Transcript The Years of Crisis

The Rise of Fascism and
WWII
1922-1945
Aggression and the policy of
Appeasement


Appeasement- The Policy of giving in to an
aggressor in order to maintain peace.
Why would nations choose Appeasement?
Japan




During the early 20’s Japan became more
democratic, setting up a parliament
Onset of the Great Depression.-People
blamed the government
Military rulers gained public support and
gained control of the government
Military leaders kept Emperor as the
symbol of power.

Use conquered territories to provide raw
materials and markets for goods.
Japan’s Strategy for Dealing
with Crisis




Military leaders wanted to solve economic
problems through Empire.
1931- Japan invades Manchuria against
the objections of Japanese Parliament
Manchuria rich in Iron and coal
Japanese set up a puppet government
International Response to Japan




League of Nations Protested
Deemed it a Violation of the Kellog-Briand pactwhich “renounced war as an instrument of
national policy.” signed by most nations except
Soviet Union
League had no military could not enforce treaty
Japan withdrew from the League of Nations in
1933
Japan Invades Mainland China
1937


The Rape of Nanking
Between December 1937
and March 1938 at least
369,366 Chinese civilians
and prisoners of war
were slaughtered by the
invading troops. An
estimated 80,000 women
and girls were raped;
many of them were then
mutilated or murdered.
European Aggression and the Policy
of Appeasement





October 1935 Italy- Mussolini Attacks Ethiopia
Tests new Chemical weapons on Ethiopian
population
Easily defeats Ethiopians
Ethiopian Ruler appealed to League of Nations
for help
League condemned attacks but did nothing
Hitler Defies Versailles Treaty



Part of NAZI platform was to overturn
Versailles Treaty.
March 1935 Hitler rearmed Germany
violating the condition limiting Germany’s
Army.
League failed to respond
The Formation of the Axis
Powers


1936 – Rome-Berlin Axis. Hitler
(Germany) and Mussolini (Italy) agreed to
cooperate on several international issues.
One month later Japan aligned itself with
Germany and Italy in the Anti-Commintern
Pact. (agreed to share information on
Communist groups)
Aggression And Appeasement Cont.






Hitler argued for a German Empire for Germans
and claimed that Germans needed Lebensraum
Hitler’s Third Reich- (Desire to create a new
German Empire)
March 1936 Hitler moves into the Rhineland
No response by Britain and France
Spanish-Civil War – Liberal regime vs. Fascist
movement led by Francisco Franco
Hitler and Mussolini sent arms to Spain to help
Franco’s movement
Aggression and Appeasement Cont.



Desire to annex Austria and
Czechoslovakia.
Versailles Treaty prohibited Anschluss
March 1938 Hitler Annexed Austria

Austrian People supported the move
Aggression and Appeasement Cont.





September 1938 – Hitler demanded the Sudetenland
from Czechsolovakia
Czech asked France for help
Munich Conference Sept. 29 1938- proposed by
Mussolini -Britain, France, Germany, and Italy.
(excluded Soviet Union)
Britain and France gave Germany the Sudetenland if
Germany would respect Czech’s new borders.
6 months later Hitler took all of Czech
Aggression and Appeasement Cont.




April 1939 - Mussolini seized Albania
Hitler demands Poland return the Port of Danzig.
Poles refused turned to Britain and France for
help
Britain and France state that if Germany invades
Poland they will go to war
Non-Aggression Pact




Aug 23 1939 Non-aggression Pactbetween Russia and Germany. Pledge not
to attack each other. Hitler promised
Stalin territory
Hitler promised Stalin Territory in the
Baltic States
Secret agreement Germany and the Soviet
Union would divide Poland between them
Stalin could take over Finland, Lithuania,
Estonia and Latvia.
World War II Begins


September 1st 1939 – Hitler Invades
Poland
Sept 3rd 1939 – Britain and France declare
war on Germany
The Definition of Insanity is doing
the same thing over and over
again and expecting a different
result.