The whole world was greatly affected by the First World War. However, the two most affected countries were Germany and Italy, because their economic, political and social conditions had significantly changed. Later, Hitler and Mussolini both preached that their countries would reclaim their greatness. However, as time passed, it became clear that their idealistic dreams would not come true, even though they were determined to fight until they did. Germany's economy was weakened after World War I, because they were in severe debt due to the war guilt clause. They never really paid off the debt, but printed more money instead of creating more jobs. Soon they had extreme inflation and people brought wheelbarrows full of money to buy bread. They took out American loans and when the loans stopped the German economy collapsed. Hitler exploited their need for security to force himself into power and soon became chancellor. Once in office, he used his power in Germany to put Germans to work in highway construction, weapons manufacturing, and military service. As a result, unemployment dropped from six million to one point five million. As dictator, Hitler wanted more than economic and political power. He also wanted to control every aspect of life, so the Nazi Party took full control of the government and Hitler became a dictator. He dissolved independent unions, banned strikes, and gave the government authority over business and labor. He transformed radio, printing, painting and other forms of art and expression into tools of propaganda. All religions were forbidden to criticize any actions taken by the government or the Nazis, and schoolchildren were forced to join Hitler Y...... middle of paper ...... Italy liked Mussolini, he oppressed them severely . He treated Italy like a giant newspaper, and was its editor-in-chief. Furthermore, political opposition was outlawed and whenever one arose, it was often framed, exiled and then killed. He never openly admitted to having them killed, but everyone suspected. However, it created more jobs, and its greatest (and most famous) achievement was getting infamously late trains to arrive on time. But his methods of achieving this strengthened people's fear of him: he threatened to kill the engineers if their trains didn't arrive on time! After World War I, Italy and Germany underwent many political, economic and social changes. Both inflated and unstable economies allowed fascist dictators to take control, which ended in people fearing and the decline and death of the dictators..