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