Aggressors on the March Final Years before WWII

Japan’s Democracy 1920s Japans signed agreements to not use war as a policy tool But Japan’s gov. had little control over the military When the Great Depression hit the Government was blamed and military leaders took control of the nation Unlike, Other totalitarian leaders (Stalin, Hitler or Mussolini), Japanese did not want a new system of government instead they wanted control to go back into the hands of the Emperor

Like other Totalitarian systems Ultra-Nationalistic Militaristic Wanted to conquer neighbors (China) to end economic crisis Wanted room for the Japanese people at the expense of others

Invasion of Manchuria (China’s Northeastern Province) Rich in Coal and Iron 1931, Japans Military occupied the province and set up a Puppet Government League of Nations protested this violation of international peace but did nothing to stop Japan 1933 Japan withdrawals from the League of Nations

Japan invades China On the boarder of Manchuria and China shot are fired between the Japanese Army and the “Chinese” Army (it was faked by the Japanese Army to start the war) China’s large army was no match for the better trained and equipped Japanese forces The Chinese civil war between the nationalist and the communists is put on hold as all of China unites to fight the Japanese. In less than 6 months Beijing and Nanking are captured by Japan The Rape of Nanking, where 300,000 to 600,000 civilians were killed by the Japanese Army for fun

Mussolini attacks Ethiopia Why? revenge for Italy’s loss in the 1889 and to build an empire Ethiopian army is no match for Italian tanks, airplanes and poison gas Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia, asks League of Nations for help League does next to nothing, Selassie warns “It is us today. It will be you tomorrow.”

Hitler Defies Versailles Treaty 1935 announces that Germany is rebuilding Armed Forces 1936 German Troops occupy the Rhineland –part of Germany –but demilitarized after WWI –buffer zone between Germany/France Scared of starting a world war France does nothing 1936, Hitler, Mussolini and Japan form an alliance called the Axis. This what these nations will be called in WWII

Civil War in Spain Nationalist (Fascists) under General Francisco Franco rebels against the Republicans (Liberals and Socialists) Germany and Italy send airplanes and soldiers to help Franco and test new weapons. France, the UK, and the US do nothing to support the Republicans. Only the Soviet Union sends equipment and advisors. Franco wins. Rules until 1975.

United States Isolates itself from the World Many in the US argued that it was a mistake to enter WWI Passed 3 Neutrality Acts that banned loaning or selling weapons to nations at war

Hitler creates a Greater Germany (the Third Reich) 1938, Anschluss –Openly breaking the Versailles Treaty –Hitler orders German troops into Austria –absorbs the nation into Germany 1938, Demands that Czechoslovakia give up the Sudetenland –many natural resources –most of Czechoslovakia’s military bases –populated by 3 million German speaking people Czechs refuse and ask their ally France for help

Appeasement and the Munich Conference Britain and France were preparing for war when Mussolini called for a meeting to settle the issue Britain, France, Italy and Germany met in Munich to decide the fate of Czechoslovakia –the Czechs were not invited British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain –believed that by giving in to Hitler world war would be avoided –this policy is called appeasement Hitler promises to be satisfied with the Sudetenland In less than six months Hitler occupies the rest of Czechoslovakia

Mussolini takes Albania Jealous that Hitler has gain so much without firing a shot Kicks out King Zog of Albania (one of the poorest nations in Europe), part of Italy Hitler continues his push for a greater Germany and claims the port city of Memel from Lithuania Cancels nonaggression pact he had with Poland

Poland… Hitler, encouraged by all his success without war eyes Poland as his next conquest. But Invading Poland would anger the Soviet Union and might even risk war. Hitler is confident that France and Britain would do nothing like before

Nazis and Soviets at Peace???? In August of 1939, Hitler and Stalin sign a public nonaggression pact promising not to attack one another. Secretly: Poland is divided between the two. Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland are given to the Soviet Union for future conquest Germany gives USSR plans for naval vessels, subs, airplane engines USSR will supply Germany with many raw goodsb