1. Axis Philosophy and Aggression Causes of World War II

2. Totalitarianism The Axis nations were totalitarianism dictatorships. Totalitarianism (or totalitarian rule) is a political system where the state holds total authority over the society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life wherever necessary.

3. Totalitarianism They Scorned: Democratic ideals of civil liberties The dignity of the individual World peace And they openly declared their intent to destroy democracy

4. Militarism the belief that a government should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests.

5. Militarism Spent vast sums of money on armaments Devised new weapons and battle techniques Built huge military organizations And psychologically prepared their people for war They proclaimed war a glorious adventure and the death of the fatherland the highest honor

6. Nationalism ideology based on the premise that the individual’s loyalty and devotion to the nation-state surpass other individual or group interests.

7. Nationalism Your country was more important than anything – including the individual. Japanese Shinto teachings, Italian dreams of a revival of the roman empire, and the German “Master Race” doctrine – all fostered a narrow and bigoted nationalism The axis nations considered themselves superior and destined to rule over ‘lesser peoples.’

8. Imperialism belief in empire-building: the policy of extending the rule or influence of a country over other countries or colonies domination by empire: the political, military, or economic domination of one country over another

9. Imperialism The Axis powers embarked upon imperialism with the excuse that they lacked land and resources. Japan expanded into Manchuria in 1931-1932 and China in 1937. Japan wanted to create a, “Greater East Asian Co-prosperity Sphere.” Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935 and wanted to turn the Mediterranean Sea into an “Italian Lake.”

10. Imperialism Germany remilitarized the Rhineland in 1936 and aided General Franco in the Spanish Civil War from 1936- 1938. Invaded and annexed Austria in 1938 Occupied the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia in 1939