1. World War II
Thursday, November 29, 2018

2. 1930’s – cause of WWII was military aggression by Germany, Italy, and Japan
Hitler wanted to wipe out ‘cancer of democracy’
All 3 wanted to establish empires and little was done to stop them – concerned with depression
Italy upset they didn’t get more land after WWI
Germany upset of Treaty of Versailles

3. 1935 – Italy’s Mussolini attacked Ethiopia (Africa)
League of Nations had no army to stop them
League also failed to prevent Hitler from building up his military and occupying the Rhineland
1936 – Axis Alliance formed between Germany, Italy and eventually Japan
During this time, U.S. choose a policy of isolationism
Neutrality Acts – prohibits loaning weapons to countries at war

4. Policy of Appeasement Munich Conference – 1938
Great Britain and France tried to avoid war with Germany by allowing them to stay in the Rhineland
1938 – Hitler annexed Austria – to unite German people
Hitler than demanded Sudetenland (NW Czechoslovakia) and threatened world war to get it
Munich Conference – 1938
Britain and France allowed Hitler the Sudetenland if he promised to stop demanding more property
1939 – He broke promise and invaded Czechoslovakia

5. September 1, 1939 WWII begins when Hitler invades Poland
Blitzkrieg – ‘lightening war’ – columns of tanks and soldiers supported by airplanes

6. US Involvement
FDR soon realized the need for involvement to stop Nazi’s from taking over Europe
1939 – Congress changed isolationist policy to allow US to sell weapons to Allies
Cash and carry policy
1941 – Lend-Lease Act – lend or lease weapons to countries that were important to US interests.

7. Over in Japan… Newly industrialized Japan needed raw materials & fuel
Military leaders pushed for expansionism for markets and resources
1931 – Japan invaded Manchuria
League of Nations was upset, so Japan withdrew
1937 – Japan attacked China
Communist and non-communist forces united to fight