Before World War II, the world was marked by significant political and economic changes. The aftermath of World War I left many countries in turmoil, leading to the rise of totalitarian regimes in places like Germany under Adolf Hitler and Italy under Benito Mussolini. The Great Depression of the 1930s further exacerbated global instability, causing widespread unemployment and social unrest. During this period, nations struggled to recover and often turned to aggressive expansionist policies. Japan sought to expand its empire in Asia, while Germany aimed to reclaim lost territories. These tensions and conflicts set the stage for the outbreak of World War II in 1939.