Italy and German Expansion IB 20th

Collective Security

A League of Nations principle where countries were expected to defend each other against aggressors, but it often failed.

Imperial Preference

A British trade policy favoring its empire, which excluded other nations and worsened tensions with Italy and Germany.

Corfu Incident

Incident where an Italian general was killed in Greece, leading Mussolini to demand compensation and take over Corfu.

Stresa Front

Agreement among Britain, France, and Italy to oppose German rearmament, which collapsed after Italy invaded Abyssinia.

Wal-Wal Incident

Clash between Italian and Ethiopian forces at a border oasis, used by Italy as a pretext to invade Abyssinia.

Abyssinia

Country that Italy invaded to build an empire, highlighting the failure of collective security through the League's weak response.

Italian East Africa

A colony formed by uniting Abyssinia, Eritrea, and Somaliland after Italy’s conquest of Ethiopia.

Pact of Steel

A 1939 military alliance between Italy and Germany committing both to mutual support in case of war.

Appeasement

Policy where Britain and France allowed Hitler to break treaties to avoid war, which ultimately encouraged further aggression.

Autarky

Economic self-sufficiency policy used by Italy and Germany to prepare for war and avoid reliance on imports.

Lebensraum

Hitler’s goal to expand German territory eastward to gain 'living space' for the Aryan race.

German Rearmament

Rebuilding of Germany’s military by Hitler in violation of the Treaty of Versailles, with minimal opposition from Britain and France.

Saar Plebiscite

Referendum in 1935 where the Saar region voted to rejoin Germany, providing Hitler with a propaganda victory.

Rhineland

Territory that Hitler remilitarized in 1936, which went unchallenged by France and Britain, encouraging further German aggression.

Anschluss

The annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938, violating the Treaty of Versailles, with no action taken by Britain or France.

Sudetenland

Region of Czechoslovakia that Hitler demanded and was subsequently handed over to Germany after the Munich Conference.

Munich Conference

Meeting where Britain and France allowed Hitler to take Sudetenland to avoid war, ignoring protests from Czechoslovakia.

Rome-Berlin Axis

A 1936 agreement linking fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, forming the core of the Axis Powers.

Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

Agreement between Germany and the USSR not to attack each other and secretly dividing Poland.

Polish Crisis

Event where Germany invaded Poland in 1939 after failed demands, prompting Britain and France to declare war, starting WWII.