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The economic difficulties of the 1930s were not limited to the United States. The Great Depression was a worldwide event. It made life difficult for millions. World War I had caused great damage.

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Germany suffered defeat in World War I. The country’s suffering continued even in times of peace. Many Germans felt betrayed by the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. Heavy reparation payments led to runaway inflation. This weakened the German economy.

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In the early 1930s, an ambitious politician and former soldier named adolf hitler rose to power. Hitler became the head of the Nazi Party.

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In 1931, Japan attacked Manchuria.

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By 1935, Mussolini wanted an empire. Italy had attempted to colonize Ethiopia in the “scramble for Africa” during the late 1800s. Now, Mussolini invaded Ethiopia.

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Mussolini’s and Hitler’s common goals had brought them together. They supported Franco and Spanish fascism. In October 1936, they signed a pact. The pact said that the world would rotate around the “axis” formed by Rome and Berlin. Germany and Italy became known as the axis powers.

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In 1936, rebels led by General Francisco Franco rose up. They fought the Republican government. The Spanish Civil War lasted three years. Both sides struggled for control. Hitler and Mussolini sent military aid to Franco’s Nationalists. The Soviet Union gave some troops and weapons to the Republicans.

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In 1936, Hitler’s armies invaded the Rhineland. Hitler claimed that a treaty of friendship signed between France and the Soviet Union threatened Germany’s borders. Hitler’s use of the German army broke the Treaty of Versailles.

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the Japanese launched a full-scale assault on China. The Japanese military treated the Chinese cruelly. It claimed lands throughout eastern China.

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From the beginning of Hitler’s rise to power, he had modeled his actions on those of Mussolini. Hitler even copied Mussolini’s title of “Il Duce.” He required party members to call him Fürher. Fürher means “leader” in German. By the mid-1930s, both Germany and Italy had strong militaries. Both nations wanted to control more territory. They wanted to take over the world.

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In early 1938, Hitler declared that Austrians were Aryans. He said that Austria was rightfully part of Germany. German officials sent forces to occupy Austria. The Austrian leader tried to keep the country independent. However, he resigned under pressure from Hitler. The next day, the German army marched into Austria unopposed. Germany annexed, or took control of, Austria a day later.

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Hitler also wanted the Sudetenland. This was a part of Czechoslovakia. People living in this region mostly were ethnic Germans. Hitler said they were Aryans. The United Kingdom and France agreed that Czechoslovakia would give some territory to Germany. They forced the Czechs to consent. Hitler then demanded more.

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Italians had fought on the Allied side during World War I. They disliked the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. They thought the treaty had not really rewarded their service. Italy had sent more than five million solders into battle.