# Study Notes: 21.4 Practice Quiz Study Guide ## Key Concepts of World War II and Pre-War Events ### The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact - **Key Term**: The pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union included an agreement of **no military aggression against each other**. - **Motivation for Hitler**: Avoid a two-front war by ensuring peace with the Soviet Union. - **Outcome**: This agreement allowed both nations to secretly plan the division of Eastern Europe, including Poland. Remember, the pact was temporary and ultimately broken when Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941. --- ### The Munich Conference (1938) - **Outcome**: Czechoslovakia was forced to cede the Sudetenland to Germany. - **Purpose**: To address Germany's territorial expansion into Czechoslovakia. - **Key Figure**: British Prime Minister **Neville Chamberlain** was a major proponent of appeasement during this conference. The Munich Conference is often cited as a failure of appeasement, as it emboldened Hitler to pursue further aggression. --- ### The Anschluss (1938) - **Definition**: The unification of Germany and Austria under Nazi rule. - **Primary Goal**: Expand German territory and consolidate power in Central Europe. Example: The Anschluss was achieved without significant military conflict, as Austria was annexed following political pressure and propaganda. --- ### The Rhineland (1936) - **Status Before 1936**: A demilitarized zone under the Treaty of Versailles. - **Reoccupation**: Germany, under Hitler's orders, reoccupied the Rhineland in violation of the treaty. This marked a significant step in Germany's defiance of post-World War I agreements and the League of Nations' authority. --- ### Japan's Aggression in the 1930s - **First Aggressive Act**: The invasion of **Manchuria** in 1931. - **Motivation**: Japan sought **natural resources** and territory to support its growing empire. - **Policy Characteristics**: - Aggressive expansionism. - Militarization of the government. - **Leadership**: The military held ultimate authority, heavily influenced by Emperor **Hirohito**. It’s a common misconception that Hirohito had full control over Japan’s government. In reality, his political power was limited, and military leaders dominated decision-making. --- ### The Policy of Appeasement - **Definition**: A strategy to avoid war by making concessions to aggressive nations. - **Main Goal**: Prevent conflict, particularly with Germany. - **Failure**: The invasion of Poland in 1939 marked the collapse of appeasement efforts. Appeasement is often criticized for enabling aggressors like Hitler to grow stronger without facing immediate consequences. --- ## Key Figures and Events ### Hideki Tojo - **Role**: Became Prime Minister of Japan in 1937. - **Significance**: Played a central role in Japan's militaristic and expansionist policies during World War II. --- ### Adolf Hitler - **Demand for Danzig**: Hitler's territorial ambitions led to the invasion of Poland in September 1939, triggering World War II. - **Reichstag Fire (1933)**: This event allowed the Nazis to consolidate power by invoking emergency powers. Example: The Reichstag Fire was blamed on communists, providing Hitler with a pretext to suppress political opposition. --- ### Benito Mussolini - **Primary Goal**: Expand Italian territory and influence, particularly in Africa and the Mediterranean. --- ## Key Agreements and Policies ### The Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928) - **Purpose**: Renounce war as a tool of national policy. - **Significance**: While idealistic, it lacked enforcement mechanisms and failed to prevent future conflicts. --- ### The League of Nations - **Response to Aggression**: Condemned actions like Japan's invasion of Manchuria and Germany's reoccupation of the Rhineland. - **Weakness**: Lacked the authority and military power to enforce its decisions. Many assume the League of Nations was a strong international body, but its inability to act decisively contributed to the outbreak of World War II. --- ## Practice Questions 1. **What was the primary goal of the Anschluss?** - A) Avoid war - B) Unite Germany and Austria under Nazi rule - C) Expand Italian influence - D) Renounce war as a tool of policy **Answer**: B) Unite Germany and Austria under Nazi rule 2. **What event marked the failure of appeasement?** - A) The Munich Conference - B) The invasion of Poland in 1939 - C) The reoccupation of the Rhineland - D) The signing of the Nazi-Soviet Pact **Answer**: B) The invasion of Poland in 1939 3. **Which resource was Japan seeking in Manchuria?** - A) Oil - B) Natural resources - C) Gold - D) Labor **Answer**: B) Natural resources --- ## Key Takeaways - The **Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact** was a strategic move to avoid a two-front war. - The **Munich Conference** and the policy of appeasement failed to prevent World War II. - Japan's aggressive expansion in the 1930s was driven by a need for resources and territory. - The **League of Nations** was ineffective in curbing aggression due to its lack of enforcement power. - Events like the **Reichstag Fire** and the reoccupation of the Rhineland were pivotal in the rise of totalitarian regimes. Understanding the connections between these events helps explain the complex causes of World War II.