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The Path to War

The Path to War. Mr. White’s World History. Objectives. After this section, we should be able to: Explain how World War II began, and how its roots lay in the results of World War I. Japanese Expansion.

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The Path to War

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  1. The Path to War Mr. White’s World History

  2. Objectives • After this section, we should be able to: • Explain how World War II began, and how its roots lay in the results of World War I

  3. Japanese Expansion • Japan was dependent on getting natural resources from outside to maintain its industrial power • In September of 1931, the Japanese army invaded Manchuria, in China • China protested the invasion to the League of Nations • League of Nations conducted an investigation • Place total blame on Japan; ordered the Japanese government to return Manchuria

  4. Chinese Responses • Japan withdrew from the League when ordered to return Manchuria • The League did nothing in response, and revealed it to be powerless; Italy and Germany felt encouraged • Japan invaded other parts of China in order to seize Chinese ports, so they could invade the oil-rich areas of the East Indies • The nationalist government under Chiang Kai-shek retreated inland • Nationalists, communists, and the Japanese all struggled for control of China

  5. Italian Expansionism • In 1934, Italian and Ethiopian forces clashed in a disputed zone on the border of Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland • League of Nations: Nobody’s fault • October, 1935 – Mussolini ordered Italian forces to invade Ethiopia • Ethiopian president HaileSelassie appealed to the League of Nations for help • The League of Nations imposed sanctions on Italy • However, members could still trade oil, coal, and iron to Italy – vital war materiel • Despite the sanctions, Italy was able to take over Ethiopia

  6. The Spanish Civil War • In Spain, King Alfonso abdicated in 1930 – a republic was set up • Many right wing groups were opposed to the reforms of the republican government, and wanted to restore the old ways • Spanish Nationalists (fascists) under Francisco Franco started a revolt against the Loyalist (republican) government and battled for control of Spain

  7. An International Conflict • Many foreign nations intervened in this war • Soviet Union – backed the Loyalists • Germany and Italy – supported the Nationalists • Many volunteers from Britain, France, and the U.S. came to support that Loyalists, as well • Hitler and Herman Goering saw this war as an opportunity to support fascism in Europe and to test new weapons and tactics • German air force participated in the war by bombing Spanish towns and cities • Franco defeated the Loyalist forces and set up a fascist government in Italy, but didn’t ally with Hitler or Mussolini

  8. German Expansionism • Hitler had said that the German people needed lebensraum, or living space • Since 1935, the Nazi government had been re-arming Germany, in defiance of the Treaty of Versailles • League of Nations gave a weak response • Encouraged by the League of Nation’s apparent timidity, Hitler decided to start expanding

  9. The Rhineland and Austria • First, Hitler sent troops into the Rhineland, an area bordering France which served as a buffer to a German invasion of France • France could have declared war, and Britain would have had to back them, but they did not • Hitler turned to Austria • Austria’s prime minister resisted unification • Hitler’s troops invaded Austria in 1938 and Hitler proclaimed an anschluss, or linking of the two nations • Hitler insisted he was promoting political stability in central Europe

  10. The Axis Powers • In October of 1936, Hitler and Mussolini agreed to the Rome-Berlin Axis • Later, both nations joined with Japan in the Comintern Pact, which was an alliance against Soviet communism • Josef Stalin viewed this as a direct threat to the Soviet Union • He urged the western democracies to unite against Hitler • The western democracies wanted to avoid a war, and distrusted Stalin, so they didn’t

  11. Czechoslovakia • Since World War I, Czechoslovakia had been prosperous and democratic • Was created by the Treaty of Versailles • Had alliances with France and the Soviet Union • The country had many different ethnic groups that didn’t always get along • Hitler would take advantage of these divisions to take over Czechoslovakia

  12. The Sudeten Crisis • On September 12, 1938, Hitler demanded that Germans in the Sudetenland be given the right to self-determination • Czechoslovakia responded by declaring martial law • To avoid a crisis, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain of Great Britain asked for a meeting with Hitler

  13. Appeasement at Munich • At the meeting, Hitler demanded that the Sudetenland, in Czechoslovakia, become part of Germany so that the Sudeten Germans there could be protected • Chamberlain adopted a policy of appeasement, which sought to give small concessions in order to avoid war • Hitler also promised to respect the sovereignty of Czechoslovakia • Chamberlain supported the eventual Munich Treaty, which granted the Sudetenland to Germany • Chamberlain felt that he’d won a victory for peace

  14. Continued Aggression • Germany quickly broke the Munich agreement by invading Czechoslovakia in March of 1939 • Hitler forced Lithuania to give up the German-speaking town of Memel • Next, he demanded the Polish Corridor and the city of Danzig from Poland • Poland refused to hand these over to Germany, and France and Britain promised to back Poland

  15. Stalin’s Distrust • Stalin suspected that the Munich agreement was an attempt by the western democracies to turn Hitler’s attention away from them, and toward the Soviet Union • Chamberlain didn’t trust Stalin • The western democracies seemed unable to decided who was the bigger threat – fascists or communists

  16. Soviet-West Relations • Chamberlain did ask Stalin to join Britain and France in an alliance against Nazism • Stalin agreed, but only if the western democracies would allow Stalin to occupy a large part of eastern Europe – Chamberlain refused • Stalin suspected, even more, that the West wanted to see Germany and the Soviet Union fight each other

  17. Non-Aggression Pact • Stalin knew that Hitler’s expansionism would lead to him taking land near the Soviet Union • He began talks with Germany to avoid this war, or at least put it off • August 23, 1939 – the Soviet Union and Germany signed the Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact • Would never attack each other • Each would remain neutral if the other was involved in a war • Spheres of influence for each nation

  18. An Unholy Alliance • Both leaders knew that this was a short-term agreement to achieve their immediate aims • Stalin thought war with Germany was inevitable • If nothing else, it would buy time for the Soviet Union to prepare to fight Germany • Western leaders were shocked by the agreement – an unholy alliance

  19. World War II Begins • Hitler believed that the western democracies would back down if he invaded Poland • September 1, 1939 – Germany invaded Poland and won a quick victory • Great Britain and France declared war on Germany • World War II had begun

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