Paths to WarCh 19 Sec 1
ReviewMid-1930s
Germany and Italy focused on military conquest
Major democracies distracted by Depression
Countries look to League of Nations to maintain peace
Japan moves towards military rule
European Aggressors on the March European Fascists encouraged by League of Nations failure in JapanMussolini invades EthiopiaHitler violates Treaty of Versailles
Civil War Erupts in Spain
Mussolini Attacks EthiopiaMussolini invades Ethiopia in Oct
1935Spears and swords no match for planes, tanks, guns, and gas
Ethiopian emperor appeals to LeagueCondemns action but does nothing to help
British let Italians use Suez CanalBritish and French hoped to keep peace in Europe
Hitler Defies Versailles TreatyProvisions of Treaty
Limited size of German armyCreated Rhineland
Buffer between Germany and France
Hitler ignored provisionsMoved troops into Rhineland (March 7, 1936)
Britain respondsAppeasement?
Giving in to an aggressor to keep peaceLet Hitler build army and invade Rhineland
Would keep France and Britain out of war with Germany
Hitler admitted he would have backed down if they challenged him
Rhineland occupation was turning pointStrengthened Hitler’s power and prestige
Shifted balance of power in Germany’s favorFrance and Belgium open to attack
Hitler encouraged by weak responseSped up expansion ideas
Axis PowersMussolini seeks alliance with Hitler
Oct 1936 – Rome-Berlin AxisNovember 1936 – Germany makes agreement with Japan – Comintern Pact
Germany, Italy and Japan become Axis Powers
Civil War in Spain1936 – Francisco Franco leads revolt in
SpainFavored FascismBegins three year civil war
Hitler and Mussolini send aid to Franco and NationalistsTroops, tanks, airplanes
Western democracies remained neutral1939 – Franco becomes Fascist dictator
of Spain
Democratic Nations Try to Preserve PeaceUS Follows Isolationist Policy
Belief that political ties to other countries should be avoidedEntry into WWI was a mistake
1935 Neutrality ActsBanned loans and the sale of arms to nations at war
The German Reich ExpandsNov 5 1937 Hitler announces plan for Third ReichWanted to absorb control of Austria and Czechoslovakia
Violated Treaty of VersaillesForbade union of Austria and Germany
March 1938 Hitler invades and annexes Austria
September 1938 demands Sudetenland be given to GermanyWestern border regions of Czechoslovakia
Czechs refuse and ask French for help
Munich ConferenceSeptember 29, 1938 - Germany, France, GB, Italy
British PM Neville Chamberlain believes he can maintain peace by giving inBritain and France agree Hitler can take Sudetenland
Hitler agreed to respect Czech borders6 months later Hitler invades Czechoslovakia
Nazis and SovietsUSSR approached to help Britain and
France stop HitlerHitler bargained with Stalin
Publicly pledged never to attack one another
Offered eastern Poland and the Baltic states
Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact signed August 23, 1939
Japan Seeks an Empire1920s – Japanese gov’t more democratic1922 signs treaty with China to respect borders
1928 signs Kellogg-Briand PactWar no longer used to solve problems
Weaknesses of DemocracyLimits on power of prime minister
and cabinetCivilian leaders had little control
over militaryMilitary leaders reported only to
emperor
Militarists Take Control of JapanJapanese blame gov’t for Great Depression
Military leaders wanted traditional control given to militaryMade emperor symbol of state powerKeeping Hirohito won popular support for army leaders
Extreme NationalistsEconomic problems solved through expansion into Pacific
Japan Invades ManchuriaNortheast province of China
Rich in iron and coal1931 seized by Japanese army
Set up puppet governmentBuilt mines and factories
League of Nations protestedJapan left league in 1933
Japan Invades China1937 – Border dispute sets off war w/ChinaChinese military no match for JapaneseChinese military largerJapanese better equipped and better trained
Chinese focused on Communist threat from within
The New Asian OrderJapan would establish new system of control in AsiaJapan, Manchuria, China
Japan guiding Asian neighbors to prosperity
Plan to conquer Siberia1930s - Japan begins to cooperate
w/NazisBelieved the two countries would launch attack on USSR
Nonaggression Pact changed that idea
Japan looks to Southeast Asia for empire
Japan Launches AttackAttack to South would anger colonial
empiresMainly US
1940 – Japan demands right to exploit economic resources in French Indochina
US objectsWould apply economic sanctions unless Japan withdrew