German and Italian Reactions to the Treaty of Versailles
Mussolini (Italy) left and Hitler (Germany) right [1]
Among the most important long-term causes of World War II was the harsh "war guilt penalty" imposed on Germany under the 1919 Treaty of Versailles. Germany suffered great losses of land (13% of home territory and all overseas colonies) and was also forced to pay large reparations. In addition, annexing other states was prohibited, and limits were placed on the size and capacity of German armed forces.
Italy also been deprived of lands that it thought it deserved by the Treaty of Versailles and felt it had claim to more land. In 1935, Italy invaded Ethiopia (Abyssinia). Italy also engaged in the Rome-Berlin Axis (October 25, 1936), the Anti-Comintern Pact (with Japan on November 26, 1937), and an invasion of Albania (April 7, 1939).
Page Notes:
[1] Source: This image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hitlermusso2_edit.jpg is in the public domain.
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