THE ROAD TO WWII. Japan: In 1931, Japan invaded the Chinese province of Manchuria. Why? Japan wanted to become a superpower, but to do so it needed.

THE ROAD TO WWII

Japan:

In 1931, Japan invaded the Chinese province of Manchuria.

Why? Japan wanted to become a superpower, but to

do so it needed access to resources. Manchuria was full of the most important

resources: Coal Gold Oil Iron

The Japanese Invasion of Manchuria:

Who was supposed to stop things like this from happening?

The League of Nations So what did they do?

The League tried to negotiate with Japan, but Japan simply withdrew from the League.

Italy:

In 1935, Mussolini decided that it was time for Italy to invade Ethiopia.

Why? He wanted to create an empire.

So what happened? The League imposed trade sanctions against

Italy, but these sanctions did not include Oil Coal Iron

Result: The invasion was not stopped.

Mussolini and the Invasion of Ethiopia

Germany:

Hitler, who was watching the Japanese and Italians expand without getting into trouble, decided it was his turn.

In 1936, he ordered the German army to go back into the Rhineland.

Why? He knew the League of Nations would do nothing. He knew it would increase his popularity in

Germany.Result: He was right. No one did anything to stop him.

Next, in March of 1938, Germany annexed Austria.

Why? Germans and Austrians speak the same

language. Hitler was from Austria.

Result: No one did anything to stop him.

In the summer of 1938, Hitler began to threaten Czechoslovakia.

Why? Czechoslovakia had been created out of

German and Austrian territory. There were many Germans living in

Czechoslovakia, especially in the region called the Sudetenland.

Most of Czechoslovakia’s industry and fortifications were in the Sudetenland.

Hitler’s Advances

Result: In October of 1938, the leaders of Britain and France

met Hitler in a conference in Germany. They agreed to give him the Sudetenland as long as

he… Promised he wouldn’t ask for anything more!

After this conference, the British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, flew home and declared that, “We shall have peace in our time!”

So a few months later, in March 1939, Hitler invaded and took over all of Czechoslovakia.

This British-French policy of always giving in to Hitler in order to avoid was, is known as appeasement.

He smiled very pleasantly and indeed had a sort of appealing and affectionate look in his eyes. My sizing up of the man as I sat and talked with him was that he is really one who truly loves his fellow-men, and his country, and would make any sacrifice for their good. That he feels himself to be a deliverer of his people from tyranny.

- Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King (1937)

The Appeasement of Hitler