1. Aggressors on the March

2. 1931 – Japan Invades Manchuria

3. March 9, 1935
Hitler announces the creation of a new Air Force and begins a military draft
Army is expanded from 100,000 to 500,000
European nations grumble, but are distracted by own problems

4. March 7, 1935 German troops occupy the Rhineland “demilitarized zone”
Great Britain and France respond with a policy of “Appeasement” – satisfy Hitler’s demand and he will be content = stability & peace will be maintained

6. Invasion of Rhineland

7. Appeasement
Britain & France allow Hitler to speed up military & territorial expansion
France & Belgium
open to attack
Strengthens Hitler’s
power and prestige

8. October 1935
With Hitler’s support, Fascist Italian dictator invades Ethiopia

9. 1936 – The Spanish Civil War
Hitler and Mussolini assist Francisco Franco in becoming dictator of Spain

10. Pablo Picasso’s Guernica -1937

11. October 1936: Rome Berlin Axis
Hitler and Mussolini form a political and economic pact

12. November 1936 Anti-Comintern Pact
Germany & Japan agree to a common front against communism

13. Green 1933 Orange 1941

14. 1938 – Germany & Austria denounce the Treaty of Versailles
Britain and France do nothing…

15. March 13, 1938
Hitler annexes Austria –
“Anchluss” = Union

16. September 13, 1938
Hitler demands the Sudetenland (German speaking NW Czechoslovakia)

17. The Munich Conference – September 1938
Britain, France, Italy, & Germany meet in Munich. Britain’s Neville Chamberlain caves to Hitler’s demands allowing Hitler’s troops of occupy area – peak of “Appeasement”
Hitler promises no more demands

18. March 1939 - Czechoslovakia
Hitler invades the rest of Czechoslovakia
Demands the Port of Danzig in Poland

19. Hitler Demands Port of Danzig

20. August 23,1939 Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact
Hitler wants to invade Poland so offers Stalin control of eastern Poland and the Baltic states in exchange to not to attack each other –
September 1, 1939 Hitler invades Poland
Two days later Britain & France declare war on Germany

21. Blitzkrieg

22. Invasion of Poland

24. Western Democracies Fail to stop aggression
U.S. – Policy of ISOLATIONISM: avoid political ties in Europe!
1935 – U.S. Congress passes Neutrality Acts banning loans & arms sales to nations at war