Quick-Write 3/6
 Based on your knowledge of Hitler, Mussolini, and
Stalin, predict how the actions of these dictators led
to the start of World War II.
 How do you think Western democracies such as
France, Britain, and the U.S. will respond to these
dictators actions?
Objective:
 Analyze the threat to world peace posed by dictators
in the 1930s and how the Western democracies
responded.
 Be able to list specific actions of dictators that led to
World War II.
Japanese Aggression
 Japanese military leaders thought
Japan should have an empire equal
to those of the Western powers.
 So, Japan seized Manchuria in 1931.
 League of Nations struck down this
aggressive move- Japan withdraws
 Japanese also take over much of
Eastern China and defeat China
easily in the Second Sino-Japanese
War.
Italian Aggression
 In 1935, Mussolini invaded
Ethiopia. Ethiopian defense
was no match for Mussolini’s
tanks, machine guns, poison
gas, and airplanes
 Ethiopian king appeals to the
League of Nations for help, and
they impose sanctions
(penalties) on Italy.
 However, the League had no
power to enforce the sanctions
and by 1936, Italy conquered
Ethiopia.
German Aggression
 Hitler defies (goes against) the
Treaty of Versailles and builds up the
German military
 He then sent his troops into the
“demilitarized zone” of the
Rhineland, another Treaty violation.
 The Western democracies
denounced Hitler, but instituted a
policy of appeasement- giving into
the demands of an aggressor in
order to keep the peace.
Appeasement
 Reasons for appeasement:
 France was demoralized from political divisions at home
 British wanted nothing to do with fighting Hitler,
thought Germany was somewhat justified in their
response
 Great Depression took the energy from all of the
Western democracies
 Pacifism- opposition to all war
 Neutrality Acts- Forbade the sale of arms to any nation at
war. Americans could also not travel on ships of warring
nations. (Avoid involvement- not prevent)
 Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis is an agreement by Germany,
Italy, and Japan (Axis Powers in WWII) to fight Soviet
Communism
Spanish Civil War
 Francisco Franco leads the fascist Nationalists
against the Loyalists, supporters of the republic.
 Supporters of the Nationalists:
 Germany (Hitler)
 Italy (Mussolini)
 Supporters of the Loyalists:
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Soviet Union (Stalin)
Britain
France
U.S.
More German Aggression
 Hitler stayed aggressive, keeping in mind his goal of
bringing all German-speaking people into the Third
Reich.
 Hitler wanted to engineer the union of Austria and
Germany, but the Austrian chancellor refused to give
into Hitler’s demands.
 Hitler invades and annexes Austria. There was
opposition and support of this move, but Hitler
easily got his way since there was no action from
Western democracies
More German Aggression
 After annexing Austria, Germany
turns its attention to
Czechoslovakia.
 Czechoslovakia and Finland were
the only two democracies left in
Europe.
 Hitler wanted the three million
Germans in the Sudetenland
(Western Czechoslovakia) to be
given autonomy.
 At the Munich Conference (1938)
British (Chamberlain) and French
convince Czechs to give into
Hitler’s demands and to surrender
the Sudetenland without a fight.
Europe Moves Toward War
 In 1939, Hitler breaks his promises and takes over the rest
of Czechoslovakia.
 Nazi-Soviet Pact- Bound Hitler and Stalin to peaceful
relations (nonaggression)
 Also divided Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe
between them.
 Advantage for Hitler- Did not want to fight war with
Western democracies and Soviet Union at the same time.
 Advantage for Stalin- Protected the Soviet Union from
the threat of war with Germany. Also, potential to gain
land in Eastern Europe.
Invasion of Poland
 On September 1, 1939, a week after signing the NaziSoviet Pact, Germany invades Poland.
 Two days later, Britain and France end their policy of
appeasement and declare war on Germany.
 This event marked the beginning of World War II as
we know it.
Review Question #1
 Giving into the demands of an aggressor in order to
keep the peace is known as:
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A. Pacifism
B. Neutrality
C. Appeasement
D. Militarism
Review Question #2
 The opposition of all war is known as:
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A. Pacifism
B. Neutrality
C. Appeasement
D. Nationalism
Review Question #3
 The Primary purpose of the Neutrality Acts, passed
by the United States Congress in the mid 1930s was
to:
 A. Help bring a peaceful solution to the growing
tension in Europe before war erupted
 B. Warn hostile nations that the United States would
retaliate against aggression of any warring nation.
 C. Prepare the nation for their eventual involvement in
the coming war in Europe.
 D. Avoid involvement in a European war altogether.
Review Question #4
 Which of the following countries made up the Axis
Powers?
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A. Great Britain, France, Russia, United States
B. Japan, Germany, Italy
C. Russia, Germany, Italy
D. United States, Great Britain, France
Review Question #5
 Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin established a peaceful
relationship between their nations in which historic
agreement?
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A. Lend-Lease Act
B. Fascist-Communist Pact
C. Nazi-Soviet Pact
D. Neutrality Acts
Review Question #6
 One of the earliest signs of the threat posed by the
Japanese was their 1931 invasion of:
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A. Korea
B. Manchuria
C. Russia
D. Pearl Harbor
Review Question #7
 Adolf Hitler Violated the Treaty of Versailles by:
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A. Refusing to pay reparations to the Allies
B. Building up the German military
C. Refusing to relinquish control of his colonies
D. Dropping out of the League of Nations.
Review Question #8
 At the Munich Conference of 1938,
 A. The British and the French convinced Czechoslovakia
to give up the Sudetenland
 B. The United States allied with Britain and France to
defend against German aggression
 C. The French gave control of the regions of Alsace and
Lorraine to Germany
 D. Italy agreed to withdraw from Ethiopia, and
Germany agreed to with draw from the Sudetenland
Review Question #9
 Which country did Germany and the Soviet Union
agree to divide up between them as a result of the
Nazi-Soviet Pact?
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A. Czechoslovakia
B. Poland
C. France
D. Hungary
Review Question #10
 Which African country did Mussolini invade in 1935
that announced their aggressive intentions?
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A. Nigeria
B. Libya
C. Sudan
D. Ethiopia
Exit Slip- In Depth Questions
 1. What specific actions of Hitler, Stalin, and
Mussolini led Europe into World War II. List one
action for each dictator.
 2. How did the Western democracies respond to the
aggression of the Axis powers during the 1930s?
 3. List three ways in which life be different if you
were a citizen of Germany during the 1930s.