Aggressors Invade Nations Q3 Lesson 2 Japan

US Policy of Isolationism

• The US adopted the policy of Isolationism, believing that the nation should stay out of wars and conflicts that don't concern it.
• Congress passed several Neutrality Acts in 1935, banning loans and the sale of arms to nations at war.
• Despite the Neutrality Acts, the US continued selling oil to Italy, which was a crucial necessity for the Italian war machine.

German Reich Expands

• The Treaty of Versailles prohibited ANSCHLUSS (a union between Austria and Germany).
• In 1938, Hitler annexed Austria, violating the Treaty of Versailles.
• Hitler then demanded that the Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia with 3 million Germans) be given to Germany.
• Britain and France chose Appeasement, a policy of making compromises to appease an enemy or potential aggressor.
• In 1938, the Munich Conference was held, where Sudetenland was given to Hitler.
• Six months later, Hitler attacked the rest of Czechoslovakia.

Aggressors Invade Nations

• In 1935, Mussolini seized Albania.
• Hitler demanded that Poland return the former German port of Danzig.
• Hitler signed a Nonaggression Pact with Stalin, promising not to attack the Soviet Union in return for Stalin not joining the Allies with France and England.

Japan

• Until the Great Depression in 1929, Japan tried to maintain peaceful relationships with China.
• In 1929, military leaders increased support and took control of the country.
• Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931, rich in iron and coal, and set up a puppet government.
• In 1933, Japan withdrew from the League of Nations, which failed to react to the invasion.
• In 1937, Japan attacked northern China.

Italy and Germany

• Germany and Italy were impressed with Japan's actions and realized the League of Nations' failure.
• In 1935, Mussolini ordered a massive invasion of Ethiopia to avenge the defeat in the 1890s.
• The League of Nations condemned the attack but did nothing, hoping that silence would satisfy Mussolini and keep peace in Europe.

Germany Rearms

• The Treaty of Versailles forbade Germany from rearmament, but in 1935, Hitler started rearming Germany.
• In 1936, German troops moved into the Rhineland, a buffer zone or "no man's land" between Germany and France.
• The lack of action taken after taking over Rhineland was a turning point towards the war.

Rome – Berlin Axis

• A pact was made between Hitler and Mussolini, forming the Axis Powers.

Civil War in Spain

• In 1936, a civil war broke out in Spain that lasted 3 years.
• Hitler and Mussolini sent troops, tanks, and airplanes to help Franco's forces, called the Nationalists.
• In 1939, Republican resistance collapsed, and Francisco Franco became Spain's Fascist dictator.