World War II

Japan grows more aggressive Japan thought it should have an empire equal to the of the western world Seizes Manchuria and withdraws from the League of Nations Overrun eastern China

Italy Invades Ethiopia Mussolini uses military might to exact revenge from long ago League of nations imposed sanctions on Italy but had little effect Ethiopia falls to Italy

Sends troops into the Rhineland (demilitarized) Hitler’s Challenge Builds up military Sends troops into the Rhineland (demilitarized) League of Nations “appeases” Hitler

Appeasement and Neutrality France was demoralized Britain thought Hitler justified due to harshness of Treaty of Versailles Saw Hitler as lesser evil against Communism Great Depression took away the energy of Western nations Pacifism spread throughout the world U.S. passes series of Neutrality Acts

Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis Italy, German, and Japan form the Axis powers Agree to fight Soviet Communism Will not interfere with one another's desire to expand

German Aggression Aide in Spanish Civil War Send troops, supplies, and bombing raids Goal of achieving Aryan race “Nature is cruel…so we may be cruel too…I have the right to remove millions of an inferior race that breeds like vermin.” Annexes Austria

Annexes Czechoslovakia German Aggression Annexes Czechoslovakia Munich Conference: France and Britain cave to Hitler’s demands ‘Surrender the Sudetenland without bloodshed’ Neville Chamberlain claims “peace for our time”

Europe Plunges into War Nazi-Soviet Pact Secret nonaggression pact with USSR Will not fight if the other went to war Divide up Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe Hitler fears Communism and Stalin fears Fascism Hitler did not want war between the Western nation & Russia

WORLD WAR II is under way Invasion of Poland Sept. 1, 1939 Nazi’s invade Poland Two days later Britain and France declare war on Germany WORLD WAR II is under way

Why War Came Effort to revise the Treaty of Versailles Satisfied with not satisfied Western powers hoped war could be avoided through diplomacy and compromise Western powers were distracted by the Great Depression at home Did not take Hitler seriously World War I was still fresh in everyone's minds