The alignments of World War I contributed significantly to the outbreak of World War II. The Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I, imposed harsh reparations and territorial losses on Germany, fostering resentment among its populace. This economic distress and national humiliation created fertile ground for the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Additionally, the failure of major powers to effectively address aggression from Axis nations (Germany, Italy, and Japan) during the 1930s further destabilized Europe. These unresolved tensions and the reliance on a network of alliances set the stage for the second major global conflict.