The Rise of Fascism and WWII

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The Rise of Fascism and WWII

• 1922-1945

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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?

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Japan

• During the early 20s 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.

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Japans 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

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International Response to Japan

• League of Nations Protested
• Deemed it a Violation of the Kellog-Briand pact-
  which 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

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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.

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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

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Hitler Defies Versailles Treaty

• Part of NAZI platform was to overturn Versailles
  Treaty.
• March 1935 Hitler rearmed Germany violating the
  condition limiting Germanys Army.
• League failed to respond

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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)

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Aggression And Appeasement Cont.

• Hitler argued for a German Empire for Germans and
  claimed that Germans needed Lebensraum
• Hitlers 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
  Francos movement

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Aggression and Appeasement Cont.

• Desire to annex Austria and Czechoslovakia.
• Versailles Treaty prohibited Anschluss
• March 1938 Hitler Annexed Austria
• Austrian People supported the move

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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 Czechs new borders.
• 6 months later Hitler took all of Czech

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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

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Non-Aggression Pact

• Aug 23 1939 Non-aggression Pact- between 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.

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World War II Begins

• September 1st 1939 Hitler Invades Poland
• Sept 3rd 1939 Britain and France declare war on
  Germany

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The Definition of Insanity is doing the same
thing over and over again and expecting a
different result.