The rise of dictators in Europe and Asia led to World War II. Adolf Hitler became the fascist dictator of Germany after being appointed chancellor in 1933. He established a totalitarian regime and rapidly rebuilt Germany's military in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. In the 1930s, Germany invaded countries in Europe and Japan invaded Manchuria and China, demonstrating growing aggression. The League of Nations proved unable to stop these acts of expansionism. The world moved closer to a second world war as the militaristic dictatorships of Germany and Japan continued to defy international law and threaten other nations.