World War I
* The arms race: In the years leading up to World War I, the major European powers engaged in an arms race, spending vast sums of money on building up their militaries. This arms race created a sense of insecurity and mistrust among the European powers, and contributed to the outbreak of war.
* Economic competition: The major European powers were also competing for control of natural resources and markets. This economic competition led to tensions between the powers, and contributed to the outbreak of war.
* Reparations: After World War I, Germany was forced to pay reparations to the Allied Powers. These reparations were a heavy burden on the German economy, and contributed to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Germany.
World War II
* The Great Depression: The Great Depression, which began in the United States in 1929, had a devastating impact on the global economy. This led to political instability in many countries, and contributed to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Germany.
* Economic nationalism: In the 1930s, many countries adopted economic nationalist policies, such as tariffs and import restrictions. These policies made it difficult for countries to trade with each other, and contributed to the outbreak of war.
* The quest for resources: Germany, Italy, and Japan were all seeking to expand their empires and acquire natural resources. This quest for resources led to conflicts with other countries, and contributed to the outbreak of war.
In conclusion, World War I and World War II were not fought primarily over money. However, economic factors played a role in both conflicts.