Events preceding World War II in Europe France through Belgium. France had, in 1871, suffered a defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, and demanded compensation for financial devastation during the First World War, which ensured that the various peace treaties, specifically the Treaty of Versailles would impose tough financial war reparations and restrictions on Germany in the aftermath of World War I. The British naval blockade of Germany was not lifted until the treaty was signed at the end of June 1919. After several liberal governments failed to rein in these threats, and the fascists had increased their public profile by highly visible punishment expeditions to supposedly crush
Balkans Campaign (World War I) were successful in containing the German-Austro-Hungarian advance into Moldavia at Mărăşti, Mărăşeşti and Oituz. In May 1918, Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and after the German advance in the Ukraine Romania, surrounded by the Central Powers forces, had no other choice but to sue for peace (see Treaty of Bucharest (1918)). After the Vardar Offensive on the Macedonian Front knocked Bulgaria out of the war, Romania re-entered the war on November 10, 1918. Prior to direct intervention in World War I, Italy occupied the port of Vlorë in Albania in December 1914. Upon entering the war, Italy spread its