The rise of nationalism and militarism in Europe: After World War I, many European countries were left with a sense of nationalism and a desire to regain their former glory. This led to the rise of militaristic regimes in countries such as Germany, Italy, and Japan.
The Treaty of Versailles: The Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I, was seen as unfair by many Germans. It required Germany to give up territory, pay reparations, and accept responsibility for the war. This created a sense of resentment among Germans and contributed to the rise of Nazism.
The Great Depression: The Great Depression, which began in 1929, had a devastating impact on the world economy. It led to widespread unemployment, poverty, and political instability. This made it easier for demagogues like Hitler and Mussolini to come to power.
The failure of the League of Nations: The League of Nations was an international organization that was created to prevent war. However, it was unable to stop the rise of fascism and the outbreak of World War II.
The Munich Agreement: In 1938, the Munich Agreement allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia. This was a major diplomatic victory for Hitler and it showed the world that the Western powers were unwilling to stand up to him.
The invasion of Poland: On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. This was the final straw for the Western powers, who declared war on Germany two days later. This marked the beginning of World War II.