Download Agressors on the March 31.4

Aggressors on the March
Many of the major democracies were too worried about domestic
problems to notice the build up of German and Italian military
forces.
World Drifts Towards War
• In the 1930’s, military
leaders would take
control of Japan
– They planned on
solving the countries
economic problems
(depression) through
expansion (a Pacific
Empire)
– Japan would
eventually invade
China
But the military
leaders were extreme
nationalists and
supported the
emperor, Hirohito
Japan had invested a great deal into China’s
province, Manchuria
• It was rich in iron & coal which was vital to Japan’s war effort.
• Japan took advantage of the Civil War in China and their army
moved in and occupied Manchuria
• They would eventually attack China in 1937 (more on that later)
• (Notice Japan using gas in their attacks against the Chinese).
Documents show that Emperor Hirohito authorized their use 375
times against the Chinese.
 Policy of appeasement—France and Britain gave
into Hitler’s demands in in hopes of keeping peace
 Germany, Italy, and Japan would enter into a
treaty called the Axis Powers
 Mussolini attacks Ethiopia
 He knew that the League of Nations would not get involved
 He didn’t know how tough it would be to subdue them. He
needed Germany’s help to defeat them
Cadets at newly opened military school - 1935
Effects of mustard gas attack by Italians on the Ethiopians
Halie Selassie addressing the League of Nations
asking for their help against Italian
aggression/invasion
Civil War in Spain
• Military leaders led by
Francisco Franco
began a revolt in Spain
which turned into a
civil war
• Franco was aided by
Hitler and Mussolini
– They sent troops, tanks,
and airplanes
• Democratic leaders in
Spain were aided by
Russia
American volunteers known as the “Lincoln Brigade”
Western Democracies Fail to Halt Aggression
• Along with Britain and France, the United States also
failed to act against fascist movements in Europe
• United States followed a policy of Isolationism—belief
that political ties to other countries should be avoided
• Neutrality Acts (1935)—Congress passed a law that
banned the US from loaning money and selling weapons to
nations at war
German Reich Expands
• Hitler planned to absorb
Austria, Czechoslovakia,
Poland, and Russia
• March 1938—Germany
annexed Austria
• September 1938—Hitler
demands Sudetenland
• Munich Conference—Neville Chamberlin (Britain)
concedes Sudetenland
• March 1939—Germany takes the rest of
Czechoslovakia
• Mussolini invades
Albania
• Hitler demands the
port of Danzig in
Poland
• 1939—Hitler signs a
nonaggression pact
with Stalin