World War II (1930–1945) Lesson 1 Aggression, Appeasement, and War

Lesson 1 Aggression, Appeasement, and War World War II (1930–1945) Lesson 1 Aggression, Appeasement, and War Learning Objectives Describe how the Western democracies responded to aggression. Explain the significance of the Spanish Civil War. Understand how German aggression led Europe into World War II.

Lesson 1 Aggression, Appeasement, and War World War II (1930–1945) Lesson 1 Aggression, Appeasement, and War Key Terms appeasement, pacifism, Neutrality Acts. Axis powers, Francisco Franco Anschluss Sudetenland Nazi-Soviet Pact

Japanese aggression led to condemnation by the League of Nations. A Pattern of Aggression Throughout the 1930s, the rulers of Germany, Italy, and Japan were preparing to build new empires. After the horrors of World War I, the leaders of Britain, France, and the United States tried to avoid conflict through diplomacy. During the 1930s, the two sides tested each other’s commitment and will. Mussolini, Hitler, and Japanese militarists viewed that desire for peace as weakness and responded with new acts of aggression. Japanese aggression led to condemnation by the League of Nations.  Italy invaded Ethiopia and their outdated weapons were no match for Mussolini’s tanks, machine guns, poison gas, and airplanes. The League of Nations put sanctions on Italy and trade (except petroleum), but the League had no authority for sanctions. Hitler violated the Treaty of Versailles by

The United States remained neutral (Neutrality Acts) A Pattern of Aggression building up the military and sending troops into Rhineland (demilitarized zone) The Western policy of appeasement developed for a number of reasons: France was politically weak, Britain was not interested in confronting Germany.  Britain and France saw Hitler and fascism as a defense against a worse evil—the spread of Soviet communism. The United States remained neutral (Neutrality Acts)

A Pattern of Aggression Japanese Imperialism Grows Italy Invades Ethiopia Hitler Violates the Treaty of Versailles Reasons for Appeasement The United States Remains Neutral Formation of the Axis Powers

A Pattern of Aggression Germany rebuilt its military during the 1930s in defiance of the Treaty of Versailles. Here, troops stand at attention during a Nazi rally in Nuremberg, Germany.

A Pattern of Aggression Italy, Germany, and Japan formed an alliance and continued their aggressive actions. Analyze Information Why was it important for these three nations to form an alliance?

Franco won and created a dictatorship similar to Italy and Germany. The Spanish Civil War In 1936, Spain was plunged into civil war. Although the Spanish civil war was a local struggle, it soon drew other European powers into the fighting. In 1931, popular unrest against the old order forced the king to leave Spain. The republican government passed a series of controversial reforms: took over church lands and redistributed to peasants, ended privileges of the ruling class. Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union sent troops to assist Francisco Franco Both sides committed horrible atrocities. The ruinous struggle took more than 500,000 lives. Franco won and created a dictatorship similar to Italy and Germany.

The Spanish Civil War From Monarchy to Republic Other Countries Get Involved A Bloody War

The Spanish Civil War General Francisco Franco, shown here speaking to his troops, led the Nationalist forces that overthrew the Spanish democratic republic. After his victory, Franco dissolved the Spanish Parliament and established a dictatorship.

Hitler attempted to annex Sudentenland (western Czechoslovakia) German Aggression Continues In the meantime, Hitler pursued his goal of bringing all German-speaking people into the Third Reich. He also took steps to gain “living space” for Germans in Eastern Europe. Hitler, who believed in the superiority of the German people, thought that Germany had a right to conquer the Slavs to the east. Hitler claimed, “I have the right to remove millions of an inferior race that breeds like vermin.” Hitler wanted access to the natural resources of Eastern Europe, which would help boost production of military equipment. After the Austrian chancellor refused to give in to Hitler, he sent in the German army to Austria to“preserve order.” Hitler attempted to annex Sudentenland (western Czechoslovakia) At the Munich Conference of 1938 British and French leaders allowed Hitler to annex Sudentenland, while he assured them that he would not invade another country. (Munich Pact)

German Aggression Continues Chamberlain rejoiced, while Daladier and Churchill opposed the Munich Pact, knowing it would not stop war.

German Aggression Continues Germany Annexes Austria The Czech Crisis The Munich Pact

German Aggression Continues On March 15, 1938, Hitler gave a speech at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna announcing annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany.

World War II Begins Just as Churchill predicted, Europe plunged rapidly toward war. In March 1939, Hitler broke his promises and gobbled up the rest of Czechoslovakia. The democracies finally accepted the fact that appeasement had failed. At last, thoroughly alarmed, they promised to protect Poland, most likely the next target of Hitler’s expansion.  Nazi-Soviet Pact bound Hitler and Stalin to peaceful relations and secretly, the two agreed not to fight if the other went to war and to divide up Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe between them. Hitler wanted a free hand in Poland and did not want to fight Allies and did not want to fight a war against the Allies and Russia.  By joining with Hitler, Stalin tried to protect the Soviet Union from the threat of war with Germany and grabbed a chance to gain land in Eastern Europe.

Two days later, Britain and France declared war on Germany. World War II Begins September 1, 1939, a week after the Nazi-Soviet Pact, German forces invaded Poland. Two days later, Britain and France declared war on Germany. 

World War II Begins Nazi-Soviet Pact Germany Invades Poland

World War II Begins The cartoon portrays the two long-time enemies, Hitler and Stalin, uniting in marriage, representing the nonaggression pact they signed. Analyze Political Cartoons Why would the cartoonist caption this cartoon 'Wonder how long the honeymoon will last?'

Quiz: A Pattern of Aggression Why did the Western democracies respond to aggression with a policy of appeasement? A. All the Western democracies felt Germany was treated unfairly by the Versailles treaty. B. The Western democracies had eliminated their armies following World War I. C. The Western democracies wanted to avoid the horrors of another war. D. The Western democracies supported Hitler’s nationalism.

Quiz: The Spanish Civil War How did the Spanish Civil War affect other European countries? A. It unified all European leaders to oppose fascism. B. It motivated other Europeans to revolt against their governments. C. It spurred other nations to join in the conflict. D. It led to the overthrow of fascist leaders in other countries.

Quiz: German Aggression Continues How was the Munich Pact an act of appeasement? A. Hitler gave in to Western democracies’ demands for an end to aggressive actions. B. Western democracies gave in to Hitler’s demands of annexing the Sudetenland. C. Czechoslovakia went to war with Germany to protect its lands. D. Hitler was given permission to annex Austria.

Quiz: World War II Begins How did the Nazi-Soviet Pact help advance Stalin’s goals for the Soviet Union? A. It helped him transform Russia into a fascist state. B. It showed Stalin’s support for Hitler’s plan to increase 'living space' for a superior race. C. It gave Stalin a strong ally against the West. D. It gave him a chance to expand Russian territory in Eastern Europe.