The main causes of World War II was the desire and ability of Adolf Hitler, in control of Nazi Germany to dominate Europe and gain control especially of the agrarian resources to the east of Germany. He was allied with Japan, which intended to control the much larger nation of China, as well as Italy (which had ambitions to control parts of the Balkans) and several smaller countries. Hitler had successfully taken control of Austria and Czechoslovakia by early 1939, when Britain and France reversed their policy of appeasement and switched to a policy of deterrence, warning they would declare war if Germany attacked Poland. Hitler thought they were bluffing. He signed an agreement with the Soviet Union in late August that divided up Poland and the Baltic states. Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939; Britain and France declared war two days later.