1. Roads to World War II
The World between 1919 and 1939

2. Japanese Aggression
Needed additional raw materials and markets for selling goods
Needed living space for a rapidly growing population
Wanted less dependence on foreign goods/materials

3. Manchuria

4. Japanese Aggression
In 1931 Japan created the Mukden Incident in Manchuria (Railroad explosion)
Using the incident Japan invaded Manchuria
Japan set up a puppet state known as Manchukuo
China protested with the League Of Nations
League Of Nations sided with China
Investigations showed Japan Responsible
Result – Japan withdrew from League Of Nations and was diplomatically isolated

5. Japanese Aggression
From 1931 to 1937 Japan and China engaged in “incidents”
Japan sought to control China and attacked eastern and southern Chinese cities
In 1937 the capital of China, Nanking, was conquered by Japan
Began 8 year total warfare for control of China

6. Italian Aggression 1934 Italy looked to invade Ethiopia
Reasons: power and prestige
Ethiopia appeals to League Of Nations
League Of Nations applied economic sanctions - failed
1936 Ethiopia was annexed by Italy

7. Ethiopia

8. Italian Aggression
In 1939 Italy invaded Albania and absorbed it into the greater Italian Empire
Reasons: control of Adriatic Sea and expansionist policies
After observing the appeasement policies of Britain and France towards Germany’s invasion of Czechoslovakia, Italy decided to invade

9. Albania

10. The Spanish Civil War Republicans Democratic liberals Urban workers
Most landless peasants
Much of the educated middle class
All the left-wing political groups
Socialist and Anarchist Trade Unions
Nationalists
Fascists and conservatives
The majority of Catholic clergy and practicing Catholics
Most of the large landowners
Businessmen
Lead by Francisco Franco

11. The Spanish Civil War Republican Foreign Aid Nationalists Foreign Aid
The USSR
Mexico
Nationalists Foreign Aid
Portugal
Germany
Italy

12. The Spanish Civil War
For these dictators, it was an opportunity to “test” their weapons, including tanks and planes, and see how they worked

13. The Spanish Civil War

14. The Spanish Civil War
The main aim of the Nationalists was to occupy Madrid
But the defense of the city was fierce
Having failed to take the capital, Franco bombarded it from the air

15. The Spanish Civil War Hitler sent his famous “Condor Legion.”
This was a group of skilled pilots with new planes that were trained at dive bombing targets

16. The Spanish Civil War
After the failed attempt to conquer Madrid, Franco decided to finish the Republican North
In April the German Condor Legion bombed the town of Guernica in the Basque Country, causing hundreds of casualties

18. The Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War ended in March 1939 when the National troops invaded Madrid and took control of the Government
Hitler and Mussolini began to work closer together as dictators

19. The Spanish Civil War Was a dress rehearsal for WWII
Italy and Germany vs. USSR
Weapons used and battle tactics
Differences from WWII
Fascist (Francisco Franco with help of Germany & Italy) win in Spanish Civil War where as the Fascist (Germany/Italy) lose in WWII
Spain did not join with Hitler’s Germany during WWII even though Hitler had helped the national troops in their Spanish Civil War
Franco insisted that Spain remain independent and neutral