1. It took Leo Tolstoy six years to write War and Peace.
“If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another.” - Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama
It took Leo Tolstoy six years to write War and Peace.

2. The Outbreak: Japan, Italy, and Spain
World War II
The Outbreak:
Japan, Italy, and Spain

3. The Rising Sun of Japan
With the growing power of the military, militarism, and the need for more raw materials, Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931.
1932: Japan est. Manchuria as an independent state and renamed it Manchukuo and set up former Chinese emperor Pu Yi as a puppet ruler.

5. “Emperor” Pu Yi

6. The Rising Sun of Japan
When China protested in the L of N about Japan’s actions, the League ordered a commission under Brit. statesman Lord Lytton to investigate the affair.
The commission found Japan guilty and ordered the Japanese gov. to return Manchuria to China; the League voted in favor of this verdict.
1933: Japan withdraws from the League.
The Manchurian incident: revealed L of N was powerless; increased expansionism in Italy and Germ.

7. Lord Lytton

8. The Rising Sun of Japan
In the early 1930s, the Japanese military wanted the rich oil reserves in the East Indies for ships and planes.
However, to control the Indies, Japan needed Chinese ports.
Summer 1937: Japanese forces invaded China and captured major eastern and southern cities; mass brutality in Nanjing: over 200,000 civilians killed.

9. East Indies (Inside Red)

10. Nanjing Massacre

11. Japan
Nanjing

12. The Rising Sun of Japan
During Japan’s invasion, the gov. of Chiang Kai-shek retreated inland and later allied with the Western powers.
From , the Nationalists, the Chinese Communists, and the Japanese fought each other for control of China.

13. Chiang Kai-shek

14. 1931: Japanese Aggression in Manchuria [01:53]

15. The China Incident [01:27]

16. Italy’s Conquest of Ethiopia

17. Italy’s Conquest of Ethiopia

18. Italy’s Conquest of Ethiopia
Japan’s success in Manchuria inspired Italy to make a similar move in Ethiopia.
1934: Italian and Ethiopian forces clashed in a disputed zone on the border of Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland.
Mussolini wanted to fulfill expansionist goals in Ethiopia because:
It was one of the few independent African nations left.
It would serve to unify the Italian-held Eritrea to the northwest and Italian Somaliland to the east.
It was considered to be militarily weak, and rich in resources.

19. Benito and the Blackshirt Youth

20. Eritrea and Italian Somaliland

21. Italy’s Conquest of Ethiopia
After the clash, Mussolini demanded an apology and reparations, the Ethiopians responded by asking the L of N to investigate.
The League decided that because each side viewed the area where the incident took place as its own territory, neither side was to blame.
Oct. 1935: Italy invades Ethiopia; Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie appealed for help.

22. Emperor Haile Selassie

24. Italy’s Conquest of Ethiopia
In response to Selassie’s appeal for help, the League voted economic sanctions against Italy: no arms and certain raw materials.
However, the sanctions did not include oil, coal, and iron, materials vital to the Italian war effort.
May 1936: League’s actions were ineffective; Mussolini formally annexes Ethiopia.

25. Italy's Invasion and Conquest of Ethiopia [01:04]

26. Spanish Civil War and Rise of the Fascists
A Civil War started in Spain because like Germany:
Spain was experiencing social and economic problems post-WWI.
King Alfonso XIII abdicated in 1931; Spain became a republic.
Republican gov. began social reforms (limiting the Catholic church, land redistribution, etc.) that were opposed by right-wing political groups who wanted to restore the old order.

27. Spain

28. Spanish Civil War and Rise of the Fascists
July 1936: Right-wing army chiefs staged an uprising in Spanish Morocco that spread to Spain.
For the next 3 years the conservative Spanish Nationalists led by General Francisco Franco battled the left-wing Loyalists (Spanish Republicans) for control of Spain.

29. Spain
Morocco

30. General Francisco Franco

31. Spanish Civil War and Rise of the Fascists
Foreign powers soon became involved with the civil war:
The Soviet Union supported the Loyalists.
Germ. and Italy supported the Nationalists.
Volunteers from Brit., Fr., the U.S., and other countries joined the Spanish International Brigade and fought for the Republican cause against fascism.
The govs. of the Western demos., however, refused to intervene because they feared a general Euro. war.

33. International Brigade Propaganda Posters

34. Spanish Civil War and Rise of the Fascists
Hitler viewed Germ. participation as a way to strengthen ties with Italy and to secure a vital supply of Spanish iron ore and magnesium.
Hermann Göring, head of the Luftwaffe (Germ. air force) saw this an a opportunity to 1) prevent the spread of Communism, and 2) an excuse to test out the new air force: the Condor Legion, an all Germ. air and ground force.
The Condor Legion used Spanish towns and cities as testing grounds for new weapons and military tactics (combined use of fire and high-explosive bombs).

35. Hermann Göring

36. Messerschmitt Bf 109
library.thinkquest.org/05aug/01843/wwII.html
Fast, light, and considered to be the greatest prop interceptor ever built.
Prototype in 1935; tested during the Spanish Civil War.
In WWII they were used to escort German bombers.
They were more agile then the British Hurricane, but less agile then the Spitfire; thus British aviation prevailed.
35,000 different versions were built in Germany and in other countries.

37. Spanish Civil War and Rise of the Fascists
Summer 1936: Nationalists have taken over most of western Spain.
1938: Soviets stop sending aid to the Loyalists; Franco Francisco launches final offensive.
March 1939: Franco enters Madrid, the last of the Loyalist strongholds, and is victorious.
Despite being a Fascist dictator, Franco does not ally himself with Italy and Germ. at this time.

39. Germans and Italians Aid Franco in Spain: New Weapons and Tactics [00:52]