Beginnings of War (The Axis Countries)
JAPAN- By the 1930s, military leaders had taken control of Japan with the desire to spread the Japanese Empire and imperialize the Pacific Ocean. In 1931, Japan began their militaristic plans by dropping out of the League of Nations and invading Manchuria, Northern China. In 1937, Japan continued their expansion by invading Korea and eastern China. Though the League of Nations protested this invasion, the League had no power to stop Japan since they had simply dropped out of the League.
ITALY- Benito Mussolini's push for more land began in 1935 with the invasion of Ethiopia. During the Berlin Conference, Ethiopia had remained independent from Europeans by modernizing their weapons, but by 1935 the Ethiopian Army was easily defeated by Italian tank, airplanes, bombs, and machine guns. Just like with China, the Ethiopian King had protested to the League of Nations, but again, the League had no power to stop the invasion.
GERMANY- Because Japan and Italy had both invaded other countries without any real problems, Adolf Hitler felt that the time was right to being his invasions of Europe.
First- In 1935, Hitler broke the Treaty of Versailles by stopping reparations and building an Army, Navy, and Air Force in Germany.
Second- In 1936, Hitler used his new army to quickly invade a German-speaking area in France.
Third- In 1938, Hitler announced that due to similar culture, Germany and Austria would become unified.
Fourth- Also in 1938, Hitler's army invaded a German speaking area in Czechoslovakia.
Despite all of these "illegal" actions that broke the Treaty of Versailles, the League of Nations did nothing to stop Hitler.
In fact, some countries even made it easier for Hitler to invade others.
1) For example, the United States passed "the Neutrality Acts" in 1935 that basically said NO MATTER WHAT HITLER DOES, THE UNITED STATES IS NOT GETTING INVOLVED (we wanted to stay Neutral).
2) Joseph Stalin had not industrialized the Soviet Union enough to fight a major war, so in 1939, Hitler and Stalin signed the "Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact". No matter what happened, Germany would not invade the Soviet Union and the Soviet Union would not invade Germany. Two years later, Hitler broke the agreement and Germany invaded the Soviet Union.
3) As well, Great Britain created the policy of "Appeasement", which allowed Hitler to take what he wanted in Austria and Czechoslovakia, as long as Hitler promised to not invade anyone else. Of course, in 1939, Hitler broke the Appeasement and invaded the final country that he needed to restore Germany's Empire- Poland. With the invasion of Poland, France and Great Britain finally declared war on Germany and on September 1, 1939, World War Two officially began.
Questions to answer
1) Why do you think so many countries refused to fight Germany, Japan, or Italy in the 1930s, even though they disapproved of their actions?
2) Why did Japan want to conquer China, Korea, and the Pacific Ocean islands?
3) Why did the League of Nations fall apart in the 1930s?
4) How did Japan and Italy's success motivate Hitler to break the Treaty of Versailles?
5) What parts of the Treaty of Versailles did Hitler break?
6) What three counties did Hitler invade before World War 2 finally started?
7) Describe Appeasement
8) What THREE ways did other countries try to avoid fighting a war against Germany? (Give the action and the countries)
9) What two countries promised to not get involved in the war?
10) Write a letter to the League of Nations explaining why the Axis Powers should be punished for their actions. (be specific!)
ITALY- Benito Mussolini's push for more land began in 1935 with the invasion of Ethiopia. During the Berlin Conference, Ethiopia had remained independent from Europeans by modernizing their weapons, but by 1935 the Ethiopian Army was easily defeated by Italian tank, airplanes, bombs, and machine guns. Just like with China, the Ethiopian King had protested to the League of Nations, but again, the League had no power to stop the invasion.
GERMANY- Because Japan and Italy had both invaded other countries without any real problems, Adolf Hitler felt that the time was right to being his invasions of Europe.
First- In 1935, Hitler broke the Treaty of Versailles by stopping reparations and building an Army, Navy, and Air Force in Germany.
Second- In 1936, Hitler used his new army to quickly invade a German-speaking area in France.
Third- In 1938, Hitler announced that due to similar culture, Germany and Austria would become unified.
Fourth- Also in 1938, Hitler's army invaded a German speaking area in Czechoslovakia.
Despite all of these "illegal" actions that broke the Treaty of Versailles, the League of Nations did nothing to stop Hitler.
In fact, some countries even made it easier for Hitler to invade others.
1) For example, the United States passed "the Neutrality Acts" in 1935 that basically said NO MATTER WHAT HITLER DOES, THE UNITED STATES IS NOT GETTING INVOLVED (we wanted to stay Neutral).
2) Joseph Stalin had not industrialized the Soviet Union enough to fight a major war, so in 1939, Hitler and Stalin signed the "Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact". No matter what happened, Germany would not invade the Soviet Union and the Soviet Union would not invade Germany. Two years later, Hitler broke the agreement and Germany invaded the Soviet Union.
3) As well, Great Britain created the policy of "Appeasement", which allowed Hitler to take what he wanted in Austria and Czechoslovakia, as long as Hitler promised to not invade anyone else. Of course, in 1939, Hitler broke the Appeasement and invaded the final country that he needed to restore Germany's Empire- Poland. With the invasion of Poland, France and Great Britain finally declared war on Germany and on September 1, 1939, World War Two officially began.
Questions to answer
1) Why do you think so many countries refused to fight Germany, Japan, or Italy in the 1930s, even though they disapproved of their actions?
2) Why did Japan want to conquer China, Korea, and the Pacific Ocean islands?
3) Why did the League of Nations fall apart in the 1930s?
4) How did Japan and Italy's success motivate Hitler to break the Treaty of Versailles?
5) What parts of the Treaty of Versailles did Hitler break?
6) What three counties did Hitler invade before World War 2 finally started?
7) Describe Appeasement
8) What THREE ways did other countries try to avoid fighting a war against Germany? (Give the action and the countries)
9) What two countries promised to not get involved in the war?
10) Write a letter to the League of Nations explaining why the Axis Powers should be punished for their actions. (be specific!)