Section 1: Aggression Leads to War World War II: Chapter 24 Section 1: Aggression Leads to War
The Rise of Dictators Soviet Communism Josef Stalin became dictator of the Soviet Union by 1929 Turned it into a totalitarian state Totalitarian state: nation where a single party controls the government and every aspect of people’s lives
The Rise of Dictators Fascism in Italy Benito Mussolini rose to power in 1922 Turned Italy into the world’s first fascist state Fascism: political system based on militarism, extreme nationalism, and blind loyalty to a state and its leader Said Italy was a superior nation that had a right to conquer inferior nations
The Rise of Dictators Nazi Germany Adolf Hitler, an extreme nationalist, became leader of the National Socialist (Nazi) Party Racism lay at core of Nazi beliefs (Aryan vs. others) Great Depression made Hitler popular; became Chancellor in 1933 Germany soon passed anti-Semitic laws
The Rise of Dictators Militarism in Japan Military leaders pressured civilian government to take control of nearby countries By 1936, militarists were in complete control of Japanese government Racism/nationalism was also preached
Military Aggression Japan Attacks China Japanese took Manchuria (land in NE China) in 1931 Stepped up aggression in 1937
Military Aggression Italy Invades Ethiopia Invaded in 1935 Haile Selassie, the emperor, appealed to the League of Nations for help, but they responded weakly due to Europe’s own economic crisis
Military Aggression German Aggression Hitler sent troops into Rhineland in 1936 European leaders met in Munich in September 1938 to help ease crisis In Munich Pact, France/Britain agreed to let Hitler occupy Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia near Germany), in exchange for Hitler agreeing not to seek any more land Hitler ended up occupying all of Czechoslovakia by 1939
American Neutrality Neutrality Act Good Neighbor Act Passed in 1935 Forbade president from selling arms, making loans, or giving assistance to a nation in war Good Neighbor Act Hoover rejected Roosevelt Corollary in 1930 FDR withdrew American troops from Nicaragua and Haiti and canceled Platt Amendment in GNA
War Begins in Europe Invasion of Poland Hitler/Stalin signed Nazi-Soviet Pact in 1939 non-aggression Nazi troops invaded Poland on 9/1/39 Two days later, France/Britain declared war on Germany
War Begins in Europe Fall of France Germany moved into France in 1940 Britain moved in to help, but both countries were forced to retreat to Dunkirk (French port) On 6/22/40, Hitler accepted full surrender of France
War Begins in Europe Battle of Britain Hitler ordered air assault on Britain Bombs hit daily; many forced to sleep in subway stations and practice daily bomb drills Battle of Britain continued throughout 1940, but Hitler gave up invading Britain
War Begins in Europe Invasion of the Soviet Union On 6/22/41, Hitler broke the Nazi-Soviet Pact with Stalin Germany invaded Soviet Union Soviet Union joined Britain in fighting Germans Although Churchill/Stalin mistrusted each other, they worked together in war