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 – Italian general was killed in Greece and Mussolini demanded compensation and took over Corfu.

Stresa Front – Britain, France, and Italy agreed to oppose German rearmament, but it collapsed after Italy invaded Abyssinia.

Wal-Wal Incident – Clash between Italian and Ethiopian forces at a border oasis; Italy used it as a pretext to invade Abyssinia.

Abyssinia – Italy invaded Abyssinia to build an empire, and the League's weak response showed the failure of collective security.

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 that committed both to mutual support in case of war.

Appeasement – Britain and France allowed Hitler to break treaties to avoid war, which 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 – Hitler rebuilt Germany’s military in violation of Versailles; Britain and France did little to stop it.

Saar Plebiscite – The Saar region voted to rejoin Germany in 1935, giving Hitler a peaceful propaganda victory.

Rhineland – Hitler remilitarized the Rhineland in 1936; France and Britain did not intervene, encouraging further moves.

Anschluss – Germany annexed Austria in 1938, violating Versailles; no action was taken by Britain or France.

Sudetenland – Hitler demanded this region of Czechoslovakia; it was handed over to Germany after the Munich Conference.

Munich Conference – Britain and France let Hitler take Sudetenland to avoid war, ignoring Czechoslovakia’s protests.

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

Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact – Germany and the USSR agreed not to attack each other and secretly divided Poland.

Polish Crisis – Germany invaded Poland in 1939 after failed demands; Britain and France declared war, starting WWII.