Aggressors on the March
1931 – Japan Invades Manchuria
March 9, 1935 Hitler announces the creation of a new Air Force and begins a military draft Army is expanded from 100,000 to 500,000 European nations grumble, but are distracted by own problems
March 7, 1935 German troops occupy the Rhineland “demilitarized zone” Great Britain and France respond with a policy of “Appeasement” – satisfy Hitler’s demand and he will be content = stability & peace will be maintained
Invasion of Rhineland
Appeasement Britain & France allow Hitler to speed up military & territorial expansion France & Belgium open to attack Strengthens Hitler’s power and prestige
October 1935 With Hitler’s support, Fascist Italian dictator invades Ethiopia
1936 – The Spanish Civil War Hitler and Mussolini assist Francisco Franco in becoming dictator of Spain
Pablo Picasso’s Guernica -1937
October 1936: Rome Berlin Axis Hitler and Mussolini form a political and economic pact
November 1936 Anti-Comintern Pact Germany & Japan agree to a common front against communism
Green 1933 Orange 1941
1938 – Germany & Austria denounce the Treaty of Versailles Britain and France do nothing…
March 13, 1938 Hitler annexes Austria – “Anchluss” = Union
September 13, 1938 Hitler demands the Sudetenland (German speaking NW Czechoslovakia)
The Munich Conference – September 1938 Britain, France, Italy, & Germany meet in Munich. Britain’s Neville Chamberlain caves to Hitler’s demands allowing Hitler’s troops of occupy area – peak of “Appeasement” Hitler promises no more demands
March 1939 - Czechoslovakia Hitler invades the rest of Czechoslovakia Demands the Port of Danzig in Poland
Hitler Demands Port of Danzig
August 23,1939 Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact Hitler wants to invade Poland so offers Stalin control of eastern Poland and the Baltic states in exchange to not to attack each other – September 1, 1939 Hitler invades Poland Two days later Britain & France declare war on Germany
Blitzkrieg
Invasion of Poland
Western Democracies Fail to stop aggression U.S. – Policy of ISOLATIONISM: avoid political ties in Europe! 1935 – U.S. Congress passes Neutrality Acts banning loans & arms sales to nations at war