<P> The rise of Nazism and Fascism included a revival of the nationalist spirit and a rejection of many post-war changes . Similarly, the popularity of the stab - in - the - back legend (German: Dolchstoßlegende) was a testament to the psychological state of defeated Germany and was a rejection of responsibility for the conflict . This conspiracy theory of betrayal became common, and the German populace came to see themselves as victims . The widespread acceptance of the "stab - in - the - back" theory delegitimized the Weimar government and destabilized the system, opening it to extremes of right and left . </P> <P> Communist and fascist movements around Europe drew strength from this theory and enjoyed a new level of popularity . These feelings were most pronounced in areas directly or harshly affected by the war . Adolf Hitler was able to gain popularity by using German discontent with the still controversial Treaty of Versailles . World War II was in part a continuation of the power struggle never fully resolved by World War I. Furthermore, it was common for Germans in the 1930s to justify acts of aggression due to perceived injustices imposed by the victors of World War I. American historian William Rubinstein wrote that: </P> <P> The' Age of Totalitarianism' included nearly all of the infamous examples of genocide in modern history, headed by the Jewish Holocaust, but also comprising the mass murders and purges of the Communist world, other mass killings carried out by Nazi Germany and its allies, and also the Armenian Genocide of 1915 . All these slaughters, it is argued here, had a common origin, the collapse of the elite structure and normal modes of government of much of central, eastern and southern Europe as a result of World War I, without which surely neither Communism nor Fascism would have existed except in the minds of unknown agitators and crackpots . </P> <P> One of the most dramatic effects of the war was the expansion of governmental powers and responsibilities in Britain, France, the United States, and the Dominions of the British Empire . To harness all the power of their societies, governments created new ministries and powers . New taxes were levied and laws enacted, all designed to bolster the war effort; many have lasted to this day . Similarly, the war strained the abilities of some formerly large and bureaucratised governments, such as in Austria - Hungary and Germany . </P>

Which of the following contributed to the start of world war 1