Be careful not to argue that the failure of the League of Nations in the 1930s was solely due to the Great Depression. The league had long-term weaknesses, including the isolationism of the Americans in the 1920s and the limitations in its ability to enforce decisions on nations. However, the Depression certainly acted as a catalyst for the collapse of the league by changing the political leadership of various states. Also, the difficult economic climate impacted on the willingness of league members to use sanctions which might worsen their own trading abilities.
The Depression was the single most important factor in Hitler’s rise to power. Until the Wall Street Crash and the subsequent removal of US loans, there had been economic recovery in Germany, dependent on US finance. By 1932 there were 6 million unemployed Germans and the Nazis were polling enough to become the largest party in the Reichstag.
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