confront Hitler initially.
- Japanese invasion of China: Expansion in Asia.
- Failure of League of Nations: Inability to prevent aggression.
- Hitler's invasion of Poland (1939): Immediate trigger.
Key Events: Attack on Pearl Harbour (1941 - US entry), bombing of Hiroshima and Naga