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Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was made after the end of World War One, and blamed Germany for the war and for most of the damages. Germany was restricted; they had a lot of territorial loss, both in Europe and their colonies, and they had to pay reparations to the Allies. Considering this, it was difficult for Germany to reconstruct their own economy, but afterwards, these struggles only gave Germany political unity and economic vitality. Germany, overall, detested the restrict nets. -
Japan's Military Dictatorship
The age of Japan's military dictatorship was also characterized by ultra-nationalism and loyalty to the state and emperor. War was seen as an act that could purify yourself, the nation, and the whole world; the sacrifice of life for a greater cause is considered the purist accomplishment. Also, the Japanese nationalists saw the Japanese Exclusion act as provocative, xenophobic, and threatening to the Japanese empire. -
The Rise of Nazism in Germany
At the time, Nazism seemed very appealing to the Germans. Nazism was based upon anti-semitism and forming an Aryan super-race, both of which were already common ideals in Germany. Nazism promised to restore honor to the Germans, and renew political order. The Nazis used aggressive propaganda and violence to achieve their goals. -
Japan's Invasion of China
The Japanese invaded China for economic reasons, to gain mineral and agricultural resources and to sell Japanese industrial products in China's market. During the invasion of China, the Chinese were unable to resist the Japanese forces. The Japanese had a better armed and organized military, and they were a lot more brutal. -
The Munich Conference
The Munich Agreement was an agreement where Germany could annex parts of Czechoslovakia on the border, where it was mainly inhabited by German speakers. Germany got the Sudetenland as long as they promised not to go further. This agreement was mainly signed by the other world powers with the intent to appease Germany. -
Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
The USSR and Germany signed a pact agreeing to not fight against each other or take any military action against each other for the next 10 years. The USSR used this as a way to stay on good terms with Germany while giving them time to build up their military forces. Germany saw this as a way to invade Poland without being opposed. -
Dunkirk
The Germans halted their advances on Dunkirk; this would later be one of the most controversial decisions of the war. The German forces did this to avoid an Allied breakout. The army halted for three days; this gave the Allies time to evacuate and build a defensive line, even though things weren't looking so great (with Britain even discussing a conditional surrender to Germany). -
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain was a series of air attacks by the Luftwaffe (German Air Force). At first the Luftwaffe targeted ports and shipping centers, then to RAF airfields and infrastructures, and then aircraft factories. Later, they employed terror bombing on areas of political significance and started the Blitz. -
Operation Barbarossa: Invasion of the USSR
Operation Barbarossa was driven by wanting to conquer the Western Soviet Union to repopulate it with Germans. German forces occupied Ukraine and inflicted heavy casualties there. During phase one, German forces completely destroyed the Soviet's command and control. Stalin's first reaction was disbelief. -
Bataan Death March
The surrendered Filipinos and Americans were forced by the Japanese to march 65 miles. Thousands of troops died because of the conditions. The captors starved and beat the marchers, and bayoneted the marchers who got too weak to walk.
