Transcript Aggressors on the March

Aggressors on the
March
Chapter 15.4
Setting the Stage
 Many
European countries are falling to
dictators – Germany, Italy, Yugoslavia,
Albania, Bulgarian, & Romania
 Only countries w/strong democratic
traditions remained democratic – Britain,
France, & Scandinavian countries
Reasons for the Increase in
Dictators
 Economic
instability, global depression,
lack of strong leadership, & no democratic
traditions led many countries into
dictatorships
 Promised simple solutions to complex
problems
 Dictators restricted civil rights. Russia
(communist) & Germany (Nazi) assert total
control over their citizens
Japan’s Struggles
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During 1920’s Japan
became more democratic
Signed a treaty respecting
China’s borders. Signed
treaty to prevent another
war.
Parliament had many
weaknesses
Constitution had strict limits
on powers of prime minister
& cabinet
Civilian leaders had little
control over military.
Military Leaders Gain Control
over Japan

When global depression struck,the democratic
government was blamed
 Military leaders gain popularity & win control in govt.
 Established a military dictatorship & made emperor the
symbol of state power
 Wanted to solve Japan problems by foreign expansion
 Wanted a Pacific empire that included a conquered
China
 Empire would give them raw materials, markets for their
goods & more living room for their people.
Japan Invades Manchuria
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The invasion signals the
start of WWII in Asia;
Manchuria is an area rich
in iron & coal;
Japan's businesses
invested heavily in this
area;
China was involved in a
civil war and were weak;
1st direct challenge to
League of Nations. They
protested invasion but
could not stop it - had no
real power.
Read Out Loud
 Japan
Invades China pg 432
 Please
write down 3 to 4 facts / key points
from the paragraph into your notes
Japan Invades China

Japan withdraws from
the League of Nations;
 Border incident leads
to shots between
Japan & China;
 Japanese forces
invade Northern
China;
 Japanese forces are
better equipped &
trained.
Japan Invades China (Cont.)
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Beijing falls to Japan
Rape of Nanking –
Japanese kill tens of
thousands of people &
soldiers.
Jiang Jieshi’s (democratic)
forces retreat
Mao Zedong’s
(communist) forces keep
fighting
Civil War in China between
democratic & communist
forces.
Questions
 Why
does Japan fall to a dictatorship?
 What
are the effects of Japan’s military
dictatorship?
Objective
 To
describe fascist aggression in Asia &
Europe.
League of Nations

Created after WWI by U.S. President Woodrow
Wilson
 League was to be an international association to
keep peace
 5 permanent members – Britain, France, Italy &
Japan, Germany.
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U.S did not join The League because they wanted to
stay out of European affairs.
The League lacked any real power/authority
Mussolini Attacks Ethiopia
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Failure of League of Nations to stop Japan
encourages Italy to conquer Ethiopia
 Mussolini orders an invasion of Ethiopia in Oct.
1935.
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Ethiopia asks the League of Nations for help, but
member nations refuse to do anything;
Britain and France hope to keep the peace;
Italians have superior military technology and
Ethiopia is forced to surrender in May of 1936
Hitler Defies Versailles Treaty
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In 1935, Hitler announced that Germany would
not obey Treaty of Versailles
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The League of Nations barely responds
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Germany begins rebuilding its military.
The Treaty of Versailles limited the size of the
German military.
Slap on the wrist
This convinces Hilter to take even greater risks
Banners in Germany read – “Today Germany!
Tomorrow the World!”
Hitler Defies Versailles Treaty
(cont.)
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Treaty created a buffer zone
between France & Germany
– the Rhineland
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The Rhineland was an
important industrial area.
On March 7, 1936 German
troops invade the Rhineland
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France does not stop them or
retaliate because they didn’t
want to risk war.
Britain urged appeasement
Hitler’s March Towards War
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Weak response by Britain & France encourage
Hitler to build up his military & pursue further
territorial expansion.
 Mussolini seeks an alliance with Germany;
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Oct. of 1936, Germany & Italy reach an agreement
known as the Rome-Berlin Axis;
A month later, Germany & Japan reach an
agreement.
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Italy, Germany & Japan form the Axis Powers
Question
 How
did the responses from the League of
Nations and other countries in Europe
encourage Mussolini and Hitler to take
greater risks?
Civil War Erupts in Spain
 Spain
was an Monarchy until 1931, when
a democratic republic was established.
 In July of 1936 army leaders joined
general Francisco Franco in a revolt.
 They favored a fascist style of govt.
 Spain was divided by Civil War for 3 years
Civil War Erupts in Spain
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Hitler & Mussolini sent troops
& weapons to help Franco &
his forces
The Republicans (Spain’s
elected govt.) received no
help from the international
community;
By 1936 Franco had became
Spain’s Fascist dictator
Pablo Picasso: Guernica
Depicts the bombing of Guernica, Spain by German bombers in April of 1937.
Question
 How
does Picasso’s use of image and
color depict the horrors of the Spanish
Civil War?
 Please
list the images you see in the
painting.
Western Democracies Fail to
Halt Aggression
 Britain
& France appease aggressors
because:
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They wanted to keep peace;
Both countries had serious economic
problems because of global depression;
Horrors of WWI created deep desire to avoid
war.
United States’ Isolation Policy
– the belief that political ties
to other countries should be avoided
 Isolationism
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Believed entry to WWI was a big mistake
Neutrality Acts – laws that banned loans &
the sale of arms to nations at war.
Resisted the role of being a world leader
The German Reich Expands

Nov. 5, 1937 Hitler
announced his plans to
absorb Austria &
Czechoslovakia into the
Third Reich
 Treaty of Versailles
prevented Germany &
Austria from forming a
union or Anschluss
The German Reich Expands
(cont.)

Many Austrians
supported a union w/
Germany
 March 1938, Hitler
annexed Austria;
 France & Britain did not
try to stop the union or
protect Austria’s
independence
Czechoslovakia
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After WWI, Czechoslovakia developed a strong
democracy w/ a strong army. They also signed a
defense treaty with France.
 3 million German speaking people lived in the
western border known as the Sudetenland
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Many people in the Sudetenland had pro-Nazi feelings.
Sept.1938 - Hitler demands that the Sudetenland
be given to Germany
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Czechoslovakia refused & asked France for help.
Map on page 460 -61
Britain & France Choose
Appeasement Again
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Sept. 1938, Munich Conference - Britain,
France and Germany meet to discuss Czech.
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British Prime Minister Chamberlain believes that
letting Hitler have Sudetenland will perserve the
peace.
France & Britain agree to appease Hitler
Czech. not invited to meeting.
Hitler promises to respect Czech. new border
Hitler Takes Czechoslovakia
 Less
than six months after Munich
meeting, Hitler takes all of Czechoslovakia
 Mussolini takes Albania
 Hitler demands Poland
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Poland refuses to surrender to Germany;
Poland ask Brit. & France for help. Both
countries promise to defend Poland’s
independence.
Map of Europe
Germany & Russia Sign Nonaggression Pact

Brit. & France asked
Russia to join them in
stopping Hitler
 Stalin resented being left
out of Munich conference
 Brit. & France distrust
communist govt.
 Russia reaches an
agreement with Hitler to
never attack one another
 Aug. of 1939 sign nonaggression pact
Questions

What was U. S. policy towards Hitler &
Mussolini?
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What was Britain & France’s policy towards
Hitler & Mussolini?
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Why did these policies fail?