1. The Treaty of Versailles: The harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I, left Germany feeling humiliated and resentful. This resentment was a major factor in the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, who promised to restore Germany's greatness and avenge the Treaty of Versailles.
2. The Great Depression: The Great Depression, which began in 1929, had a devastating impact on the world economy. This led to widespread poverty and unemployment, which in turn created political instability and made it easier for dictators like Hitler to come to power.
3. The Rise of Fascism: Fascism is a political ideology that emphasizes the importance of the nation and the state over the individual. Fascist leaders often use nationalism and militarism to appeal to their supporters. Fascism was on the rise in Europe in the 1930s, and Hitler's Nazi Party was one of the most powerful fascist movements.
4. Appeasement: Appeasement is a policy of giving in to the demands of an aggressor in order to avoid conflict. The Western Allies (Britain, France, and the United States) pursued a policy of appeasement towards Hitler in the 1930s, in the hope of avoiding another war. However, this policy only encouraged Hitler to become more aggressive.
5. The Invasion of Poland: On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. This invasion marked the beginning of World War II.