Throughtful Reader

 During the 30’s several ominous events were taking place around the world. In 1931 Japan began a period of expansion. (Foner) They would invade Manchuria, a province of China, and then 5 years later would invade China itself. (Foner) In Italy, Benito Mussolini had risen to power in a fascist movement. (Foner) He also would want to expand Italy’s sphere of influence by invading and conquering Ethiopia. (Foner)

 Meanwhile in Germany, Hitler and Nazi’s had risen to power. He would begin a period of what is now known as “Rearmament”. (Foner) The Germans felt that they were slighted at the end of the first World War would begin to violate the “Treaty of Versailles.” (Foner) They first invaded the Rhineland, a demilitarized zone between France and Germany. (Foner) Germany would then expand on it by annexing Austria, Sudetenland, a part of Czechoslovakia, and then the entire country itself. (Foner) While Hiter was expanding, he was also securing an international network of alliances. He would sign what is now known as the “Tripartite Pact” with Japan and Italy. (FH) This pact would establish the “Axis Powers”. (FH) Hitler also influenced and assisted other countries in their internal problems. In Spain, Germany sent arms into the country, and assisted General Francisco Franco in overthrowing the democratically elected government and establishing another “fascist” state. (Foner) Hitler would also reach out and successfully negotiated the “Molotov-Ribbentrop” or the “Hitler-Stalin” nonaggression pact.

 The World did very little to address the problem. In the US Pres. Roosevelt was appalled by the German’s rise. He would call for an “international quarantine” against aggressors. (Foner) Roosevelt would try to thwart German influence in Latin America by expanding hemispheric trade and promoting respect for American Culture. (Foner) Sadly, this wasn’t enough. In Japan however, he did take some more aggressive approaches. They would hit them with aggressive economic sanctions that caused severe shortages of natural resources that the Japanese couldn’t afford. (FH) The British to their credit did try to attempt something to slow the Germans. In 1938 the British and France led by Neville Chamberlain attempted to negotiate an “appeasement” with Hitler. (Foner) They had hoped that by agreeing to Hitler demands would prevent his aggression, and perhaps prevent war. So, the “Munich Conference” as it was called allowed Hiter to remain in control of the Sudetenland. (Foner) Chamberlain believed that this would work and even arrogantly commented that this agreement would be “peace in our time”. (Foner)

 These events I feel are what laid the groundwork for the Second World War. While there trying times such as the “Great Depression”, I do feel that there was enough of a warning that these international leaders could have done more to prevent this horrible catastrophe.

(Foner), Eric, et al. Give Me Liberty. 7th ed., vol. 2, W. W. Norton and Company, 2022

(FH) The United States Enters World War II | Facing History & Ourselves Links to an external site.