Axis Aggression in Europe and Asia

Benito Mussolini seized control of the Italian gov’t in 1922

March on Rome

Called Il Duce

Jan. 30, 1933, Adolph Hitler named Chancellor of

Germany

Called der Fuehrer

Oct. 1933 Hitler pulled Germany out of the League of Nations

Response: From Great Britain & France—Nothing

1935 Hitler announced that Germany would

rearm in direct violation of the Versailles Treaty

Response: Nothing

Oct. 1935 Italy invaded Ethiopia & annexed it

Response: League of Nations applied sanctions (arms embargo & boycott

of Italian goods)

March 1936 Hitler sent troops into the Rhineland,

which was supposed to be free of soldiers and

fortificationsResponse: Britain and France could not agree on joint action; so nothing

was done.

1936-39 Spanish Civil WarHitler & Mussolini gave fascist General Franco aid, including armed

forcesResponse: Only the Soviet Union

gave the Republicans aid. Because no other country

helped them, the Fascists won in 1939.

Nov. 1936 Rome-Berlin Axis

Response: Nothing

March 1938 Germany annexed Austria in the

AnschlussResponse: Nothing

Sept. 1938 Hitler wanted the Sudetenland in

Czechoslovakia where 3 million Germans lived

Response: Munich Conference & Munich Pact—England PM Chamberlain & French PM

Daladier sacrificed Sudetenland to preserve peace.

***Height of Appeasement****

March 1939 Hitler took over the rest of Czechoslovakia

Response: England and France promise to protect Poland

April 1939 Italy invaded & annexed AlbaniaResponse: Nothing

August 23, 1939 Non-Aggression Pact signed between Germany and

the Soviet UnionResponse: SHOCK &

DISBELIEF!!!!

Sept. 1, 1939 Germany invaded Poland with the

BLITZKRIEG**WWII in Europe has

Begun**England and France declared

war on Germany—World War II in Europe has begun.

April 1940 Denmark & Norway

conquered by the Nazis

Response: Where will Hitler’s Blitzkrieg strike

next?

May-June 1940Belgium, Netherlands,

Luxemburg, and France Conquered

Response: Where will Hitler’s Blitzkrieg strike next?

Summer – Fall 1940England stood ALONE!!

The Battle of BritainLuftwaffe vs. RAF

Response: England resisted and prevailed! Radar aided their

defense and German decision to bomb British cities helped RAF win.

Hitler was forced to call off the invasion.

June 1941 Hitler broke the Non-Aggression Pact

& invaded the Soviet Union

Response: The USSR suffered heavy losses but continued resisting. When winter set in, the German

attack stopped and the Soviet Union began a massive counter-attack.

Asia

Sept. 1931 Japan invaded Chinese province of

Manchuria and made it the puppet state of

ManchukuoResponse: US issued the Stimson

Doctrine—the US would not recognize any territorial gains by force

1932 Japan left the League of Nations

Response: Nothing

July 1937 Chinese & Japanese troops clashed, began the Japanese-China

War**WW II Has Begun in

Asia**Response: The US sent arms &

supplies to China

Sept. 1940 Tripartite Pact (Rome-Berlin-Tokyo

Axis) signedResponse: US placed an embargo on aviation fuel and scrap metal

July 1941Japan invaded French

IndochinaResponse: US froze Japanese

assets

Dec. 7, 1941A Day that will live in Infamy

Japan attacked US in a surprise attackt at Pearl

HarborResponse: US declared war on Dec. 8,

1941Italy & Germany declared war on the

USThe US would become the “great

arsenal of democracy” for the Allies.