The seeds of World War II were sown in the aftermath of the First World War. The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, imposed harsh penalties on Germany, blaming the country for the war and demanding crippling reparations. This treaty sowed the seeds of resentment and economic turmoil, creating a fertile ground for Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in the 1930s. Hitler exploited the discontent among the German population, promising to undo the humiliation of Versailles and restore the nation's pride. His Nazi Party capitalized on nationalist fervor, anti-Semitic sentiment, and economic hardships, eventually leading to the consolidation of power under Hitler’s dictatorial rule.
Under Nazi rule, Germany quickly turned to aggressive expansionism. Hitler’s ambitions were clear: to conquer Eastern Europe, eliminate Jews and other minorities, and establish a vast, racially pure empire. To achieve this, Germany required military strength, and Hitler began rearming the country in defiance of the disarmament provisions in the Treaty of Versailles. Meanwhile, his propagandists worked tirelessly to shape a narrative that justified the expansion of German territory and the subjugation of other nations. Hitler's speeches echoed in the streets of Berlin, and the promise of national greatness intoxicated many Germans, including Klaus Weber, the World War I veteran who had watched his comrades fall on the battlefields of the Great War.