The Interwar Years: From the League of Nations to Nazism

The League of Nations (1919)

The League of Nations, created in 1919 through the Treaty of Versailles, was an attempt to maintain international peace and cooperation in Europe. While the idea was sound, the League ultimately failed because it lacked the power to enforce its decisions, and member countries often did not comply with its resolutions.

The Weimar Republic (1919-1933)

The Weimar Republic is the name given to the period in Germany following a constitutional assembly in the city of Weimar. This era was marked by severe political and economic instability, most notably the hyperinflation of 1923 and the subsequent rise of the Nazi party.

The Russian Revolution (1917)

A series of revolutions in the Russian Empire during 1917 culminated in the October Revolution, led by Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks. These events destroyed the Tsarist autocracy, replacing it with a communist state. This led to the establishment of a proletarian dictatorship and the creation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), also known as the Soviet Union.

The Great Depression (1929)

The Great Depression began with the US stock market crash in 1929. The preceding economic boom of the 1920s was built on several factors:

• Overproduction
• Excessive credit expansion
• Speculation that artificially inflated stock prices

Following the crash, banks failed, businesses closed, and millions lost their jobs. The crisis originated in the USA, which then recalled loans from Europe, spreading the economic downturn globally.

The Rise of Fascism in Italy (1922)

Amidst post-war economic and social turmoil in Italy, fascism emerged as a powerful ideology advocating for strong state control. In 1922, the dictator Benito Mussolini rose to power, promising to solve the economic crisis and restore the glory of ancient Rome. He capitalized on national discontent to establish his authoritarian regime.

The Rise of Nazism in Germany (1933)

Germany's severe economic situation, exacerbated by the hyperinflation of 1923 and the global crisis of 1929, created fertile ground for the rise of Nazism. Adolf Hitler legally took power after his party won elections, capitalizing on public discontent by promising to resolve Germany's economic, social, and ideological problems and restore national pride.