1. The German viewed the Treaty of Versailles as far too harsh as it made Germany pay for all the damages of World War 1, which in turn destroyed their economy and government

2. Britain and France made a series of concessions and appeasements to revision countries like Germany, granting them further territories and power in the process

3. Germany and Russia signed a joint agreement entitled the Russian-German Non Aggression Treaty which gave both parties control over parts of eastern Europe while shocking the western world

CAUSES

4. German nationalism enabled Hitler to gain power and wage a public-supported war

5. Racism against the slavs and the Jews was a paramount cause, as it dehumanized the enemies and made war less unthinkable