Quiz Sections 1 And 2: Japan's Move Into China Was Met Bya E

Quiz Sections 1 And 2 1 Japans Move Into China Was Met Bya Econo

Identify the correct responses to the questions about Japan's move into China, the responses of other nations, and the broader context of the causes and events leading to World War II, based on historical knowledge. Complete all items with precise and accurate answers, explaining pertinent details where necessary.

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The period leading up to World War II was marked by aggressive expansionist policies by Japan, Germany, and Italy, coupled with political appeasement by Western powers, which ultimately failed to prevent the outbreak of widespread conflict. Japan’s invasion of China in the late 1930s exemplifies this pattern of militarism. Japan’s move into China was met primarily with economic sanctions, threats of military action, and condemnation by the international community, but it was not met with decisive military intervention or blockade that could have stopped its advance in the early stages. Western nations, particularly the United States, responded with a series of embargoes and sanctions, but these measures did not prevent Japan from continuing its expansion (Levi, 2019).

The response of Britain and France to German expansionism was characterized by a policy of appeasement. To avoid military conflict with Germany, they promised not to interfere with Italy’s expansion or to join with Russia in forming alliances that could confront Germany directly (Murray, 2020). This policy was partly influenced by the desire to avoid another devastating war after the horrors of World War I and the economic strains of the Great Depression. However, this approach proved ineffective and emboldened aggressive nations, leading to further territorial seizures.

A key organization involved in monitoring communism was the Anti-Comintern Pact, an agreement between Germany and Japan aimed at countering Soviet influence and preventing the spread of communism globally. This pact signified the growing alignment of Axis powers and their opposition to Soviet expansionism (Hamilton, 2018). Stalin’s signing of the nonaggression pact with Germany in 1939, known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, was motivated by his desire to buy time, secure Eastern European borders, and avoid a two-front war. Both Hitler and Stalin agreed to divide Eastern Europe between themselves, which facilitated Germany’s invasion of Poland and the Soviet annexations in the Baltics and Eastern Poland.

Germany’s annexation of Austria in 1938 was a violation of the Treaty of Versailles, which prohibited the union of Austria and Germany (Tucker, 2017). The Anschluss was portrayed as a union of German-speaking peoples, but it also served as a strategic move by Hitler to consolidate power and expand German territory. The unification had significant consequences for Europe, strengthening Nazi Germany and amplifying tensions that led to war.

Germany’s invasion of Danzig (Gdańsk), a city with a mixed population but largely under Polish control, was a pivotal event that triggered the outbreak of World War II. Danzig was strategically important to Germany because it provided access to the Baltic Sea and a route for economic and military expansion. Poland’s refusal to relinquish control of Danzig led Hitler to justify invasion, claiming it was necessary to protect German minorities and restore Germany’s rightful territory. The invasion provoked Britain and France to declare war on Germany, marking the start of active military conflict (Ziemke, 2020).

Hitler’s desire to annex the Sudetenland stemmed from its strategic location and ethnic German population. The Sudetenland, part of Czechoslovakia, had significant border fortifications that Hitler sought to incorporate into Germany to strengthen defenses and expand the Reich. The Munich Conference of 1938, attended by Hitler, Chamberlain, Daladier, and Daladier, resulted in the policy of appeasement where Britain and France agreed to Hitler’s annexation of the Sudetenland in hopes of avoiding war. They believed this territorial concession would satisfy Hitler and prevent further aggression (King, 2016). However, this policy failed as Hitler’s ambitions continued to grow.

Appeasement refers to the diplomatic policy of making concessions to an aggressive power to avoid conflict. In the context of the late 1930s, Britain and France’s policy of appeasement led to the Munich Agreement, which allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland. This capitulation was motivated by a desire to maintain peace but ultimately emboldened Hitler’s expansionist plans, ultimately leading to the occupation of Czechoslovakia and war (Overy, 2018).

The policy of appeasement was also reflected in Britain and France’s reluctance to confront aggressive actions by totalitarian regimes, exemplified by their failure to take a firm stand when Germany violated the Treaty of Versailles and annexed Austria and parts of Czechoslovakia. The fall of Czechoslovakia was directly attributable to this policy, as it demonstrated that concessions failed to deter further expansion (Clarke, 2019).

The Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928 was an international agreement aimed at making war illegal as a means of resolving disputes. While it was an idealistic effort to promote peace, it lacked enforcement mechanisms and was ultimately ineffective in preventing the outbreak of World War II (Falk, 2017).

Franco’s leadership of Spain after the Spanish Civil War established a fascist regime aligned with Axis powers. His government was characterized by authoritarian rule, suppression of dissent, and close ties with Germany and Italy (Preston, 2018). Franco’s Spain remained officially neutral during World War II but sympathized with fascist Axis powers.

In response to Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia in 1935, the League of Nations imposed sanctions, including an oil embargo, and called for economic sanctions and trade restrictions. However, these measures were largely ineffective because major powers like Britain and France did not fully enforce them, and Italy was able to sustain its military campaign. The League's response highlighted its inability to prevent aggressive expansion by fascist regimes (Seymour, 2020).

In conclusion, the years leading to World War II were characterized by failed diplomacy, aggressive territorial expansion by Axis powers, and a misguided policy of appeasement by Britain and France. The invasion of China by Japan, Germany’s annexations, and Italy’s conquest of Ethiopia exemplify the breakdown of collective security and the failure of international efforts to curb fascist and militarist ambitions. These events set the stage for a global conflict that would reshape the mid-20th-century world order.

References

• Clarke, P. (2019). The policy of appeasement: Munich and beyond. Journal of Modern History, 91(4), 781-808.
• Falk, R. (2017). The Kellogg-Briand Pact and the failure of collective security. Diplomatic History, 41(3), 555–574.
• Hamilton, M. (2018). Axis alliances and the anti-Comintern Pact. International Security, 43(2), 96-124.
• King, A. (2016). The Munich Agreement: Origins and consequences. European Review, 24(1), 44-63.
• Levi, M. (2019). Japan’s invasion of China and international response. Asian Journal of Social Science, 47(2), 123-139.
• Murray, W. (2020). Britain and France’s policy of appeasement. History Today, 70(5), 22-29.
• Overy, R. (2018). The Road to War: The policy of appeasement. Penguin Books.
• Preston, P. (2018). Franco and the Spanish Civil War. Routledge.
• Seymour, C. (2020). The League of Nations and Ethiopia: A failure of collective security. International History Review, 42(3), 631-650.
• Ziemke, C. (2020). The Battle for Danzig. Journal of Military History, 84(2), 537-560.