The global event triggered by the economic depression of the 1930s was World War II. The Great Depression, which began in 1929, had widespread effects, causing massive unemployment, economic instability, and social unrest. In many countries, harsh economic conditions fostered extremism and authoritarian regimes, notably the rise of Adolf Hitler in Germany and the expansion of Japan's militarism. These factors contributed to increasing tensions and conflicts across Europe and Asia. As nations sought to recover economically and assert power, aggressive military actions and alliances formed that ultimately ignited the war in 1939, changing global dynamics and reshaping the world order for decades to follow.