Aggressors on the March KEY IDEA: As Germany, Italy, and Japan conquered other countries, the rest of the world did nothing.

The World Drifts Toward War In the 1930s, the major democracies—Britain, France, and the United States—still faced serious problems at home. In the 1930s, the major democracies—Britain, France, and the United States—still faced serious problems at home. Dictators in Germany and Italy took advantage of this and began moving to gain territory. Dictators in Germany and Italy took advantage of this and began moving to gain territory. So, too, did Japan, now ruled by generals. So, too, did Japan, now ruled by generals.

Militarists Take Control of Japan The military leaders in Japan had taken power when the Depression struck. They planned to capture China as a part of a Pacific empire. The military leaders in Japan had taken power when the Depression struck. They planned to capture China as a part of a Pacific empire. In 1931, the Japanese army captured Manchuria, a part of China. It was rich in coal and iron and as a result provided valuable resources for the Japanese economy. In 1931, the Japanese army captured Manchuria, a part of China. It was rich in coal and iron and as a result provided valuable resources for the Japanese economy. Other countries protested in the League of Nations but did nothing else. Other countries protested in the League of Nations but did nothing else.

Japan Seeks an Empire The Japanese militarists were extreme nationalists who wanted to solve the countries economic problems by foreign expansion. The Japanese militarists were extreme nationalists who wanted to solve the countries economic problems by foreign expansion. The empire would provide Japan with raw materials and markets for goods as well as more living space for Japan’s growing population. The empire would provide Japan with raw materials and markets for goods as well as more living space for Japan’s growing population.

Japan Invades China Japan ignored the protests and in 1933 pulled out of the League of Nations, but it stayed in Manchuria. Japan ignored the protests and in 1933 pulled out of the League of Nations, but it stayed in Manchuria. Four years later, Japan invaded China. The strong Japanese army swept Chinese fighters aside. Four years later, Japan invaded China. The strong Japanese army swept Chinese fighters aside. It killed tens of thousands of Chinese in the city of Nanjing. It killed tens of thousands of Chinese in the city of Nanjing. Chinese forces—both the Nationalists of the government and Communist rebels—continued to fight Japan. Chinese forces—both the Nationalists of the government and Communist rebels—continued to fight Japan.

Emperor Hirohito of Japan HIROHITO, ( ), 124th Emperor of Japan, who succeeded to the throne in 1926 after a period of five years as regent. The Showa era, as his reign is called, witnessed dramatic transformations in Japanese life, including the status of the Emperor himself.

Mussolini Attacks Ethiopia Japan’s defiance of the League of Nations encouraged Mussolini to begin expanding into Africa, and in 1935 he invaded Ethiopia. Japan’s defiance of the League of Nations encouraged Mussolini to begin expanding into Africa, and in 1935 he invaded Ethiopia. His troops won easy victory. His troops won easy victory. Haile Selassie, the emperor of Ethiopia, pleaded to the League of Nations for help. Haile Selassie, the emperor of Ethiopia, pleaded to the League of Nations for help. Once again, the League did nothing. Once again, the League did nothing.

Appeasement in Africa Although the League of nations condemned Italy for it aggression against Ethiopia, Great Britain continued to allow Italy to move troops and supplies through the Suez canal. Although the League of nations condemned Italy for it aggression against Ethiopia, Great Britain continued to allow Italy to move troops and supplies through the Suez canal. By giving into Mussolini in Africa, Great Britain and France hoped to keep peace in Europe. By giving into Mussolini in Africa, Great Britain and France hoped to keep peace in Europe.

Benito Mussolini Mussolini founded a political newspaper and served in World War I and founded the Fascist party. He founded the Fascist party and personally took over the ministries of the of the interior, of foreign affairs, of the colonies, of the corporations, of the army and other armed services, and of public works.

Hitler Defies the Treaty of Versailles In 1935, Adolph Hitler announced that Germany would no longer obey the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles. He began to rebuild the German army. In 1935, Adolph Hitler announced that Germany would no longer obey the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles. He began to rebuild the German army. Because the League of Nations did nothing to stop him, he began to take greater risks. Because the League of Nations did nothing to stop him, he began to take greater risks.

Hitler Defies Versailles Treaty In 1936, Hitler sent troops into an area of Germany that the treaty had forbidden them to enter. In 1936, Hitler sent troops into an area of Germany that the treaty had forbidden them to enter. France and Britain again refused to stand up to Germany. This move won Hitler more support in Germany. France and Britain again refused to stand up to Germany. This move won Hitler more support in Germany.

The German Third Reich Expands In 1937, Hitler announced his plans of to absorb Austria and Czechoslovakia into the German Empire (Third Reich). In 1937, Hitler announced his plans of to absorb Austria and Czechoslovakia into the German Empire (Third Reich). Hitler believed that any where that Germans lived was in fact a part of Germany. Hitler believed that any where that Germans lived was in fact a part of Germany.

Appeasement In March 1938, Hitler moved his troops into Austria. He made it part of Germany, breaking the Versailles Treaty again. In March 1938, Hitler moved his troops into Austria. He made it part of Germany, breaking the Versailles Treaty again. France and Britain once more did nothing. France and Britain once more did nothing. The next year, Hitler demanded that Czechoslovakia (Sudetenland) give up part of its land to Germany. The next year, Hitler demanded that Czechoslovakia (Sudetenland) give up part of its land to Germany.

Britain and France Choose Appeasement After Germany invaded the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia, the Munich Conference was held to deal with Germany’s aggression. After Germany invaded the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia, the Munich Conference was held to deal with Germany’s aggression. At the Munich Conference, France and Great Britain agreed to allow Hitler to keep the Sudetenland as long as Hitler promised to respect the new borders of Czechoslovakia At the Munich Conference, France and Great Britain agreed to allow Hitler to keep the Sudetenland as long as Hitler promised to respect the new borders of Czechoslovakia This agreement was made without Czechoslovakia’s knowledge or approval. This agreement was made without Czechoslovakia’s knowledge or approval.

Hitler promised to respect the new borders of Czechoslovakia, but a few months later he took the entire country. Hitler promised to respect the new borders of Czechoslovakia, but a few months later he took the entire country. In the summer of 1939, Hitler made a similar demand of Poland. That nation also refused to give up land. In the summer of 1939, Hitler made a similar demand of Poland. That nation also refused to give up land. Britain and France now said that they would protect Poland. Britain and France now said that they would protect Poland.

Appeasement Fails Less than 6 months later, Germany took all of Czechoslovakia Less than 6 months later, Germany took all of Czechoslovakia

Adolph Hitler Adolf served in the German Army during World War I, and then became an undercover agent and took charge of the German Worker's Party propaganda in In addition to founding the Nazi (National Socialist German Worker's Party), he also wrote an autobiography titled Mein Kampf, or My Struggle.

The Axis is Formed Hitler’s growing strength convinced Mussolini that he should seek an alliance with Germany In October of 1936, Hitler signed an agreement with Mussolini and also with Japan. The three nations were called the Axis Powers. Hitler’s growing strength convinced Mussolini that he should seek an alliance with Germany In October of 1936, Hitler signed an agreement with Mussolini and also with Japan. The three nations were called the Axis Powers.

Civil War Erupts in Spain In 1936, Spain erupted in civil war as the army revolted against a leftist government. In 1936, Spain erupted in civil war as the army revolted against a leftist government. Hitler and Mussolini sent aid to the army, which was backed by Spanish Fascists. Hitler and Mussolini sent aid to the army, which was backed by Spanish Fascists. The Soviet Union sent aid to the government. In 1939, the army won and Francisco Franco became Spain’s Fascist dictator. The Soviet Union sent aid to the government. In 1939, the army won and Francisco Franco became Spain’s Fascist dictator.

General Francisco Franco After the nationalist victory in the Spanish Civil War, General Francisco Franco declared himself military chief. After the nationalist victory in the Spanish Civil War, General Francisco Franco declared himself military chief. He ruled Spain until his death in He ruled Spain until his death in His rule was quite harsh. He executed more than 200,000 Spaniards between 1939 and His rule was quite harsh. He executed more than 200,000 Spaniards between 1939 and Although he sympathized with the Axis Powers, he did not enter WWII Although he sympathized with the Axis Powers, he did not enter WWII

Non-aggression Pact with Russia While Germany was making its moves in Europe, Hitler made an agreement with Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in which the two countries promised never to attack each other. While Germany was making its moves in Europe, Hitler made an agreement with Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in which the two countries promised never to attack each other. With the treaty signed with Russia, Germany was free to move unchecked throughout Europe With the treaty signed with Russia, Germany was free to move unchecked throughout Europe

Western Democracies Fail to Halt Aggression The people in the United States were determined not to get involved in Europe’s new problems. The people in the United States were determined not to get involved in Europe’s new problems. Beginning in 1935, to insure the U.S. remained Neutral, Congress passed a series of Neutrality Acts that banned the sale of arms to the warring nations. Beginning in 1935, to insure the U.S. remained Neutral, Congress passed a series of Neutrality Acts that banned the sale of arms to the warring nations. Over the years, these laws were slowly changed to allow arms sales to Great Britain. Over the years, these laws were slowly changed to allow arms sales to Great Britain.