15.4 Aggressors Invade Nations

Ms. BielefeldSpring 2012

What’s going on in this political cartoon?

Japanese Aggression Japan seeks to solve its economic problem

through foreign expansion Takes over Manchuria, China in 1931 Manchuria rich in iron and coal League of Nations protests & Japan withdraws

from the League Japan invades the rest of China in 1937

Beijing & Nanjing captured Japanese troops killed tens of thousands of

soldiers & civilians in Nanjing Chinese troops led by Mao Zedong continue to

fight the Japanese

Italian Aggression Mussolini invaded Ethiopia, one of Africa’s 3

independent nations in 1935 Ethiopian emperor, Haile Salassie, appealed to

the League of Nations League condemned the attack, but did

nothing. Britain controlled the Suez Canal, but let Italy

through in order to keep the peace

Civil War in Spain Spain was a monarchy until 1931, then a

republic Spanish army leaders want fascist-style

government General Francisco Franco leads a rebellion in

1936 Received aid from Hitler and Mussolini Won the war in 1939—becomes Spain’s Fascist

dictator

German Aggression Hitler begins a series of steps that would lead

to war built German military against Treaty of Versailles Entered the Rhineland (buffer zone between

Germany and France) Britain & France choose appeasement—giving in

to demands to keep peace Strengthened Hitler’s power and prestige

Forms alliance with Italy and Japan Axis Powers—Germany, Italy, Japan

German Expansion

Who were the Axis Powers?

Why Appeasement? Many nations didn’t want another World War Many thought Communism was a bigger

threat Great Depression “sapped” energy of western

democracies

German Third Reich Expands Hitler annexed Austria (1938) and

Sudetenland, but Czechs ask France for help Munich Conference (Sept. 29, 1938)

Meeting of Germany, France, Britain, and Italy Hitler could take Sudetenland, but had to respect

Czech. New borders Less than 6 months later, Hitler took

Czechoslovakia Soon after, Mussolini seized Albania

United States Stays Out! Isolationist Policy—avoid political ties to other

countries Beginning in 1935, Congress passed three

Neutrality Acts Banned loans and the sale of arms to nations at

war

Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact France and Britain asked

USSR to help them stop Hitler

USSR talked with all three countries

Hitler and Stalin agree not to fight each other and to split up Poland