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Axis Aggression

Axis Aggression. Japan on the Move. Japan wanted to have an empire equal to that of those in western Europe. In pursuit of this goal, Japan seized Manchuria in 1931. The League of Nations condemned this aggression So, Japan withdrew from the League of Nations

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Axis Aggression

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  1. Axis Aggression

  2. Japan on the Move • Japan wanted to have an empire equal to that of those in western Europe. • In pursuit of this goal, Japan seized Manchuria in 1931. • The League of Nations condemned this aggression • So, Japan withdrew from the League of Nations • By 1937, Japanese armies took over much of eastern China

  3. Japanese Aggression

  4. Italy Invades Ethiopia • In Italy, Mussolini looked to expand his empire • In 1935, Italy invaded Ethiopia • The Ethiopian King, HaileSelassie appealed to the League of Nations for help • The League of Nations voted sanctions (penalties) against Italy for violating international law. • They could not enforce these sanctions and Italy succeeded in conquering Ethiopia

  5. The Western European Reaction • Western democracies denounced the moves of Hitler, Japan and Italy but didn’t take real action • Adopted a policy of appeasement, giving in to the demands of an aggressor to keep the peace • Adopted for many reasons: • France was suffering from political divisions at home • The British didn’t want to confront Hitler • The Great Depression sapped their country’s resources • Widespread pacifism (opposition to all war) from the first World War • United States passed the Neutrality Acts • Forbade the sale of arms to any nation at war • Outlawed loans to warring nations • Goal was to avoid involvement in a European war

  6. Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis • Germany, Italy and Japan formed what became known as the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis • Agreed to fight Soviet communism • Agreed not to interfere with one another’s plans for expansion • Cleared the way for these anti-democratic powers to take more aggressive steps

  7. Spanish Civil War • In 1931, popular unrest forced the king to leave Spain • A republic was set up with a new, liberal constitution • Passed controversial reforms that angered both the left (liberals) and the right (conservatives) • In 1936, a conservative general Francisco Franco led a revolt that began a civil war • His Fascist and conservative supporters were called Nationalists • Supporters of the republic, including communists were Loyalists • Hitler and Mussolini sent arms and forces to help Franco • Britain, France, and the U.S. remained neutral

  8. Germany Bombs Guernica • In support of Franco, Germany began an air raid on Guernica, a small, innocent Spanish town in April 1937 • Germany dropped bombs and then gunned down the innocent people in the streets • An estimated 1,600 people were killed • The Nazi leaders saw the attack on Guernica as an “experiment” to see what their air bombers could do • By 1939, Franco was victorious • He created a fascist dictatorship like Hitler and Mussolini

  9. Picasso’s Guernica

  10. The Anschluss • Nazi propaganda had spread to Austria • In 1938, Hitler was ready to begin the Anschluss, or union of Austria and Germany • Hitler forced the Austrian chancellor to appoint Nazis to key cabinet posts • However, the Austrian leader did not give in to Hitler’s other demands • Hitler sent the German army to “preserve order” • The Anschluss violated the Versailles treaty, but the western democracies did not take action

  11. Czech Crisis and Munich Conference • Hitler insisted that the three million Germans in the Sudetenland (in western Czechoslovakia) be given autonomy • Czechoslovakia was one of the few remaining democracies in Eastern Europe • The Munich Conference began in September 1938 • The British and French leaders chose appeasement by caving in to Hitler’s demands • Persuaded the Czechs to surrender the Sudetenland without a fight • In exchange, Hitler assured Britain and France that he would not expand his territory • British prime minister Neville Chamberlain said they had achieved “peace for our time”

  12. European Aggression

  13. Nazi-Soviet Pact • In August 1939, Hitler stunned the world by announcing an nonaggression pact with his great enemy, Joseph Stalin • Secretly, the two agreed to: • Not fight if the other went to war • Divide up Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe • Pact made on mutual need • Hitler feared communism and Stalin feared fascism

  14. Hitler Invades Poland • On September 1, 1939, a week after the Nazi-Soviet Pact, German forces invaded Poland • Two days later, Britain and France honored their commitment to Poland and declared war on Germany

  15. Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

  16. Directions for Newspaper Activity: • You must put the event as the HEADLINE of your newspaper article • Include one picture/visual depiction of the event • Include the date (if available) • Give a brief summary of the event

  17. Key Ideas: • Japan Invades Manchuria • Italy Invades Ethiopia • Western Powers Choose Appeasement and Neutrality • Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis Created • Spanish Civil War Begins • Germany Bombs Guernica • Hitler Engineers the Anschluss • Czech Crisis and Munich Conference • Nazi-Soviet Pact is Made • World War II Begins

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