Reasons for WWII (Europe & Japan)

Question 1

Annexation

Answer 1

Forcible acquisition of one state’s land by another, usually by force or without permission and is typically considered illegal

Question 2

Militarism

Answer 2

The belief that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests

Question 3

Expansionism

Answer 3

A policy of territorial or economic expansion in search for power, wealth or influence through economic growth, soft power, military empire-building or colonialism

Question 4

Pacifism

Answer 4

The belief that war and violence are unjustifiable and that all disputes should be settled by peaceful means

Question 5

Isolationism

Answer 5

A policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries

Question 6

Warmongering

Answer 6

The act of encouraging or advocating aggression towards other countries or groups.

Question 7

Theatre of War

Answer 7

An area in which important military events occur or are progressing. It can include the entirety of the airspace, land and sea area that is or that may potentially become involved in war operations

Question 8

Protectionism

Answer 8

A policy of safeguarding one’s own economic interest, usually by banning of imports from other countries, resulting in consumer purchase of local products instead. It occurred widely as a result of the Great Depression.

Question 9

Prime Minister Inukai

Answer 9

Prime Minister of Japan who was assasinated in May 1932, resulting in the end of parliamentary rule and rise of military authority.

Question 10

Martial Law

Answer 10

Society is placed under military law, which has different procedures and often result in harsher treatment / punishments of civilians than civil law

Question 11

Trade embargo

Answer 11

Sanctions to inhibit or reduce trade with a country

Question 12

Manchukuo

Answer 12

A puppet state with Emperor Puyi as a figurehead, largely controlled by Japanese.

Question 13

Matthew Perry

Answer 13

Naval commander who bombed the harbour of Edo, Japan in 1853. Resulted in the opening of Japan to foreign influence and led to movement to strengthen Japan from within.

Question 14

Mukden Incident (1931)

Answer 14

The alleged sabotage that occurred when the Japanese bombed its own South Manchuria Railway, providing an excuse for a full scale invasion of Manchuria.

Question 15

Second Sino-Japanese War

Answer 15

Marco Polo incident where shots were fired between the Japanese and Chinese troops, the Japanese discovered that one of their troops were missing. Japanese demanded to search Wanping and tried to force their way into Wanping, resulting in increased tensions. This led to the full scale invasion of Wanping

Question 16

Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere

Answer 16

An expansion plan where Japan would dominate the whole of East Asia and Southeast Asia, and expel European colonial powers from this region. These regions will in turn be defended by Japanese military and governed through local elites aided by Japanese advisors.

Question 17

Satellite State

Answer 17

A formally independent state that is heavily influenced by another country politically and economically

Question 18

Second Sino-Japanese War

Answer 18

In 1937, this war happened as a result of the Marco Polo Bridge incident, resulting in the full-scale invasion of China thereafter. It is often described as a prelude to WWII, or arguably the start of WWII.

Question 19

Discrimination from the West

Answer 19

Chinese/Japanese/Korean Exclusion Act to prevent Asians from competing for jobs to protect American economic interests

Question 20

Manchuria as ‘living space’ (not lebensraum)

Answer 20

Mainland Japan did not have enough space for its people due to increasing overpopulation; demand on housing, goods and products also increaed.

Question 21

Russo-Japanese War (1905)

Answer 21

First time an Asian force actually won a Western one at war. Bolstered Japanese belief in military might and prowess

Question 22

Treaty of Shimonoseki (1895)

Answer 22

Victory to Japanese against Chinese which bolstered their confidence but also provided tangible benefits such as Korea and Taiwan as colonies. These areas provided raw materials such cotton and coal.

Question 23

Japanese & Korean Exclusion League

Answer 23

To banning of Japanese and Korean imigrants in America

Question 24

Twenty One Demands

Answer 24

Demands made in 1915 by Japan on China, and included terms such as making China accept Japanese political and military advisors. Yuan Shikai accepted the terms in May 1925, but managed to negotiate to remove some demands, such as Group 5 (accept Japanese advisors). He could not risk another war with Japan given warlords and faction fighting in China.

Question 25

Hirohito

Answer 25

Emperor of Japan during WWII

Question 26

Bushido

Answer 26

Bushido is a moral code concerning samurai attitudes, behavior and lifestyle.

Question 27

Hideki Tojo

Answer 27

Prime Minister of Japan from 1941-44; also served as the general of the Imperial Japanese Army.

Question 28

Meiji Restoration (1868)

Answer 28

Process of rapid modernisation and industrialisation in Japanÿ while retaining itsÿJapanese core/traditions.

Question 29

Nanjing Massacre

Answer 29

An episode of mass murder and rape committed by Imperial Japanese troops against the residents of Nanjing (Nanking), at that time the capital of China, during the Second Sino-Japanese War. It gathered international coverage and spurred international attention and help for China.

Question 30

State shintoism

Answer 30

State Shinto was Imperial Japan’s ideological use of the Japanese folk traditions of Shinto. The state strongly encouraged Shinto practices to emphasize the Emperor as a divine being, which justified various actions (e.g. death) by soldiers.

Question 31

Pearl Harbour

Answer 31

Site of American naval presence in the Pacific region. On 7 December 1941, Japanese planes struck the American base, sinking 5 of the 8 battleships at the anchor and bombing its aircraft fields; over 2400 Americans died. It led to the declaration of war by Americans on Japan the next day.

Question 32

League of Nations

Answer 32

First worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose mission was disarmament and ensuring collective security.

Question 33

Washington Naval Conference

Answer 33

In 1921-22, the US tried to reduce naval competition by bringing the major powers together to agree on a balance of firepower in the ratio of 5:5:3 between USA, Britain and Japan.

Question 34

Locarno Treaties

Answer 34

Treaty negotiated in Locarno, Switzerland which led to 7 agreements, notably to confirm French and Belgian borders and the deimiltiarisation of Rhineland. Often deem not as an effort by LON but Stresemann, Chamberlain, Briand.

Question 35

Kellogg-Briand Pact

Answer 35

Initiated by American Secretary of State Frank Kellogg and French Foreign minister Aristide Briand in 1928 outside league where 15 countries agree that all conflicts should only be resolved by pacifist means. However, there was no clear way decided to enforce this.

Question 36

World Disarmament Conference

Answer 36

Conference held at Geneva, Switzerland in 1932-1934. Refusal of FR,BR,Germany and USA to actually agree to disarm. Hitler withdrew from both the conference and LON, spiralling downward relations between Germany and the Western worlds.

Question 37

Abyssinian Crisis (1935)

Answer 37

Italy invaded Abyssinia but received limited economic sanctions that were not effective or damaging enough. Failure of League, BR and FR to limit Italy’s actions emboldened Hitler and Mussolini.

Question 38

Lebensraum

Answer 38

Expansionist policy specific to Eastward territorial conquest by the Germans, built on certain anti-Semitic and racial belief in the superiority of the Aryan race to colonise and exploit subhuman races.

Question 39

Stresa Front

Answer 39

Agreement made in Stresa, Italy In 1935 bbetween FR,BR and Italy to reaffirm Locarno treaties and declare importance of continued independence of Austria. They also agreed to resist any attempt by Germany to change TOV.

Question 40

Luftwaffe

Answer 40

German Air Force that was rebuilt by Hitler, violating the TOV. In 1935, Hitler had plans for 2500 planes.

Question 41

Rearmament

Answer 41

Act of obtaining weapons and building up military capabilities once more; often after a ban imposed through treaties.

Question 42

Conscription

Answer 42

The practice of making it compulsory for people to join the military service and serve in its defence.

Question 43

Franco-Soviet Alliance

Answer 43

An alliance forged in 1935 between FR and Soviet after Hitler announced Germany’s rearmament to the world to provide a check on Germany’s aggression. Promised to come to each other’s aid if Germany attacks them but no specific military coordination discussed.

Question 44

Remilitarisation of Rhineland (1936)

Answer 44

Violating the TOV, Germany remilitarised Rhineland (also against the Locarno Treaties). It did lead to increased popularity of Hitler.

Question 45

Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)

Answer 45

In 1936, right-wing nationalists rebels took part in a coup against republican government of Spain. Nationalists had support of Germany and Italy while republican had support of communists. The Western worlds did not interfere as they wanted communism destroyed. This was also a chance for Hitler to test Germany military capabilities.

Question 46

Anschluss with Austraia (Mar 1938)

Answer 46

Hitler encouraged the Nazis in Austria to stir trouble and pressurise the Austrian Chancellor to agree to Anschluss. A plebiscite was held, with led to the union of Austria with Germany.

Question 47

Plebiscite

Answer 47

A form of direct voting held to decide on major decisions for the nation. In the case of Austria, it was heavily ‘coerced’ with Nazi officials guarding voting booths to ensure the ‘right vote’ and the right people being allowed to vote.

Question 48

Munich Agreement (1938)

Answer 48

Agreement between Britain, France and Germany that whole of Sudetenland (Arguably German speaking region) would be given to Germany without consulting Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia. It is often seen as a form of appeasement but failed as Germany would eventually conquer the entire Czechoslovakia.

Question 49

Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact (1939)

Answer 49

To secure the Eastern Front, Hitler signed a pact with Stalin to ensure non-conflict between both entities in an event Poland would be invaded. It also agreed to share Poland with the USSR.

Question 50

Appeasement

Answer 50

The voluntary act of giving in to an aggressive force’s unreasonable demand in a bid to protect harmony and prevent conflict.

Question 51

Anglo-German Naval Agreement (1935)

Answer 51

As an act of sympathy and genuine belief in the hardships faced by Germany due to the TOV, the British signed the agreement to allow Germany to rebuild naval power. It was down in a bid to appease and reduce anger in the German populace.