WORLD WAR II

China: Tension existed between Nationalists, led by Jiang Jieshi, and Communists, under Mao Zedong.
- The conflict led to an uneasy cessation of hostilities as both groups set aside differences in light of external threats.
Japan: Japan invaded Manchuria, seeking a territorial expansion in light of perceived weakness from the League of Nations.
- Japan asked for help from the League of Nations, which ultimately failed to take decisive action against the invasion.
- As a result of the invasion, Japan withdrew from the League of Nations in 1933.

The Great Depression of 1929 hit Japan hard, leading to public discontent and a loss of faith in the government.
Military leaders gained control as citizens grew frustrated with the parliamentary system.
The Emperor Hirohito’s role diminished to primarily a symbolic one, as militarists took charge.
Under militaristic leadership, Japan escalated territorial ambitions, culminating in the invasion of Manchuria and subsequent conflicts in Asia.

Leadership: Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain aimed to avoid conflict through a policy of appeasement.
Despite suffering little direct damage from World War I, Britain faced significant post-war economic problems and resentment towards Germany for its destruction in WWI.
Britain's military strategy included the fortifying of the Maginot Line to deter possible German aggression.

France emerged from WWI angry at Germany and economically strained, particularly due to unrecovered reparations after the Hoover Moratorium of 1932.
They bolstered the Maginot Line in preparation for a potential German attack.

Under the regime of Fascist leaders, Italy aimed to expand territories to revive its historical dominance (Revival of Roman greatness).
Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935 and provided support to Fascist rebels in the Spanish Civil War, dismantling portions of the Treaty of Versailles in the process.

After WWI, Germany began to dismantle the Treaty of Versailles, remilitarizing and expanding territories as part of nationalist growth under the Nazi Party.
Economic recovery occurred under Hitler’s five-year plans which led to industrial growth and a revitalization of military strength.
The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact of 1939 established a temporary alliance in which both nations agreed not to attack each other and to divide Poland.

The Soviet Union chose neutrality, isolating itself by not joining the League of Nations.
The Great Depression of 1929 curtailed reparations loans to Germany. Allied nations owed substantial debts to the U.S. from WWI.

America adopted a stance of neutrality and isolationism, struggling with its own economic issues following the stock market crash and subsequent Great Depression.

In 1921, Spain transitioned to a republic governed by a liberal constitution; however, the public opinion split between leftist radicals wanting reforms and conservative military backing traditionalist change.
The conservative general Francisco Franco led a revolt in 1936, igniting a civil war with the backing of Fascist supporters who identified as Nationalists against republican forces termed Loyalists or Republicans that included communists and socialists.

In his speech at the Nazi Congress in 1938, Hitler invoked the concept of self-determination, claiming to speak for the oppressed Germans in Czechoslovakia, aligning his territorial ambitions with Wilsonian principles.
The implications of appeasement are debated, particularly regarding whether Chamberlain's actions were justified despite their failure to prevent war.

Established to prevent the threat of Germany engaging in a two-front war against the USSR and the West.
Hitler’s perception of Soviet Russians as inferior suggested this pact would be temporary and ultimately exploitative as both powers prepared to invade Poland, thus marking the commencement of WWII.

The opening campaigns of WWII featured significant German victories, particularly in Poland, Denmark, and Norway.
Utilizing Blitzkrieg (Lightning war) tactics, which emphasized speed and surprise using modern mechanized units including tanks and aircraft (the Luftwaffe).
Strategic goals included avoiding a two-front war by circumventing the Maginot Line through Belgium for a swift military victory over France within a month, breaking the pact with the Soviet Union post-victory.

The German strategy bypassed the heavily fortified Maginot Line, attacking through the Ardennes Forest, leading to France's rapid capitulation.
The French military faced dire consequences, with many troops either surrendering or being evacuated at Dunkirk. Civilian vessels aided in this evacuation effort.
Established a collaborationist regime in France known as Vichy France while Charles de Gaulle led Free France in exile.

In a motivating speech, Churchill proclaimed the crucial importance of the upcoming Battle of Britain for the survival of Christian civilization, urging unity and resilience among the British people. He emphasized the dire consequences of failure, underscoring the high stakes involved in the conflict.

In the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe launched a campaign to destroy the Royal Air Force (RAF), critical for achieving air superiority prior to any potential invasion of Britain (Operation Sea Lion).
The Blitz refers to the German bombing campaign aiming to demoralize the British populace through continuous air raids, aiming for civilian targets.
British technological advancements, including radar systems, allowed for strategic advantages, aiding in the RAF's effectiveness against Luftwaffe forces.

Operation Barbarossa marked the breach of the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact with an ambitious invasion involving 3.3 million troops and 3,000 tanks.
Key objectives focused on capturing Moscow, the Ukraine, and Leningrad; despite initial blitzkrieg success, severe weather stalled Nazi advances leading to challenges.
The siege of Leningrad persisted nearly three years, resulting in approximately 1.5 million deaths.

By 1942, Japan had expanded its imperial reach, invoking atrocities such as the Rape of Nanking following the invasion of Manchuria.
The Bataan Death March epitomized the brutal treatment of prisoners, where American and Filipino forces faced severe conditions under Japanese captivity.
The attack on Pearl Harbor on December