Similarities between the beginning of WW2 and the Russo-Ukrainian War

World War 1 had just ended. The Treaty Of Versailles effectively ended WW1. It caused German resentment that Hitler capitalized on to gain support, and that planted the seeds of World War II. That is parallel to Putin’s rise in Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Like Hitler, Putin’s ability to take and hold power was likely driven in part by a war-torn country that was never integrated back into the free world.

The Fourteen Points [1] was a proposal made by US President Woodrow Wilson in a speech to Congress on January 8, 1918. The intent was a vision for concluding World War I in a way that would prevent another conflict. Most of Wilson's 14 Points were destroyed by the leaders of England and France when they convened in Versailles, France, to negotiate the treaty that would conclude World War I ( Treaty of Versailles). Wilson discovered that England, France, and Italy were mostly interested in regaining what they had lost and gaining more by punishing Germany.

President Wilson attempted to build a world organization that would provide some system of collective security in the Treaty. That was his vision for the League of Nations. Instead of resorting to war, nations were encouraged to talk out their difficulties, it was intended to prevent another world war. Wilson insisted on the League of Nations being a part of the Treaty. In order to get France and England on board, Germany had to give up territory, disarm weapons, and pay reparations. These payments would eventually lead to a collapse of the German currency during a hyperinflation period in 1921 and 1922.

Following the signing of the Treaty, Wilson returned to the United States and presented it to the Senate. Although many Americans backed the treaty, the president ran into opposition in the Senate. This led to the absence of the United States from the League of Nations. Despite this, the League of Nations attempted to prevent and resolve violence throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Though it was unable to stop WWII, some historians believe that if the US was a part of it WWII this may have been prevented.

After losing WWI, the German empire crumbled and a new democratic republic took its place. The