Events Leading to WWII

Fascist Empires Grow  Since the League failed to stop Japan – other countries tried to build an empire too!  Mussolini attacked Ethiopia in 1935  In March of 1935, Hitler broke the Treaty of Versailles by building up the German Army – Germany received a mild punishment.

Germany Enters Rhineland  The Treaty of Versailles forbid Germany from entering a 30 mile buffer zone around the Rhine River which separated Germany from France. This area was called Rhineland

Germany Enters Rhineland  The French were afraid to enter war so they used a policy of Appeasement to keep the peace.  Appeasement: giving in to an aggressor in order to keep peace

Germany Expands  In 1937, Hitler announced his desire to expand the Third Reich, or Nazi German Empire, to include Austria & Czechoslovakia.  This would also break the Treaty of Versailles.  Austria was easily added to the Third Reich  Czechoslovakia refused and asked France to protect them

Moving Toward War  With Hitler gaining more power, Mussolini felt that it would be smart to enter an alliance with Germany. In October of 1936, Hitler and Mussolini came up with the Rome-Berlin Axis.  A month later Germany entered an alliance with Japan. This meant Italy, Germany, & Japan would become The Axis Powers.

Democratic Countries Try to Keep the Peace  Instead of taking a stand against Fascism, Britain & France both used Appeasement in order to finish dealing with issues left by the Great Depression & WWI.

Democratic Countries Try to Keep the Peace  Americans stuck to their policy of Isolationism in order to stay out of another World War.  Beginning in 1935 a series of Neutrality Acts were passed by Congress. The acts were initially passed to ban loans or trade with nations in war.

Munich Conference  Mussolini called a meeting between France, Britain, Germany, & Italy on September 29 th, 1938 held in Munich, Germany called the Munich Conference  The Czechs were not invited.  Britain & France appeased Hitler by agreeing to hand over Czechoslovakia

Nonaggression Pact  Britain & France asked the Soviet Union to join them in stopping Hitler.  Stalin was also negotiating with Hitler. The two decided that they would never attack one another & on August 23 rd, 1939 they signed a 10 year Nonaggression Pact