1. WWII The Early Days

2. Japanese Aggression Japan’s Parliament was weak Military assumed power
Militarist leaders planned a Pacific Empire
Emperor Hirohito gains total control

3. Japanese Aggression (cont.)
Japan invades Manchuria
Rich in iron & coal
League of Nations condemned action – Japan withdrew from the LON
Later, Japan would invade China

4. Italian Aggression 1935 - Italy invades Ethiopia
Avenge earlier loss to Ethiopia
Establish African colonial empire
LON condemns action – Italy withdraws from LON
Britain & France did nothing – hoping to keep peace in Europe

5. German Aggression Germany defies Treaty of Versailles
Germany built up army – LON mildly condemned
Germany moved into the Rhineland (France did not act)
Limited reaction by France & G.B. encouraged Hitler to expand more quickly
Italy & Germany join forces (Rome-Berlin Axis)

6. Spanish Civil War 1931: Spain changes from a monarchy to a republic
July 1936: General Francisco Franco led a
revolt with army leaders
called “Nationalists”
favored a Fascist gov.
began a 3-year civil war
Hitler & Mussolini sent troops, tanks & airplanes to help Franco’s forces
Only the Soviet Union sent equipment & advisors to aid the Spanish Republicans
1939: Resistance collapsed & Franco became dictator
Francisco Franco

7. United States United States followed a policy of Isolationism
U.S. were NOT members of the League of Nations

8. German Aggression (cont.)
Germany annexes Austria
Germany moves into the Sudetenland
(German speaking population)
Munich Conference: Italy, Germany, GB, France
France & G.B follow a policy of appeasement
Germany takes over all of Czechoslovakia

10. Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact
Aug. 23, 1939: Hitler & Stalin sign a nonaggression pact
publicly commit to never attack one another
Hitler promised Stalin territory
agree to divide Poland between them
agree that the USSR could take over Finland and the Baltic countries (Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia)
Removed the threat of Germany being attacked by the USSR from the east

11. Germany Invades Poland
Sept. 1, 1939: Germany invades Poland
WWII begins