Aggressors on the March As Germany, Italy, and Japan conquered other countries, the rest of the world did nothing to stop them.

Japan in the 1920’s and 1930’s Japan’s parliamentary system had weaknesses Constitution put limits on prime minister and cabinet Military leaders only had to answer to the emperor When the Great Depression struck, military leaders gained control of country Emperor Hirohito becomes the symbol for state power Militarists were extreme nationalists Planned a Pacific empire that includes China China would provide raw materials and market Could also give room to rising population

Japan Invades Manchuria 1931 The first direct challenge to the League of Nations League of Nations included major democracies but not the US Germany, Italy, and Japan were members League condemned Japanese aggression but couldn’t enforce it Japan ignored protests and withdrew from League in 1933

Japan Invades China 1937 July 7, 1937 Japan and China exchange shots at a railroad bridge near Beijing Japanese forces launch invasion of China Massive bombings of villages and cities killed 1,000s of Chinese Destroy farms that cause many to die of starvation By 1938, Japan held control a large part of China League fails to stop Japanese Too caught up with problems in Europe One of the last humans left alive after intense bombing during the Japanese attack on Shanghai's South Station. August 1937.

“Rape of Nanjing” 1937 First “war against civilians” Aerial bombing of urban centers Rape of 2,000 women, murder of hundreds of thousands of unarmed soldiers and civilians Burned 1/3 of Nanjing 400,000 Chinese lost their lives as Japanese soldiers used them for bayonet practice and machine-gunned them into open pits Nanjing Massacre Memorial

Mussolini Attacks Ethiopia, October 1935 Significance: Exposed the weakness of the League of Nations Both Italy and Ethiopia were part of it but no one stopped it Mussolini wants to build a colonial empire in Africa Britain and France only left “a collection of deserts” from which to choose Ethiopia had resisted an Italian attempt at invasion in 1890s Italian airplanes, tanks, guns, and poison gas up against Ethiopian spears and swords Britain allowed Italian troops and supplies through the British controlled Suez Canal “God and history will remember your judgment… It is us today. It will be you tomorrow.” Haile Selassie, emperor of Ethiopia, before League of Nations 1936

Hitler Defies the Treaty of Versailles March 1935 Hitler announces that Germany would no longer obey the restrictions Began rebuilding armed forces League issues a mild condemnation 1936 Hitler moves troops into the Rhineland Served as a buffer-zone between Germany and France 30 miles wide France and Britain don’t want war so urge appeasement October 1936 Mussolini seeks alliance with Hitler – Rome-Berlin Axis One month later, Germany makes an alliance with Japan Become known as the AXIS POWERS

Civil War Erupts in Spain Spain had monarchy until 1931 Republic declared however 1936 revolts break out favoring Fascist style gov’t led by General Francisco Franco Civil war drags on for 3 years Hitler and Mussolini send troops, tanks, and planes to help Franco’s forces Ex. Guernica 1937 Nazi planes destroy city killing 1,000 people Franco became Spain’s Fascist dictator in 1939 Guernica, by Pablo Picasso, 11 ‘ high x 25’ long

US Follows an Isolation Policy Isolationism The belief that political ties to other countries should be avoided 1935 US passed Neutrality Acts Banned loans and sale of arms to nations at war

German Reich Expands March 1938 Germany annexes Austria Known as the Anschluss or the union b/n Germany and Austria September 1938 Hitler demands western border region of Czechoslovakia called Sudetenland Czechoslovakia refuses and asks for aid

Munich Conference, September 29, 1938 Meeting of Germany, France, Britain, and Italy in Munich, Germany British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain believed he could preserve peace by giving into Hitler’s demands Hitler could take Sudetenland and he pledged to respect Czechoslovakia’s borders “I believe it is peace for our time.” Neville Chamberlain Winston Churchill, at time a member of Parliament, strongly disagreed Six months later, Hitler takes all of Czechoslovakia

Nonaggression Pact, August 23, 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact promised neutrality in the event of war with a third party Prevents war on 2 fronts Also divided eastern Europe into 2 for Germany/Soviet Union