Origins of World War 2

Question 1

Who were the Key Aggressors in WW2?

Answer 1

• Germany - Nazis
• Italy - Fascist and tried to recreate Rome
• Imperial Japan - Securing resources and strategic in - Asia
• Soviet Union: Initially focused on internal struggles

Question 2

What is the key goals of WW2?

Answer 2

Race and Space

Question 3

What was Japan’s goal at the start of the war?

Answer 3

Ideology of Pure Self vs Demonic Other, Expulsion of western colonial powers and domination of Asia

Question 4

What actions did Japan take in 1931 and 1937?

Answer 4

• 1931, Staged Mukden Incident; Invaded Manchuria (when used by league of nations they just left)
• 1937, Invaded China atrocities like the nanking Massacre, lots of people killed

Question 5

What were Germany’s motives at the start of aggression in 1930’s?

Answer 5

• Radical Ideology (Nuremberg Laws, targeting Jews)
• Lebensraum: Expansion eastward into Poland and the Soviet Union

Question 6

What were the key moments of aggression for Germany in 1936 and 1938?

Answer 6

• Rhineland (1936)
  German Troops reoccupied; French inaction emboldened by Hitler
• Austria (1938)
  Anschluss: Framed as Self determination but imposed by Nazi Role
  70,000 Austrian Jews sent to concentration camps
• Czechoslovakia
  Munich Agreement (1937): did not work
  March (1939): Invaded more into slovakia and now it was known that stopping him wasn’t going to be peaceful