Beginning of Fascist Aggression 1919 - 1939

• Italy, Germany and Japan started  series of aggressions in Europe, Asia and Africa. 
• Claimed to fighting against communism - united under Anti-Comintern Pact, 1937

Germany

• ambitions of conquering the vast resources and territory of the Soviet Union. 
• Western countries followed policy of appeasement. 
• Policy of appeasement = policy of conciliating an aggressive power at the expense of some other country. 
• Western countries hoped that Germany will get rid of Communism danger. 
• Re-militarization of German forces. 
• Germany remilitarized Rhineland in violation of Treaty of Versailles. 
• Built an army of 800,000 against the limit of 100,000 according to Treaty of Versailles. 

Japan

• Japan invaded China in 1931.
• China appealed in League of Nations against Japan to stop aggression. 
• Britain, France and US indifferent to the appeal. 
• Appeasement of Japan continued as the Western countries thought that the Japnese could be used to weaken China as well as Soviet Union. 
• Britain did not wanted to alienate Japan and thus endanger her possessions in Asia. 

Italy

• Italy invaded Ethopia in 1935.
• League of Nations condemned, but no action taken.

Spanish Civil War

• 1931, Spain become a republic. 
• 1935, Popular Front - Socialist, Communist and other democratic and anti-fascist parties came to power. 
• Section of army under General Franco revolted. 
• supported by Germany and Italy. 
• Italy and Germany openly supported and provided military help. 
• succeeded in destroying the Republic in 1939. 

Munich Pact

• Germany occupied Austria in 1938.
• Germany wanted Czechoslovakia because of her industry.
• strategic importance for expansion of Germany toward Soviet Union. 
• British and France PM met Hitler and Mussolini and agreed to Germany terms without consent of Czechoslovakia.
• Last major act of appeasement by the Western powers. 

Soviet Union and Germany Non-Aggression Pact, 1939

• Western policies of appeasement convinced Soviet Union that their main interest was to divert German expansion toward Soviet Union. 
• Munich Pact was additional proof. 
• Soviet Union signed a Non-Aggression Pact with Germany in 1939. 
• Shocked anti-fascists world over. 
• Britain and France promised to come to aid of Poland, Greece, Romania and Turkey in case their independence was endangered.