Rumblings of War in Asia and Europe

Japan Expands into Asia Looking for excuse to invade the Asian mainland. On September 18, 1931, an explosion rocked a Japanese-owed railroad in Manchuria. Quickly conquered Manchuria and established a government. The Japanese soldiers abandoned their discipline. They murdered and tortured more than 300,000 men, women, and children. The massacre of Nanjing unified Chinese from disagreement.

Italy Invades Ethiopia In the 1930s, Benito Mussolini ruled Italy. He felt humiliated that other European nations had many rich colonies while Italy didn’t. He looked to Ethiopia in eastern Africa to fill his hope for expansion. His excuse came in 1934 when Italian troops clashed with a small troop of Ethiopians.

Spain Fights a Civil War The ruling government of Spain angered some members of the military and some wealthy Spanish landowners. Fierce disagreement arose, a civil war erupted. Two sides: The Loyalists and the Nationalist. Loyalists were mainly workers, trade unionists, and others who support the existing government. Nationalists were the military leaders, landowners, and leaders of Roman Catholic Church. There leader was Francisco Franco. He was a Fascist, and the Nationalist supported fascism.

War broke out in 1936. Italy and Germany supported the Nationalist. France, Great Britain, and the United States supported the Loyalist. After three years of bitter fighting, Franco had crushed all resistance. Spain’s Civil War provided good fighting experience for Germany. Hitler had access to the iron resources of Spain.