1. After World War I
War ended in 1918; Germany lost.
Treaty of Versailles punished Germany harshly:Lost land
Paid reparations
Army reduced
Germany felt angry and humiliated.
League of Nations created to keep peace, but:No army
Weak and ineffective
👉 Exam tip: Treaty = anger in Germany → desire for revenge
2. Economic Problems
Germany had hyperinflation (money became worthless).
Great Depression caused:Massive unemployment
Poverty worldwide
People lost trust in governments.
Extreme leaders became more popular.
👉 Exam tip: Economic crisis → people support strong leaders
3. Rise of Dictators
Adolf Hitler (Germany):Came to power in 1933
Promised jobs and to undo Versailles
Benito Mussolini (Italy):Fascist ruler from 1922
Joseph Stalin (USSR):Controlled country with fear
👉 Exam tip: Dictators wanted power, land, and strong armies
4. Aggression in the 1930s
Japan invaded Manchuria (1931).
Italy invaded Ethiopia (1935).
Germany:Rearmed (built army again)
Remilitarised Rhineland (1936)
League of Nations failed to stop aggression.
👉 Exam tip: League = weak → countries ignored it
5. Appeasement
Britain & France tried to avoid war.
Policy = appeasement (giving Hitler what he wanted).
Munich Agreement:Allowed Hitler to take Sudetenland
Neville Chamberlain believed it would bring peace.
Hitler broke promises and kept expanding.
👉 Exam tip: Appeasement = failed, made Hitler stronger
6. Final Steps to War
Germany took over all of Czechoslovakia (1939).
Signed Nazi-Soviet Pact with USSR:Agreed not to fight each other
This allowed Germany to invade Poland.
👉 Key result:
➡️ Britain & France declared war → WWII began (1939)
War ended in 1918; Germany lost.
Treaty of Versailles punished Germany harshly:Lost land
Paid reparations
Army reduced
Germany felt angry and humiliated.
League of Nations created to keep peace, but:No army
Weak and ineffective
👉 Exam tip: Treaty = anger in Germany → desire for revenge
2. Economic Problems
Germany had hyperinflation (money became worthless).
Great Depression caused:Massive unemployment
Poverty worldwide
People lost trust in governments.
Extreme leaders became more popular.
👉 Exam tip: Economic crisis → people support strong leaders
3. Rise of Dictators
Adolf Hitler (Germany):Came to power in 1933
Promised jobs and to undo Versailles
Benito Mussolini (Italy):Fascist ruler from 1922
Joseph Stalin (USSR):Controlled country with fear
👉 Exam tip: Dictators wanted power, land, and strong armies
4. Aggression in the 1930s
Japan invaded Manchuria (1931).
Italy invaded Ethiopia (1935).
Germany:Rearmed (built army again)
Remilitarised Rhineland (1936)
League of Nations failed to stop aggression.
👉 Exam tip: League = weak → countries ignored it
5. Appeasement
Britain & France tried to avoid war.
Policy = appeasement (giving Hitler what he wanted).
Munich Agreement:Allowed Hitler to take Sudetenland
Neville Chamberlain believed it would bring peace.
Hitler broke promises and kept expanding.
👉 Exam tip: Appeasement = failed, made Hitler stronger
6. Final Steps to War
Germany took over all of Czechoslovakia (1939).
Signed Nazi-Soviet Pact with USSR:Agreed not to fight each other
This allowed Germany to invade Poland.
👉 Key result:
➡️ Britain & France declared war → WWII began (1939)
