Setting the

Stage for War

Militaristic JapanEmperor reigns but doesn’t rule1920’s extreme military leaders attempted to overthrow the emperor.

Great Depression put blame on governmentUnsuccessful

Military leaders launch surprise attack on China anyway

In Manchuria

Why would Japan want to invade another country?

Civil War

Manchukuo- 1931Within months Japan controlledthis areaSet up a “puppet government”Why didn’t China win against tinyJapan?

Chiang Kai-shek (democratic) could not defeat the Japanese

Better equipped and trained (westernization)Conquer Beijing and NanjingThe Democratic Chinese set up new capital in

west and continue to fight Mao Zedong (a Chinese communist)

Japanese InvasionsWhat’s the League

of Nations?Sent people to

investigateWhat did Japan do?

Militarists in total control of Japan

The Invasion

Review QuestionsDescribe the military in Japan? Who ruled

Japan? Why were the Japanese interested in

capturing Manchuria?Why were the Japanese able to defeat a

larger Chinese force?

Italy ConquersEthiopia

Resisted Italians in 1890s

Mussolini wants revengeOctober 1935 defeats

the Ethiopians Italians had modern

weapons, Ethiopians did not

League condemns Italy but does nothing Hope to keep peace by

giving in

Hitler Ignores Versailles TreatySee’s the League did

nothing to Japan- build up army.

League could not stop himActually makes Hitler

more confidentRhineland

Buffer between Germany and France

Hitler invades despite warnings

AppeasementGiving in to the opponent

to keep peaceIf Britain had stepped in

at this point, Hitler would of stopped.

Strengthens Hitler’s prestige and power

Opens up Belgium and France to Germany

Axis Powers FormedItaly and Japan decide to

join up with Germany

Taking the Rhineland

Video Clip #2

Review Question #2Why was Mussolini so intent on taking over

Ethiopia?Why was control of the Rhineland so

important to Hitler?Describe how the British and French policy of

appeasement contributed to Hitler’s aggressiveness.

The Spanish Civil WarFrancisco Franco

Fascist leader starts civil war in Spain

Hitler and Mussolini come to his aid

Western democracies stay out of it Russia helps a little

Franco wins and becomes dictator

Video Clip #3

The Final StepsU.S. was still Isolationist

Passes Neutrality ActsThe Third Reich

March 1938 Germany annexes Austria France and Britain ignore

pledge to protect AustriaSudetenland

Area of Czech made up of German speakers

Hitler demands rule of the area

Czech’s ask for help

Appeasement Round 2Munich Conference

Germany, France, Britain, Italy

Neville Chamberlain British P.M. chooses

appeasement Gives Germany

Sudetenland if Germany would respect Czech border

Winston Churchill Warns that appeasement

would lead to war

Was Hitler really done?

Six Months LaterMarch, 1938

Hitler takes Czechoslovakia

Mussolini takes AlbaniaHitler demands Danzig

port from Poland Doesn’t think Britain and

France will risk warHitler and Stalin sign

nonaggression pact August 23rd, 1939 Why?

No one is left to stop the Axis Powers

Review Questions #3Why did Mussolini and Hitler want to help

Francisco Franco?What steps were taken by Hitler and

Mussolini to test the will of the British and French?

Explain how the nonaggression pact between the Soviets and Germans proved to be the key to Hitler moving towards war.