Economic troubles had a big part in causing World War II. This was mainly due to the Great Depression and leftover issues from World War I. Let’s look at the main points of how economic instability led to rising tensions that resulted in the war.

1. The Great Depression

The Great Depression started in 1929 and caused huge problems around the world. Here are some important facts:

• In the United States, unemployment shot up from 3.2% in 1929 to about 25% by 1933.
• In Germany, unemployment reached around 30% by 1933, hurting the economy and causing social unrest.
• Industrial production in Germany dropped by 42% between 1929 and 1932. This made the economic situation worse and led to people being unhappy with the Weimar Republic.

2. Impact on Germany

The economic struggles hit Germany hard, especially as it was still trying to deal with payments from the Treaty of Versailles. Here are some key effects:

• The Treaty made Germany pay 132 billion gold marks (about $33 billion back then), which hurt its economy.
• Hyperinflation in 1923 wiped out savings and made money almost worthless, leading to many people living in poverty.
• This created political chaos, allowing extreme political movements to gain power, especially Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. They promised to fix the economy and make the nation strong again.

3. Rise of Authoritarian Regimes

Economic problems helped bring tough rulers to power in several countries, leading to aggressive national policies:

• In Italy, the problems after World War I helped Benito Mussolini take control in 1922. He aimed to create a new Roman Empire through his expansionist policies.
• In Japan, the Great Depression made things worse, allowing the military to take control of politics. By the early 1930s, Japan sought to expand its territory to get more resources, leading to the invasion of Manchuria in 1931.

4. Failure of International Responses

The economic crisis led countries to focus on their own interests rather than working together:

• The League of Nations couldn't respond well to countries acting aggressively because its members were more concerned with fixing their own economies.
• Many countries put up protective measures, like the United States’ Smoot-Hawley Tariff of 1930, which raised taxes on imported goods. This led to a 66% drop in international trade between 1929 and 1934.

5. Militarization and Arms Race

Economic struggles also led countries to invest in their militaries as a way to boost their economies:

• Germany’s military spending under Hitler went from $317 million in 1933 to$4.4 billion in 1939, without much control.
• In Japan, military spending was 2.5 times higher in the mid-1930s compared to the previous decade.

In summary, economic struggles from the Great Depression, the effects of World War I, and the rise of strict governments created conditions that led to conflict. These factors played a major role in the start of World War II.