Axis Aggression in Europe and Asia

Benito Mussolini seized control of the Italian gov’t in 1922 March on Rome Called Il Duce

Jan. 30, 1933, Adolph Hitler named Chancellor of Germany Called der Fuehrer

Oct. 1933 Hitler pulled Germany out of the League of Nations Response: From Great Britain & France—Nothing

1935 Hitler announced that Germany would rearm in direct violation of the Versailles Treaty Response: Nothing

Oct. 1935 Italy invaded Ethiopia & annexed it Response: League of Nations applied sanctions (arms embargo & boycott of Italian goods)

March 1936 Hitler sent troops into the Rhineland, which was supposed to be free of soldiers and fortifications Response: Britain and France could not agree on joint action; so nothing was done.

1936-39 Spanish Civil War Hitler & Mussolini gave fascist General Franco aid, including armed forces Response: Only the Soviet Union gave the Republicans aid. Because no other country helped them, the Fascists won in 1939.

Nov. 1936 Rome-Berlin Axis Response: Nothing

March 1938 Germany annexed Austria in the Anschluss Response: Nothing

***Height of Appeasement**** Sept. 1938 Hitler wanted the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia where 3 million Germans lived Response: Munich Conference & Munich Pact—England PM Chamberlain & French PM Daladier sacrificed Sudetenland to preserve peace. ***Height of Appeasement****

March 1939 Hitler took over the rest of Czechoslovakia Response: England and France promise to protect Poland

April 1939 Italy invaded & annexed Albania Response: Nothing

Response: SHOCK & DISBELIEF!!!! August 23, 1939 Non-Aggression Pact signed between Germany and the Soviet Union Response: SHOCK & DISBELIEF!!!!

Sept. 1, 1939 Germany invaded Poland with the BLITZKRIEG Sept. 1, 1939 Germany invaded Poland with the BLITZKRIEG **WWII in Europe has Begun** England and France declared war on Germany—World War II in Europe has begun.

April 1940 Denmark & Norway conquered by the Nazis Response: Where will Hitler’s Blitzkrieg strike next?

May-June 1940 Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg, and France Conquered Response: Where will Hitler’s Blitzkrieg strike next?

Hitler was forced to call off the invasion. Summer – Fall 1940 England stood ALONE!! The Battle of Britain Luftwaffe vs. RAF Response: England resisted and prevailed! Radar aided their defense and German decision to bomb British cities helped RAF win. Hitler was forced to call off the invasion.

June 1941 Hitler broke the Non-Aggression Pact & invaded the Soviet Union Response: The USSR became an Allied Power. The USSR suffered heavy losses but continued resisting. When winter set in, the German attack stopped & the Soviet Union began a massive counter-attack.

Asia

Sept. 1931 Japan invaded Chinese province of Manchuria and made it the puppet state of Manchukuo Response: US issued the Stimson Doctrine—the US would not recognize any territorial gains by force

1932 Japan left the League of Nations Response: Nothing

Response: The US sent arms & supplies to China July 1937 Chinese & Japanese troops clashed, began the Japanese-China War **WW II Has Begun in Asia** Response: The US sent arms & supplies to China

Sept. 1940 Tripartite Pact (Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis) signed Response: US placed an embargo on aviation fuel and scrap metal

July 1941 Japan invaded French Indochina Response: US froze Japanese assets

Dec. 7, 1941 A Day that will live in Infamy Japan attacked US in a surprise attackt at Pearl Harbor Response: US declared war on Dec. 8, 1941 Italy & Germany declared war on the US The US would become the “great arsenal of democracy” for the Allies.