Actually, the Nazi's used desperation as their primary motivation. After WW1, the allies put such strict sanction and demanded such large restitutions that Germany was in an economic depression, lacked national pride because of being stripped of much of their national sovernty, and was filled with people who were desperate for a change. The nazi's intially offered the country hope, but financially and promised a restoratiohn of preeminence. Once in power, the Nazi's started ignoring and violating many of the sanctions placed on Germany. Since most in Germanythought such sanctions were unjust, the national populace of germany gave their full support to the Nazi's. Of course, once the Nazi's were entrenched, we all know what happened. Many of the Germans were horrified with the direction Germany took, but by then, it was too late to change anything. I think especially intersting that President Woodrow Wilson foresaw something of ww2 occuring right after ww1 if the allies tried to punish Germany to harshly. The orignal plan of Wilsons would have limeted restitutions and implemented various policies that may (or may not) have prevented ww2, but he at least foresaw the problem and tried to deal with it. Of course, the european allies, who had been most bloodied, wanted revenge, and ignored Wilson's 14 points. However, education, or lack there of, had little to do with ww2. I would even argue that religion played an insignifigant role in ww2, compared to the economic and social pressures that were placed on Germany at the time.
Japan's aggressions were more about expansion and natural resources than religion. While Japan did have a solid economy, they had a lack of natural resources. However, China and various other countries had a plethera of such resources, and Japan decided to take them by force. Culturally, their society had always embraced the idea of the warrior, which probably made their actions more acceptable in their society. that the emperor gave his support only solidified their sentiment, it didn't cause it. In this case, you could argue that culture and economic concerns ( here, education did provide a role, since their economy was based on advancing their economy in technical capacity) were the driving force for Japan's aggressions.
Alot of this can be easily argued, but I would say it is a gross oversimplifcation, if not outright incorrect, to blame education or religion as the main motivation for either nation going to war.
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