1. Aggressors on the March
As Germany, Italy, and Japan conquered other countries, the rest of the world did nothing to stop them.

2. Japan in the 1920’s and 1930’s
Japan’s parliamentary system had weaknesses
Constitution put limits on prime minister and cabinet
Military leaders only had to answer to the emperor
When the Great Depression struck, military leaders gained control of country
Emperor Hirohito becomes the symbol for state power
Militarists were extreme nationalists
Planned a Pacific empire that includes China
China would provide raw materials and market
Could also give room to rising population

4. Japan Invades Manchuria 1931
The first direct challenge to the League of Nations
League of Nations included major democracies but not the US
Germany, Italy, and Japan were members
League condemned Japanese aggression but couldn’t enforce it
Japan ignored protests and withdrew from League in 1933

5. Japan Invades China 1937
July 7, 1937 Japan and China exchange shots at a railroad bridge near Beijing
Japanese forces launch invasion of China
Massive bombings of villages and cities killed 1,000s of Chinese
Destroy farms that cause many to die of starvation
By 1938, Japan held control a large part of China
League fails to stop Japanese
Too caught up with problems in Europe
One of the last humans left alive after intense bombing during the Japanese attack on Shanghai's South Station. August 1937.

6. “Rape of Nanjing” 1937 First “war against civilians”
Aerial bombing of urban centers
Rape of 2,000 women, murder of hundreds of thousands of unarmed soldiers and civilians
Burned 1/3 of Nanjing
400,000 Chinese lost their lives as Japanese soldiers used them for bayonet practice and machine-gunned them into open pits
Nanjing Massacre Memorial

7. Mussolini Attacks Ethiopia, October 1935
Significance:
Exposed the weakness of the League of Nations
Both Italy and Ethiopia were part of it but no one stopped it
Mussolini wants to build a colonial empire in Africa
Britain and France only left “a collection of deserts” from which to choose
Ethiopia had resisted an Italian attempt at invasion in 1890s
Italian airplanes, tanks, guns, and poison gas up against Ethiopian spears and swords
Britain allowed Italian troops and supplies through the British controlled Suez Canal
“God and history will remember your judgment…
It is us today. It will be you tomorrow.” Haile Selassie, emperor of Ethiopia, before League of Nations 1936

8. Hitler Defies the Treaty of Versailles
March Hitler announces that Germany would no longer obey the restrictions
Began rebuilding armed forces
League issues a mild condemnation
1936 Hitler moves troops into the Rhineland
Served as a buffer-zone between Germany and France
30 miles wide
France and Britain don’t want war so urge appeasement
October 1936 Mussolini seeks alliance with Hitler – Rome-Berlin Axis
One month later, Germany makes an alliance with Japan
Become known as the AXIS POWERS

9. Civil War Erupts in Spain
Spain had monarchy until 1931
Republic declared however revolts break out favoring Fascist style gov’t led by General Francisco Franco
Civil war drags on for 3 years
Hitler and Mussolini send troops, tanks, and planes to help Franco’s forces
Ex. Guernica 1937 Nazi planes destroy city killing 1,000 people
Franco became Spain’s Fascist dictator in 1939
Guernica, by Pablo Picasso, 11 ‘ high x 25’ long

11. US Follows an Isolation Policy
Isolationism
The belief that political ties to other countries should be avoided
1935 US passed Neutrality Acts
Banned loans and sale of arms to nations at war

12. German Reich Expands March 1938 Germany annexes Austria
Known as the Anschluss or the union b/n Germany and Austria
September 1938 Hitler demands western border region of Czechoslovakia called Sudetenland
Czechoslovakia refuses and asks for aid

13. Munich Conference, September 29, 1938
Meeting of Germany, France, Britain, and Italy in Munich, Germany
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain believed he could preserve peace by giving into Hitler’s demands
Hitler could take Sudetenland and he pledged to respect Czechoslovakia’s borders
“I believe it is peace for our time.” Neville Chamberlain
Winston Churchill, at time a member of Parliament, strongly disagreed
Six months later, Hitler takes all of Czechoslovakia

14. Nonaggression Pact, August 23, 1939
Nazi-Soviet Pact promised neutrality in the event of war with a third party
Prevents war on 2 fronts
Also divided eastern Europe into 2 for Germany/Soviet Union