The League of Nations was created in the aftermath of World War I with the aim of preventing another global conflict. Member states were required to maintain peace and security within their own borders and to settle international disputes through peaceful means. The League also played a role in overseeing the implementation of the Treaty of Versailles, which imposed harsh penalties on Germany for its role in the war.
However, despite its noble aims, the League proved ineffective in its early years, failing to resolve major international crises in the 1920s such as the territorial dispute between Greece and Turkey. The League’s credibility was further undermined by the 1930s when several member states began to pursue aggressive foreign policies in defiance of its rules.
By 1939, when World War II broke out, it had become clear that neither nations nor individuals could be trusted to keep their promises or abide by international law—the League simply did not have enough power to enforce its decisions. The outbreak of World War II exposed this problem once again: although many countries had signed up to uphold peace, few wanted to actually do so and instead focused on pursuing their own interests at all costs (even if this meant breaking international law).
