Causes of WW2
What was the Tokko?
"special high police" carried out the Peace Preservation Law. was made up largely of judo experts and were known for being cruel
Name two terms of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
(Nazi-Soviet Nonagression Pact) 1. Germ and USSR agreed to not fight each other 2. Agreed to invade Poland and split the spoils (this part was secret)
What was the Hossbach Memorandum?
A record of the meeting between Hitler and his military and foreign policy leadership where his future expansionist policies were outlined (in case of his death to be carried out anyways).
Name two key pieces of evidence that suggest Hitler was just improvising and seizing opportunities as they arose (didn't have a master plan). Name one historian who supports this view.
AJP Taylor: -Germany was spending the same amount on the military as other countries (although they overestimated how much he was spending) -Lebensraum was a common idea at the time, and only wanted land in the east; only took 7 pages in Mein Kampf; never any real plans for it
What was the Stresa Front? What was the Hoare Laval pact? How are they related?
Anti-Hitler alliance: Leaders of Italy, Britain, and France signed a treaty pledging to uphold the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Treaties on Germany
Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor?
As a preemptive attack on the U.S after the U.S imposed economic sanctions including an oil embargo.
What four leaders met at the Munich Conference? What did they discuss? (What region in what other country?)
Chamberlain, Daladier, Hitler, Mussolini Discussed a one page treaty agreeing that future disputed would be settled by talking (way to keep peace); France and Britain agreed to Hitler's demands for more land and pressured Czech. to accept the terms of the treaty
What was "that piece of paper"/"that scrap of paper"?
During the negotiations between Hitler and Chamberlain regarding Czechoslovakia, Hitler signed a paper saying he would talk over countries conflicts instead of going to war. Hitler didn't care about it, but Chamberlain came home a hero.
How did Fascism contribute to causing WW2?
Extreme nationalism, racism, militarism, inherently imperialistic all of which made war more likely.
What were the five main causes of WWII?
Fascism, Appeasement, Treaty of Versailles, The Great Depression, Imperialism.
What was Anschluss?
German annexation of Austria; Austria's government is forced to sign a treaty giving control to Germany
What was Operation Canned Goods?
Germany staged a false flag operation having a couple German soldiers dressed in polish military uniforms and attack a Germ. radio outpost. They dressed dead concentration camp members in Germ military uniforms and left them at the scene (called them canned goods). Did this to give Germany an excuse to go to war with Poland
How did Appeasement contribute to causing WW2?
Giving into the aggressors to avoid conflicts usually just emboldens them and makes aggressor want more. The allies didn't stand up to G,I,J which emboldened them to invade more places and do more things they shouldn't for they think they will get away with the act.
What was AJP Taylor's most controversial idea?
Hitler's foreign policy was no worse then any other leader's. They were all expansionist and willing to use war to gain or maintain their empires.
What was Danzig? What was its significance to the start of WWII?
It was Poland's only water access port. It was made a free city in the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler wanted Danzig and pressured Poland into signing the Anti-Comintern pact which would allow Germany to annex Danzig. Poland refused. Then Hitler demands Danzig. BR and FR sign treaty with Poland saying they would defend Poland. Hitler prepares for war because he wants Danzig!
What was "the Rape of Nanking"? How many people were killed?
Japan attacked one of China's larger cities, Nanking. Japanese soldiers committed atrocities against the civilians (rape, torture, executions). Estimated that 2-300,000 people were killed.
Why did the Japanese militarists want to invade Manchuria?
Japan's population had grown a lot in previous decades and they lacked vital resources. Manchuria had iron, coal, and agricultural land
What was the Mukden Incident?
Japanese soldiers staged a false flag operation to give an excuse for war with china
Name two key pieces of evidence that Hitler had a master plan to conquer Europe. Name one historian who supports this view.
Mein Kampf, Hossbach Memorandum. Hugh Trevor-Roper
What was the May 15th incident? What is its significance?
Military coup that assassinated Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi significance: 11 young officers were arrested and put on trial but received light sentences from sympathetic judge and had the support of the masses; showed the decline of democracy
How did the Japanese government instill militarism in the population?
Mixing military ideals into school curriculum including PE war games
What are two facts that support the conspiracy theory that the US knew about the attack on Pearl Harbor and allowed Japan to attack it anyway?
No U.S aircraft carrier was at port
Name three things Hitler did that violated agreements made in the Paris Peace Conference before the Munich Conference.
Sending troops into the Rhineland, breaking the limit on the amount of troops they could have by remilitarisation, and annexing Austria.
What date did Germany invade Poland?
September 1st, 1939
What were Japan's first 2 colonies and how did Japan acquire them?
Taiwan: Sino-Japanese war, Japan defeated China Korea: Russo-Japanese war, Japan defeated Russia
What did the 1925 Peace Preservation Law do? Who did it target?
Targeted communists in Japan. allowed police tp suppress "dangerous ideologies"
How did Imperialism contribute to causing WW2?
The global powers didn't want more global powers so they disapproved of other countries expansion which created tensions between newly imperialistic countries and old imperialism countries.
How did the Great Depression contribute to causing WW2?
The great depression caused people to be more extreme in political viewpoints due to hunger and unemployment. Also to get out of the depression some countries increased their military and remilitarized to boost the economy.
What was the Lytton Commission? What did its report recommend?
The league of Nations sent people to investigate Japan's attack on China and gather information; wrote the Lytton Report which condemned the attack but took no action against Japan.
How did the League of Nations respond to Italy's invasion of Abyssinia? Why wasn't it effective?
The league voted for economic sanctions against Italy. Didn't work because: -sanctions were weak, didn't include oil or steel -didn't close the Suez canal to Italy -sanctions didn't apply to non-league members (USA and Germany)
What was the Tripartite Pact?
The military treaties binding the axis powers together
How did the Treaty of Versailles contribute to causing WW2?
The treaty led to The Great Depression due to the steep reparation payments. Also putting too much restriction on Germany and was contrary to the popular opinion of Germany (wanted revenge and led to rise of Nazis). Italy and Japan didn't get the land they were promised at the Paris Peace Conference. -Made LoN too weak to stop aggression, US never joined it (could request people donate troops but it wasn't required)
How were Japan and Germany's response to the Great Depression similar?
They both responded with militarism and imperialism
What was the significance of Stimson's Open Letter to Senator Borah during the Manchurian Crisis?
Was really meant for the Japanese government; discussed US position on recent treaties relating to China and Japan; ultimately led to Japanese troops withdrawing from Shanghai
Why were the right-winged Japanese unhappy with the Japanese government in the 1920's?
Washington Naval Treaty made Japanese Navy smaller than the US and Britain, rise of liberal and western values and customs, first time the military did not directly control the gov't
What British leader spoke out against the Munich agreement?
Winston Churchill
Why was the finance Minister Takahashi assassinated in 1936?
he proposed cutting military spending which angered the military
What are two facts that debunk the Pearl Harbor conspiracy theory?
no proof that Roosevelt saw the mccollum memorandum also their would've been other ways to gain the American support without giving up the pacific fleet
What is the significance of the McCollum Memo?
planned for just in case the US had to get involved in the war.
What did the Washington and London Naval Treaties do?
set a ration of ships countries were allowed to have, but gave the US and Britain more than Japan
The US imposed an embargo of what products on Japan?
steal in 1940 oil in 1941 ( which caused Japanese leaders to decide on war)
What did the Kellogg-Briand Pact say?
war isn't answer for settling international disagreements, and will no longer be the way problems are resolved
What is the significance of the Hull Note?
was seen as either an ultimatum from the US to Japan, or an attempt to avoid war. Japan was shocked the US didn't try to find a last minute compromise,
Explain the connection between ______ and _______ (fascism, appeasement, treaty of Versailles, Great Depression, Imperialism)( be able to connect any 2 causes)
--Fascism and Appeasement: Allies didn't like fascism but considered it better than communism; protection from the USSR --Fascism to the Treaty of Versailles: Hitler and Mussolini used the treaty as motivation and blamed it for all problems (used it to gain support) Also countries that didn't get what was promised to them became fascist -- Fascism and Imperialism: fascism argues that imperialism is good for a healthy nation, Inherently imperialistic, if you aren't growing you're decaying --Fascism and Great Depression: democracies don't work, want stronger leadership --Appeasement and Treaty of Versailles: Germ forced to sign, limited military, UK and France ignore later military build up. --Appeasement and Imperialism: allowed Hitler to do what he wanted and expand --Appeasement and Great Depression: league members were too focused on themselves and became lenient --Imperialism and Treaty of Versailles: Denied land desired by nations. Germ imperialism led to harsher treatment. --Imperialism and Great Depression: War boosts the economy --Treaty of Versailles and Great Depression: Forced reparations from Germ cause their economy to collapse
Why did France use appeasement at Munich? Give three main reasons.
-Didn't want to enter the war alone (wouldn't go in without Britain) -French leaders were split, half wanted to avoid war at all costs -NEED THIRD REASON its not in the notes, its on a sheet of paper from an activity in class but I dont have the paper anymore
Name three reasons why Mussolini invaded Abyssinia.
-He wanted to expand Italy's empire for economic reasons as well as national pride -wanted a "new roman empire" -Ethiopia had defeated Italy in 1896
What was AJP Taylor's view of German rearmament? Appeasement?
-Rearmament: German rearmament was extremely overestimated by Britain; Germany was spending about the same amount as other countries -Appeasement: allowed Hitler to get much farther, other countries couldn't really justify stepping in because many of the German people supported Hitler
Name two reasons why the USSR did not join an Alliance with Poland, Britain, and/or France before the Molotov- Ribbentrop Pact was signed? (on DBQ compare and contrast hw)
-Soviet union wanted the territory that they lost in WWI back, but current negotiations would preserve the current borders -Poland wouldn't allow the Soviet army to cross into its territory to fight Germany
What major US colony was near Japan? French colony? British Colony? Dutch colony?
-US: The Philippines -French: French Indochina -British: Malaysia -Dutch: Dutch east indies
Name three similarities between the Manchurian Crisis and the Abyssinian Crisis.
-examples of imperialism -appeasement from the League of Nations -in response, oil embargoes were put in place
Why did Britain use appeasement at Munich? ( give three main reasons)
-wanted to avoid war -saw the USSR as the bigger threat -feared aerial bombings of British cities (overestimated German capabilities)
What were the five main Allies and three main Axis countries of WW2?
Allies: Britain, France, China, Russia, U.S /Axis: Germany, Japan, Italy
What was the Open Door Policy? What treaty established it?
Open door Policy- policy that allowed free trade in china established with the Nine powers treaty (part of the Washington Naval Conference)
