Midterm

How did the Japanese people view the people of China, specifically Manchuria?

Japanese thought other asians sucked especially China, often justified through imperialistic ideologies.

What kind of influence did the military have over political leaders in Japan?

Military operated without government approval. Japanese diet(parliament) was useless

What was the role of the Japanese emperor in the 1920’s and 1930’s?

The emperor was a symbolic figurehead; while he held nominal power, real political decisions were made by military leaders.

How did the Mukden/Manchurian incident affect the west’s perception of Japan?

The LON condemned Japan and caused European nations like Britain/Russia to be wary. But nothing was done to stop them.

Led to Stimson doctrine; US not recognizing Japan’s new territory after invading Manchuria

Why was China viewed as Japan’s “Manifest Destiny”?

Japan lacked resources while Manchuria was the “breadbasket” of Asia with rich resources and land for Japan’s expansion.

What were some of the justifications Japan used for their aggression? (Bix quote)

Japan claimed Pan-Asianism, which promoted the idea that Japan was destined to lead Asia against Western imperialism.

What was Manchukuo, and who was placed in “power” there by the Japanese?

A puppet state established by Japan in Manchuria; Puppet leader Puyi was put in power

What was the Tanggu Truce?

1933
Jiang Jieshi (Chiang Kai-Shek) recognized that Jehol and Manchuria were now under Japan's control and promised not to fight to remove Japan from these areas. also established a neutral zone between Beijing and the Great wall of China.

Why was China in a weakened position to defend itself from Japanese aggression?

Chinese civil war between Mao Zeodong(communists) and Chiang Kai-Shek (nationalists) left the country divided and militarily vulnerable.

What kind of growth did the Kwantung Army experience in the 1930’s?

The Kwantung Army experienced significant growth in size and power, becoming a dominant military force in Manchuria.

Why did the second Sino-Japanese War break out in 1937?

Mukden Incident, when Kwantung army blows up their own Japanese railroad and blamed it on China, resulted in invasion of Manchuria 1931(not really sino-japanese war yet).

Marco Polo Bridge Incident: A clash between Japanese and Chinese troops in the outskirts of Beijing on July 7, 1937. The Japanese government used this as an excuse to occupy Beijing. When Chiang Kai Shek refused to give way, full-scale war broke out between China and Japan.(second sino-Japanese war)

What was the Marco Polo Bridge incident?

Japanese and Chinese troops shot at eachother on beijing bridge in 1937 that marked the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War.

How did the west respond to horrific acts of aggression such as the Rape of Nanjing?

The West responded with condemnation and criticism but largely failed to take direct action against Japan's atrocities.

What was the “New Order” and who was involved?

An initiative for regional cooperation in East Asia led by Japan, involving collaboration with German and Italian fascist powers.

Japan's relationship with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy in the 1930s

Anti-Comintern Pact: Japan Italy and Germany alliance against communism (USSR). Japanese hated russians cuz of russo-japanese war, Germany hate russia cuz expansionism

What was the significance of the Japanese attack on Shanghai?

The attack showcased Japan's military capabilities and it threatened Western powers like US and Britain because Shanghai was an international hotspot with many foreigners living there.

What was the economic impact of Japan’s war against China?

Destroyed China’s economy and impacted Japan’s economy as the war dragged on because they were running out of resources. Hard to conquer china cause its ginormous.

How did the U.S. respond to Japan’s invasion and subsequent atrocities in China?

The U.S. condemned Japan's aggression and imposed sanctions and embargo on oil and gas which made Japan very very very mad. Gulp Pearl Harbor…

What was the Fiume Affair?

1919: Gabriele D'anunzio, Italian nationalist and poet occupies Fiume in protest of Italian government's failure to annex Fiume, which was given Yugoslavia after Treaty of Versailles.

How did the Bolshevik Revolution impact Italian economic fears?

How did the Bolshevik Revolution impact Italian economic fears?

1917- the Russian Communist Bolshevik revolution caused Italians to fear Communism and turn to Fascism.
Led to the "Two Red Years" 1919-1920 where Italian communists attempted a Bolshevik revolution.

Who were the Blackshirts and what was their role?

Italian fascists under Mussolini

What was the Catholic Church's relationship with Mussolini?

The church supported Fascism. Pope Pius XI backed mussolini since it would improve Church's position and Church-State relations

What was the March on Rome in 1922?

10k Fascists staged a march and King Victor Emmanuel III refused to declare martial law despite Luigi Facta(prime minister's) request.
Ends with King making Mussolini the prime minister RIP LUIGI

How did the king, Vittorio Emmanuel, respond to the March on Rome?

He supported the Fascists and makes Mussolini the prime minister

How did Mussolini come to be appointed prime minister of Italy?

March on Rome. He created the Illusion that 300k fascists marched, but it was really less than 30k

How much authority and representation did the Fascists have in the cabinet?

They started off with only 4/12 Fascists ministers, but after the Acerbo law, fascists went from 7% to 66% or 2/3rds of the cabinet

What was the Acerbo Law?

1923, party with most votes gains 2/3rd of the cabinet/parliament.

What is an example of political violence that involved Mussolini's Fascist party in the 1920's?

1924: Giacomo Matteotti (Liberal/Socialist) was killed by fascists for condemning Fascist violence

What is a totalitarian state?

a state in which the government controls every aspect of public and private life

What were some of Mussolini's foreign policies following 1925? (slide 103)

-increase national pride
-increase domestic support for fascist regime
-spread fascism to other countries
-revise postwar settlement of 1919-1920 (treaty of versailles)
-dominate balkans + mediterranean
-gain spazio vitale(living space) via African territories

What was Mussolini's ideological connection with the Roman Empire?

Mussolini wanted Fascist italy to be the "Second Roman Empire" or the "Heir of Rome", so he wanted control of the Mediterranean.
Rome was also totalitarian, like Mussolini

What limitations did Italy have regarding industrialization, compared to the rest of Europe?

Italy lacked raw materials and also had a low literacy rate, unlike other industrialized nations in Europe.

Describe Mussolini's idea of a "Corporate State".

He thought it was an alternative to capitalism and socialism, with the advantages of both. It would be a system of corporations and workers together, both serving national interest.

What three initiatives by Mussolini were inspired by the goal of land reclamation? (slide 104)

1925: Battle for Grain
1926: Battle for Lira (Italian currency)
1928: Battle for Marshes AKA "Mussolini Law"

1925 Battle for Grain

1925 Battle for Grain

-increased grain production
-decrease imports by 75%
-caused decrease in other key crops(olives)
-south suffered cause they couldn't grow wheat.

1926: Battle for Lira (Italian currency)

-Mussolini increased Lira value
(from 154 to 90 to the British pound)
-Italian exports fall as a consequence
-Govt. cuts wages by 10%

1928: Battle for Marsh "Mussolini Law"

-Meant to reclaim land by draining marshes
-meant to increase agricultural land + provide employment
-Only 80k nectares were reclaimed, not 1/6th of Italy as Mussolini said.

What would ultimately be the most difficult obstacle to Italian fascism's foreign policy?

Mussolini's weak economy made Italy weak, therefore their foreign policy was not successful

What were Mussolini's ambitions for the Balkans, and how did the League of Nations respond?

Mussolini wanted to overtake the Balkans:
1923: Corfu Affair, Italy invades Greek island of Corfu
-The LON condemned Italy and Britain threatened Italy

Mussolini did not succeed in Corfu, but he got Fiume and Albania

How did Mussolini attempt to influence smaller states in Eastern Europe?

Mussolini destabilized (bullied) smaller states by funding independence groups like Croats (Yugoslavia)

-1924: Pact of Rome, Yugoslavia gives Italy Fiume
-1924: Italian backed Ahmed Zog became Albanian leader
-1926: Albania becomes Italian Protectorate

What caused tension in the relationship between Mussolini's Italy and France?

-Mussolini's actions in Yugoslavia
-Mussolini wanted to replace French influence in Balkans
-Italy had claim of French territories(Corsica, Nice, Sardinia)
-Mussolini jealous of French North Africa(Tunisia, Morocco)

What were the Locarno treaties?

1925: Mussolini meets with Britain, Germany, France, and Belgium at Locarno in Switzerland

-7 agreements about post-war settlements and borders
-meant to appease Germany and preserve peace
-Italy fails to gain Austria

What was the Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928 (You may remember this from Unit I - Japan)

denounced the use of war, instead promoted diplomacy to solve disputes
-Italy(Mussolini) and Japan signed + 60 other countries

In what ways did Mussolini secretly violate the terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

-Mussolini funded right-wing groups in Germany
-secretly trained German pilots in Italy
-attempted aggressive African expansion

How did Mussolini continue to carry out his aggression in Africa?

-He crushed the 1922-28 Libyan revolt via "Pacification campaign"
-funded Anti-French Moroccan movements

What was Mussolini's relationship with the Soviet Union during the 1920's?

1921: Italy has trade agreements with USSR
1924: Italy formally recognized USSR
Basically they were besties, even though fascists killed off socialists in Italy

What were the main provisions regarding Germany in the Treaty of Versailles?

War Guilt Clause - Germany took all the blame for WWI
pay financial reparations, go from 1million army to 100k, lose land, no more air force.

Why were many German people resentful of the Treaty of Versailles?

The war guilt clause angered german people cuz it was unfair that the other central powers(Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman empire) didnt get punished.
Also, Versailles treaty meant that Germany was admitting defeat, but German ppl thought they would win WWI.

What were President Woodrow Wilson's goals at the end of World War 1?

To preserve World peace using his 14 points, creating the LON and treaty of versailles

What were Wilson's Fourteen Points?

-no secret agreements/alliances
-reduction in armaments/military
-German evacuation from Russia, Belgium
-Liberation of France, France gain Alsace-Lorraine
-Italy borders redrawn
-Self determination for citizens of Austria-Hungary and Balkan States
-Turks get Turkish govt. Non-Turks in Turkey govern themself
-Independent Poland with sea access.
-Establishment of League of Nations

What was the League of Nations, and its purpose?

proposed by Woodrow Wilson to keep state independence and world peace. Germany wasn't allowed to join, and US didn’t join

Why was Germany blamed in the "War Guilt Clause"?

All the other central powers of WWI had fallen, it was only Germany left to take blame. Also, Germany had backed Austria-Hungary and encouraged their invasion of Serbia

How did Germany's borders change as a result of World War I?

Lost all colonies
-Lost west Prussia(to poland), Cutting off East Prussia from German Mainland
-Lost Posen to Poland
-Lost Alsace-Lorraine to France
-Lost North Schleswig to Denmark
-Lost Danzig to League of Nations
-Gave Saar coalfield to France
-Gave Eupen and Malmedy to Belgium
-Rhineland became demilitarized zone

What military restrictions were placed on Germany in the Treaty of Versailles?

-no airforce
-army of only 100k
-navy 15k, but no submarines!!

What was Hitler's background through the end of World War I?

Hitler had served in WWI and became a spy for the Weimar Republic after WWI. Through being a spy he joined the German Workers Party renamed Nazi party.
He hated the german surrender via Armstice and Treaty.

What ideas were proposed in Hitler's "25 Point Program" from the early 1920's?

-unification of Germany and all Germans
-expulsion of Jews/Foreigners
-Land reform
-Nationalization of Corporations

Describe the events of the Munich "Beer Hall" Putsch in 1923

Nov. 8 1923
Hitler attempts govt. takeover by storming Munich with 2000 Nazis. Police open fire and kill 16 Nazis, Hitler and Ludendorf(war general) get arrested and put on trial.
Hitler sentenced to 5 years for treason but serves less than a year.

Explain how Hitler's trial for treason elevated his political appeal.

Hitler's trial gave him more publicity, and he was able to paint the Weimar Republic as the "real criminal". Hitler plead guilty. The Weimar republic was seen at the "traitors of 1918" for accepting the Armstice, and Hitler was seen as a patriot.

What is the significance of "Mein Kampf" and its message?

Mein Kampf = My Struggle
Outlined Hitler's foreign policy aims, and detailed how Nazism would remedy the failing Germany after WWI.
-Aryan race is superior
-Lebensraum "living space" for Germany

How did Hitler's Nazi party fare in the 1932 election?

he received 30% of the votes, and then 36% in another run off election. Nazi party became the second largest party. and gained 230 seats in Reichstag(parliament)

How was Hitler appointed Chancellor?

Hindenberg wanted to appease the radical nazi party by appointing Hitler who was becoming very popular. Hidenberg saw that the other chancellors had failed, so he had Hitler as a last resort but he didn't rlly believe in him.

Who was Paul von Hindenburg?

The president of the Weimar Republic from 1925 - 1934, appointed Hitler chancellor.

Who was Joseph Goebbels, and what was he known for?

Hitler's propaganda man, Reich Minister of Propaganda

What was the significance of the Reichstag fire?

Allowed Hitler to become a dictator by creating an Emergency decree to restrict freedom of press, personal expression, and privacy. Allowed Hitler to jail and execute socialists + communists.

How did the Nazis enforce their ideology through censorship and policy?

Burned book and restricted Freedom of press(Emergency Decree). Lack of "Anti-Nazi" education in order to discourage questions on the regime.

How does Hitler become "The Fuhrer"?

Hindenburg died so hitler becomes president+chancellor or fuhrer

What is appeasement, and how does it pertain to Germany in the 1930's?

To pacify an aggressive country you negotiate with them and give them what they want.
-Hitler invaded Austria and wasn't opposed
-Munich conference gave Hitler Czechoslovakia

How did the Spanish Civil War aid Germany in its military preparation?

Fascist leader Francisco Franco leads spanish civil war.
Germany assisted fascists, sending in troops to support. This gave their troops preparation for WWII.

How did Hitler annex Austria, and what was this called?

Invaded Austria in 1938, referred to as "Anschluss"

Who does Hitler sign a treaty with just before launching World War II?

Pact of Steel- Treaty of friendship with Italy, allowed Italy to back up Germany in war time
Non-Aggression Pact- made sure Germany and Russia wouldn't attack eachother

When does World War II officially begin?

September 3, 1939