Basically, the one thing to remember here is what had just taken place in Europe; World War One. The first world war was costly, in lives lost and financially speaking. After World War One, the League of Nations were formed by the victorious Triple Entente/ Allied countries (Britain, France, Canada, Australia, and later United States, etc) to prevent future wars from starting.

After the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed, which was the formal agreement that ended the war.1 The treaty was harsh on Germany, forcing the war-torn country to paydamages totalling $30 billion dollars, Germany's territory would be drastically reduced, troops would not be allowed to be in the Rhineland, and their army and navy would be strictly limited.2

All was well, for a decade (despite the Great Depression, of course), and the Treaty was followed. Then, Germany had elected a new chancellor. Adolf Hitler had risen to power, determined to rise Germany out of debt, and be once more have a part in the world stage.

However, Hitler had found the Treaty of Versailles opressing, and in 1932 the German government announced it would no longer adhere to the treaty's military limitation.3 Then in 1935, Hitler violated the Treaty again, as he inrtoduced military conscription into the army, air force, and new navy. As Hitler continued to violate and ignore the treaty's restrictions, the main issue was that the League of nations did nothing to stop Germany.

No one nation wanted to stand up to Germany for several reasons. First off, many nations believed that the Treaty was too harsh on the already struggling country, and Germany should be allowed to get back on it's own feet, so to speak. Secondly, it had been less than two decades since World War One, whose memories still lingered in the minds of many. The League practised pacifism; believeing that no war or violence was needed.4

The League also had no military force of it's own to enforce and uphold peace. The League was also based on the countries of the world workin together, which was somethign they had had a problem with in the past.

The members of the League felt also there was no threat in letting Germany build up it's arms, in fact Mackenzie King, prime minister of Canada had even stated that Hitler was, "...The sort who truly loves his fellow man..."5 They were wrong.

Resources:1 Bain, Des Rivieres, Flaherty, Goodman, Schemenauer, and Scully. "The Treaty of Versailles." Making History, The Story of Canada In The Twentieth Century. Toronto, Ontario: Mark Cobham, 2000. 90. Print.

2 "Treaty of Versailles - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Treaty of Versailles. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2010.

3 "Treaty of Versailles - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Treaty of Versailles. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2010.

4 Bain, Des Rivieres, Flaherty, Goodman, Schemenauer, and Scully. "Canada's Reaction, 1937-1939." Making History, The Story of Canada In the Twentieth Century. Toronto, Ontario: Mark Cobham, 2000. 163. Print.

5 Bain, Des Rivieres, Flaherty, Goodman, Schemenauer, and Scully. "Canada's Reaction, 1937-1939." Makign History, The Story of Canada in The Twentieth Century. Toronto, Ontario: Mark Cobham, 2000. 164. Print.

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