Interwar Problems

After the horrific Great War, many countries all over the world had problems.
It took decades for countries to recover.
In the 1920s the Great Depression made life difficult in countries worldwide.
Although it originated from the United States, trading and international relations quickly made it spread due to countries having been reliant on others too keep their economy going.
The Great Depression led to many economic struggles and radical movements.

France

Huge debts because of the war, mainly to the United States.
France wanted reparation payments from Germany.
Inner political troubles.
Tried to work through the League of Nations.
France strengthened the defensive Maginot Line due to fear of a possible attack from Germany.

The United States wanted to isolate themselves from European politics.
People were against how the U.S. had been involved the the Great War and lost resources and men over it.
Hit very hardly with the Great Depression.
Faced Japan's aggression in the Pacific.

Germany was in great financial distress after the Treaty of Versailles made them pay back massive war reparations.
Their domestic politics were in turmoil.
They had strong grudges due to the Treaty of Versailles.
Germany became a totalitarian dictatorship during the 1930s with Hitler's rise to power.

The USSR had recently reformed and was still recovering from a war and revolution.
The state had transformed into a dictatorship led by Stalin
It was in a rather poor state, being economically behind the west.
Many other countries avoided the USSR due to the stigma against communism.
Although Germany made dealings and agreements with Russia, for training troops for example, throughout the 1920s.

Italy was bitter from the Treaty of Versailles as they did not get colonies that they had been promised before.
Italy was economically behind the rest of the west.
They also faced domestic political troubles.
Italy became a totalitarian dictatorship with Benito Mussolini's rise to power during the 1920s.