world war2 in depth

5/20/2018 World War2 in Depth

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World War II(WWIIor WW2), also known as the Second World War, was aglobal warthat

lasted from 1939 to 1945, though related conflicts began earlier. It involvedthe vast majority

of the world's nationsincluding all of thegreat powerseventually forming two

opposingmilitary alliances:theAlliesand theAxis.It was the most widespreadwarin

history, and directly involved more than 100 million people, from more than 30 different

countries. In a state of "total war", the major participants threw their

entireeconomic,industrial,andscientificcapabilities behind thewar effort,erasing the

distinction betweencivilianandmilitaryresources. Marked by mass deaths of civilians,

including theHolocaust,theThree Alls Policy,thestrategic bombing of enemy industrial

and/or population centres,and thefirst use of nuclear weapons in combat,it resulted in an

estimated50 million to 85 million fatalities.These made World War II thedeadliest

conflictinhuman history.[1]

TheEmpire of Japanaimed to dominateAsiaand thePacificand was alreadyat warwith

theRepublic of Chinain 1937,[2]but the world war is generally said to have begun on 1

September 1939 with theinvasionofPolandbyGermanyand subsequent declarations of

war on Germany byFranceand theUnited Kingdom.From late 1939 to early 1941, in a

series of campaigns andtreaties,Germany formed the Axis alliance withItalyandJapan,

conquering or subduing much of continental Europe. Following theMolotovRibbentrop Pact,

Germany and the Soviet Union partitioned between themselves and annexed territories of

their European neighbours,including Poland,Finlandand theBaltic states.The United

Kingdom and the other members of theBritish Commonwealthwere the only major Allied

forces continuing the fight against the Axis, with battles taking place inNorth Africaand

theHorn of Africaas well as the long-runningBattle of the Atlantic.In June 1941, the

European Axis powers launchedan invasion of the Soviet Union,giving a start to thelargest

land theatre of war in history,which tied down the major part of the Axis' military forces for

the rest of the war. In December 1941, Japanattacked the United StatesandEuropean

territoriesin the Pacific Ocean, and quickly conquered much of the Western Pacific.

The Axis advance was stopped in 1942 when Japan lost a critical Battle of Midway,

nearHawaii,and Germany was defeated inNorth Africaand then, decisively, atStalingradin

the Soviet Union. In 1943, with a series of German defeats on theEastern Front,theAllied

invasionof Italy which brought about that nation's surrender, and Allied victories in thePacific, the Axis lost the initiative and undertook strategic retreat on all fronts. In 1944, the

Western Alliesinvaded France,while the Soviet Union regained all of its territorial losses and

invaded Germany and its allies. During 1944 and 1945 the Japanese began suffering major

reverses in mainland Asia inSouthCentral ChinaandBurma,while the Allies defeated

theJapanese Navyand captured key Western Pacific islands.
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The war in Europe ended with aninvasion of Germanyby the Western Allies and the Soviet

Union culminating in thecapture of Berlinby Soviet and Polish troops and the

subsequentGerman unconditional surrenderon8 May 1945.Following thePotsdam

Declarationby the Allies on 26 July 1945, the United Statesdropped atomic bombson the

Japanese cities ofHiroshimaandNagasakion 6 August and 9 August respectively. With

aninvasion of the Japanese archipelagoimminent, the possibility of additional atomic

bombings, and theSoviet Union's declaration of war on Japanandinvasion of

Manchuria,Japan surrenderedon 15 August 1945. Thus ended the war in Asia, cementing

the total victory of the Allies over the Axis.

World War II altered the political alignment and social structure of the world. TheUnited

Nations(UN) was established to foster international co-operation and prevent future

conflicts. Thegreat powersthat were the victors of the warthe United States, the Soviet

Union, China, the United Kingdom, and Francebecame thepermanent membersof

theUnited Nations Security Council.[3]The Soviet Union and the United States emerged as

rivalsuperpowers,setting the stage for theCold War,which lasted for the next 46 years.

Meanwhile, the influence of European great powers started to decline, while

thedecolonisation of AsiaandAfricabegan. Most countries whose industries had been

damaged moved towardseconomic recovery.Political integration, especiallyin Europe,

emerged as an effort to stabilise postwar relations and co-operate more effectively in the

Cold War.[4]

Contents

[hide]

1 Chronology

2 Background

3 Pre-war events

o 3.1 Italian invasion of Ethiopia (1935)

o 3.2 Spanish Civil War (193639)

o 3.3 Japanese invasion of China (1937)

o 3.4 Japanese invasion of the Soviet Union and Mongolia (1938)

o 3.5 European occupations and agreements

4 Course of the war

o 4.1 War breaks out in Europe (193940)

o 4.2 Western Europe (194041)o 4.3 Mediterranean (194041)

o 4.4 Axis attack on the USSR (1941)

o 4.5 War breaks out in the Pacific (1941)

o 4.6 Axis advance stalls (194243)

o 4.7 Allies gain momentum (194344)

o 4.8 Allies close in (1944)

o 4.9 Axis collapse, Allied victory (194445)

5 Aftermath
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6 Impact

o 6.1 Casualties and war crimes

o 6.2 Concentration camps, slave labour, and genocide

o 6.3 Occupation

o 6.4 Home fronts and production

o 6.5 Advances in technology and warfare

7 See also

8 Notes

9 Citations

10 References

11 External links

Chronology

See also:Timeline of World War II

The start of the war in Europe is generally held to be 1 September 1939, beginning with

theGerman invasion of Poland;Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later.The dates for the beginning of war in the Pacific include the start of the Second Sino-

Japanese Waron 7 July 1937,[5]or even theJapanese invasion of Manchuriaon 19

September 1931.

Others follow the British historianA. J. P. Taylor,who held that the Sino-Japanese War and

war in Europe and its colonies occurred simultaneously and the two wars merged in 1941.

This article uses the conventional dating. Other starting dates sometimes used for World

War II include theItalian invasion of Abyssiniaon 3 October 1935.[6]The British

historianAntony Beevorviews the beginning of the Second World War as theBattles of

Khalkhin Golfought between Japan and the forces of Mongolia and the Soviet Union from

May to September 1939.[7]

The exact date of the war's end is also not universally agreed upon. It was generally

accepted at the time that the war ended with thearmisticeof 14 August 1945 (V-J Day),

rather than the formal surrender of Japan (2 September 1945); it is even claimed in some

European histories that it ended onV-E Day(8 May 1945).[citation needed]Apeace treaty with

Japanwas signed in 1951 to formally tie up any loose ends such as compensation to be paid

to Allied prisoners of war who had been victims of atrocities.[8]A treaty regarding Germany's

futureallowed thereunification of East and West Germanyto take place in 1990 and

resolved other post-World War II issues.[9]

Background

Main article:Causes of World War II

World War Ihad radically altered the political map, with the defeat of theCentral Powers

includingAustria-Hungary,Germanyand theOttoman Empireand the
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r_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Powershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Powershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria-Hungaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria-Hungaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria-Hungaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria-Hungaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Powershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causes_of_World_War_IIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany_reunificationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_on_the_Final_Settlement_with_Respect_to_Germanyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_on_the_Final_Settlement_with_Respect_to_Germanyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-Masaya_1990_4-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_San_Franciscohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_San_Franciscohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_in_Europe_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_over_Japan_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armisticehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-Beevor_2012_10-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Khalkhin_Golhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Khalkhin_Golhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antony_Beevorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Italo-Abyssinian_Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._J._P._Taylorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_invasion_of_Manchuriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-F.C3.B6r.26Ges_2005_64-17http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Sino-Japanese_Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Sino-Japanese_Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Polandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_IIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#Citationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#Noteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#See_alsohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#Advances_in_technology_and_warfarehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#Home_fronts_and_productionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#Occupationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#Concentration_camps.2C_slave_labour.2C_and_genocidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#Casualties_and_war_crimeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#Impact


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1917Bolshevikseizure of powerinRussia.Meanwhile, existing victorious Allies such as

France, Belgium, Italy, Greece and Romania gained territories, whereas new states were

created out of the collapse of Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman andRussian Empires.

To prevent the outbreak of a future world war, theLeague of Nationswas formally created

during the1919 Paris Peace Conference.The organisation's primary goal was to prevent

armed conflict throughcollective security,military andnaval disarmament,and settling

international disputes through peaceful negotiations and arbitration.

Despitestrong pacifist sentimentafter World War I,[10]its aftermath still

causedirredentistandrevanchistnationalismto become important in a number of European

states. Irredentism and revanchism were strong in Germany because of the significant

territorial, colonial, and financial losses incurred by theTreaty of Versailles.Under the treaty,

Germany lost around 13 percent of its home territory and all ofits overseas colonies,while

German annexation of other states was prohibited,reparationswere imposed, and limits

were placed on the size and capability of the country'sarmed forces.[11]Meanwhile,

theRussian Civil Warhad led to the creation of theSoviet Union.[12]

The German Empire was dissolved in theGerman Revolution of 19181919,and a

democratic government, later known as theWeimar Republic,was created. The interwar

period saw strife between supporters of the new republic and hardline opponents on both

therightandleft.Although Italy as an Entente ally made some territorial gains, Italian

nationalists were angered that thepromises madeby Britain and France to secure Italian

entrance into the war were not fulfilled with the peace settlement. From 1922 to 1925,

theFascistmovement led byBenito Mussoliniseized power in Italy with anationalist,totalitarian,andclass collaborationistagenda that abolished representative

democracy, repressed socialist, left-wing and liberal forces, and pursued an aggressive

foreign policy aimed at forcefully forging Italy as aworld power,promising the creation of a

"New Roman Empire".[13]

TheLeague of Nationsassembly, held inGeneva,Switzerland,1930

In Germany, the Weimar Republic's legitimacy was challenged by right-wing elements such

as theFreikorpsand theNazi party,resulting in events such as theKapp Putschand
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edia.org/wiki/Switzerlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freikorpshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freikorpshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freikorpshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_partyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_partyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_partyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapp_Putschhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapp_Putschhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapp_Putschhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_102-09042,_Genf,_V%C3%B6lkerbund,_Sitzungssaal.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapp_Putschhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_partyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freikorpshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genevahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-25http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Roman_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_collaborationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totalitarianismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benito_Mussolinihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Fascismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_London_(1915)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-wing_politicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-wing_politicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weimar_Republichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Revolution_of_1918%E2%80%931919http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-24http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Civil_Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-23http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichswehrhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I_reparationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_colonial_empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Versailleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revanchisthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irredentisthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-Ingram_2006_76_78-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aftermath_of_World_War_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacifismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Naval_Treatyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_securityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Peace_Conference,_1919http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Republichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Revolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolshevik


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theBeer Hall Putsch.With the onset of theGreat Depressionin 1929, domestic support

forNazismand its leaderAdolf Hitlerrose and, in 1933, he was appointed Chancellor of

Germany. In the aftermath of theReichstag fire,Hitler created a totalitarian single-party state

led by the Nazis.[14]

TheKuomintang(KMT) party in China launched aunification campaignagainstregional

warlordsand nominally unified China in the mid-1920s, but was soon embroiled in acivil

waragainst its formerChinese communistallies.[15]In 1931, anincreasingly

militaristicJapanese Empire,which had long sought influence in China[16]as the first step of

what its government saw as the country'sright to rule Asia,used theMukden Incidentas a

pretext tolaunch an invasion of Manchuriaand establish thepuppet stateofManchukuo.[17]

Too weak to resist Japan, China appealed to theLeague of Nationsfor help. Japan withdrew

from the League of Nations after beingcondemnedfor its incursion into Manchuria. The two

nations then fought several battles, inShanghai,ReheandHebei,until theTanggu

Trucewas signed in 1933. Thereafter, Chinese volunteer forces continued the resistance to

Japanese aggression inManchuria,andChahar and Suiyuan.[18]

Adolf Hitlerat a GermanNational Socialistpolitical rally inWeimar,October 1930

Adolf Hitler, after anunsuccessful attempt to overthrow the German governmentin 1923,

eventually became theChancellor of Germany in 1933.He abolished democracy, espousing

aradical, racially motivated revision of the world order,and soon began a

massiverearmament campaign.[19]It was at this time that multiple political scientists began

to predict that a second Great War might take place.[20]Meanwhile, France, to secure its

alliance,allowed Italy a free hand in Ethiopia,which Italy desired as a colonial possession.

The situation was aggravated in early 1935 when theTerritory of the Saar Basinwas legally

reunited with Germany and Hitler repudiated the Treaty of Versailles, accelerated hisrearmament programme and introducedconscription.[21]

Hoping to contain Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Italy formed theStresa Front;

however, in June 1935, the United Kingdom made anindependent naval agreementwith

Germany, easing prior restrictions. The Soviet Union, concerned due toGermany's goals of

capturing vast areas of eastern Europe,wrote a treaty of mutual assistance with France.
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27s_rise_to_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Order_(Nazism)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Order_(Nazism)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Order_(Nazism)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_re-armamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_re-armamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-31http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-31http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-31http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-32http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-32http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-32http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco-Italian_Agreementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco-Italian_Agreementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco-Italian_Agreementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saar_(League_of_Nations)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saar_(League_of_Nations)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saar_(League_of_Nations)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscriptionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscriptionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-33http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-33http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-33http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stresa_Fronthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stresa_Fronthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stresa_Fronthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-German_Naval_Agreementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-German_Naval_Agreementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drang_nach_Ostenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drang_nach_Ostenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drang_nach_Ostenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drang_nach_Ostenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_102-10541,_Weimar,_Aufmarsch_der_Nationalsozialisten.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drang_nach_Ostenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drang_nach_Ostenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-German_Naval_Agreementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stresa_Fronthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-33http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscriptionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saar_(League_of_Nations)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco-Italian_Agreementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-32http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-31http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_re-armamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Order_(Nazism)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler%27s_rise_to_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_Hall_Putschhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weimarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Socialisthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitlerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-Coogan_1993-30http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actions_in_Inner_Mongolia_(1933%E2%80%931936)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacification_of_Manchukuohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanggu_Trucehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanggu_Trucehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_of_the_Great_Wallhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Rehehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/28_January_Incidenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lytton_Reporthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-Mukden-29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchukuohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puppet_statehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_invasion_of_Manchuriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukden_Incidenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakko_ichiuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-28http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militarism-Socialism_in_Showa_Japanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militarism-Socialism_in_Showa_Japanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Communist_Partyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Civil_Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Civil_Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warlord_Erahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warlord_Erahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Expeditionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuomintanghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-Bullock_1990_265-26http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichstag_firehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitlerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depressionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_Hall_Putsch


6/22

Before taking effect though, theFranco-Soviet pactwas required to go through the

bureaucracy of the League of Nations, which rendered it essentially toothless.[22]The United

States, concerned with events in Europe and Asia, passed theNeutrality Actin August.[23]In

October, Italy invaded Ethiopia throughItalian SomalilandandEritrea;[24]Germany was the

only major European nation to support the invasion. Italy subsequently dropped its objectionsto Germany's goal of absorbingAustria.[25]

Hitler defied the Versailles andLocarno treatiesbyremilitarisingtheRhinelandin March

1936. He received little response from other European powers.[26]When theSpanish Civil

Warbroke out in July, Hitler and Mussolini supported the fascist and authoritarianNationalist

forcesin their civil war against the Soviet-supportedSpanish Republic.Both sides used the

conflict to test new weapons and methods of warfare,[27]with the Nationalists winning the war

in early 1939. In October 1936, Germany and Italy formed theRomeBerlin Axis.A month

later, Germany and Japan signed theAnti-Comintern Pact,which Italy would join in the

following year. In China, after theXi'an Incident,the Kuomintang and communist forces

agreed on a ceasefire to present aunited frontto oppose Japan.[28]

Pre-war eventsItalian invasion of Ethiopia (1935)

Main article:Second Italo-Abyssinian War

Italian soldiers recruited in 1935, on their way to fight theSecond Italo-Abyssinian War

The Second ItaloAbyssinian War was a briefcolonial warthat began in October 1935 and

ended in May 1936. The war began with the invasion of theEthiopian Empire(also known

asAbyssinia)by the armed forces of theKingdom of Italy(Regno d'Italia), which was

launched fromItalian SomalilandandEritrea.[24]The war resulted in themilitary

occupationof Ethiopia and itsannexationinto the newly created colony ofItalian East

Africa(Africa Orientale Italiana, or AOI); in addition, it exposed the weakness of theLeague

of Nationsas a force to preserve peace. Both Italy and Ethiopia were member nations, but

the League did nothing when the former clearly violated the League's ownArticle X.[29]

Spanish Civil War (193639)

Main article:Spanish Civil War
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nexationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_East_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_East_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_East_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_East_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_X_of_the_Covenant_of_the_League_of_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_X_of_the_Covenant_of_the_League_of_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-Barker_1971_131_132-41http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-Barker_1971_131_132-41http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-Barker_1971_131_132-41http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Civil_Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Civil_Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Civil_Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Soldatietiopia.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Civil_Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-Barker_1971_131_132-41http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_X_of_the_Covenant_of_the_League_of_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_East_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_East_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annexationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_occupationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_occupationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-fhdh-36http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Eritreahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Somalilandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Italyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopia#Nameshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Italo-Abyssinian_Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Italo-Abyssinian_Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-40http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_United_Fronthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi%27an_Incidenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Comintern_Pacthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome%E2%80%93Berlin_Axishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-39http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Spanish_Republichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalist_Spainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalist_Spainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Civil_Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Civil_Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-38http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhinelandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remilitarization_of_the_Rhinelandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locarno_treatieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-37http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_State_of_Austriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-fhdh-36http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Eritreahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Somalilandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-Schmitz_2000_124-35http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutrality_Acts_of_1930shttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-34http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco-Soviet_pact


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Thebombing of Guernicain 1937, sparked Europe-wide fears that the next war would be based on bombing

of cities with very high civilian casualties

During the Spanish Civil War, Hitler and Mussolini lent military support to the Nationalist

rebels,led by GeneralFrancisco Franco.The Soviet Union supported the existing

government, theSpanish Republic.Over 30,000 foreign volunteers, known as

theInternational Brigades,also fought against the Nationalists. Both Germany and the USSR

used thisproxy waras an opportunity to test in combat their most advanced weapons and

tactics. Thebombing of Guernicaby the GermanCondor Legionin April 1937 heightened

widespread concerns that the next major war would include extensive terror bombing attacks

on civilians.[30][31]The Nationalists won the civil war in April 1939; Franco, now dictator,

bargained with both sides during the Second World War, but never concluded any major

agreements. He did sendvolunteersto fight on the eastern front under German command

but Spain remained neutral and did not allow either side to use its territory.[32]

Japanese invasion of China (1937)

Main article:Second Sino-Japanese War

Japanese Imperial Armysoldiers during theBattle of Shanghai,1937

In July 1937, Japan captured the former Chinese imperial capital of Beijing after instigatingtheMarco Polo Bridge Incident,which culminated in the Japanese campaign to invade all of

China.[33]The Soviets quickly signed anon-aggression pact with Chinato

lendmaterielsupport, effectively ending China's priorco-operation with

Germany.GeneralissimoChiang Kai-shekdeployed hisbest armytodefend Shanghai,but,

after three months of fighting, Shanghai fell. The Japanese continued to push the Chinese

forces back,capturing the capital Nankingin December 1937. After the fall of Nanking, tens
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of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians and disarmed combatants

weremurdered by the Japanese.[34][35]

In March 1938, Nationalist Chinese force got theirfirst major victory at Taierzhuangbut then

cityXuzhouwas taken by Japanesein May.[36]In June 1938, Chinese forces stalled the

Japanese advance byflooding the Yellow River;this manoeuvre bought time for the Chinese

to prepare their defences atWuhan,but thecity was takenby October.[37]Japanese military

victories did not bring about the collapse of Chinese resistance that Japan had hoped to

achieve; instead the Chinese government relocated inland toChongqingand continued the

war.[38][39]

Japanese invasion of the Soviet Union and Mongolia (1938)

See also:Nanshin-ronandSovietJapanese border conflicts

Japanese forces in Manchuoko had sporadic border clashes with the Soviet Union,

culminating in the Japanese defeat atKhalkin Gol.After this, Japan and the Soviet Unionsigned aNeutrality Pactin April 1941, and Japan turned its focus to the South Pacific.

European occupations and agreements

Further information:Anschluss,Appeasement,Munich Agreement,German occupation of

CzechoslovakiaandMolotovRibbentrop Pact

Chamberlain,Daladier,Hitler,Mussolini,andCianopictured just before signing the Munich Agreement, 29

September 1938

In Europe, Germany and Italy were becoming more bold. In March 1938, Germanyannexed

Austria,again provokinglittle responsefrom other European powers.[40]Encouraged, Hitler

began pressing German claims on theSudetenland,an area ofCzechoslovakiawith a

predominantlyethnic Germanpopulation; and soon Britain and France followed the counsel

of prime ministerNeville Chamberlainand conceded this territory to Germany in theMunich

Agreement,which was made against the wishes of the Czechoslovak government, in

exchange for a promise of no further territorial demands.[41]Soon afterwards, Germany and

Italy forced Czechoslovakia tocede additional territorytoHungaryand Poland.[42]

Although all of Germany's stated demands had been satisfied by the agreement, privately

Hitler was furious that British interference had prevented him from seizing all of
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erlainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neville_Chamberlainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Agreementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Agreementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Agreementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Agreementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-53http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-53http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-53http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Vienna_Awardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Vienna_Awardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Vienna_Awardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-54http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-54http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-54http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-R69173,_M%C3%BCnchener_Abkommen,_Staatschefs.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-54http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Vienna_Awardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-53http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Agreementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Agreementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neville_Chamberlainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_Germanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czechoslovakiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudetenlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-Col_.26_Ped_2000_144-52http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeasement_of_Hitlerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anschlusshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anschlusshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galeazzo_Cianohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benito_Mussolinihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitlerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89douard_Daladierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neville_Chamberlainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molotov%E2%80%93Ribbentrop_Pacthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_occupation_of_Czechoslovakiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_occupation_of_Czechoslovakiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Agreementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeasementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anschlusshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet-Japanese_Neutrality_Pacthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Khalkhin_Golhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet%E2%80%93Japanese_border_conflictshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanshin-ronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-Taylor_2009_150_152-50http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-Taylor_2009_150_152-50http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chongqinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-Eastman_1986_566-49http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Wuhanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1938_Yellow_River_floodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-Hsu_.26_Chang_1971_221-48http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Xuzhouhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xuzhouhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Taierzhuanghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-46http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-46http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanking_Massacre


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Czechoslovakia in one operation. In subsequent speeches Hitler attacked British and Jewish

"war-mongers" and in January 1939secretly ordered a major build-up of the German navyto

challenge British naval supremacy. In March 1939,Germany invaded the remainder of

Czechoslovakiaand subsequently split it into the GermanProtectorate of Bohemia and

Moraviaand a pro-Germanclient state,theSlovak Republic.[43]

Hitler also deliveredan

ultimatumto Lithuania, forcing the concession of theKlaipda Region.

German Foreign MinisterRibbentropsigning the NaziSoviet non-aggression pact. Standing behind him

areMolotovand the Soviet leaderJoseph Stalin,1939

Alarmed, and with Hitler making further demands on theFree City of Danzig,France and

Britainguaranteed their support for Polish independence;whenItaly conquered Albaniain

April 1939, the same guarantee was extended to Romania andGreece

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