War Clouds Gather 2 Dictator in the Soviet

War Clouds Gather (2)

Dictator in the Soviet Union • When Hitler bragged, “They will never act, they will just protest, and they will always be too late, ” Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union took him seriously.

Dictator in the Soviet Union • Stalin knew Hitler and the Nazis hated Communism. • He also knew Hitler wanted to expand East for his Lebensraum. • Stalin gained power in 1924 from the death of Vladimir Lenin.

Dictator in the Soviet Union • To strengthen the Soviet Union’s economy Stalin launched a series of 5 year plans. • The goal was to modernize Soviet industry and farming.

Dictator in the Soviet Union • Like Hitler, Joseph Stalin used all the weapons of a totalitarian state. 1. Urged the Soviets to make superhuman efforts to produce more goods. 2. Those who resisted faced prison or death.

Dictator in the Soviet Union 3. In the 1930’s the soviet Communist government ordered peasants to hand over their land farms and join collective farms- government ran farms.

Dictator in the Soviet Union • When farmers resisted, millions were executed or sent to labor camps. • Estimates of deaths during the rule of Stalin were from 30 to 60 million deaths from executions to starvation • Even with Stalin’s oppressive rule, the Soviet economy expanded.

Dictator in the Soviet Union • In the Soviet Union steel and oil production increased. • Stalin knew he would need these materials to fight any Nazi aggression.

Military Rulers in Japan. • Japan’s economy suffered severely during the Great Depression. • Many Japanese businesses failed. • Japan grew impatient with their democratic government.

Military Rulers in Japan. • In the early 1930’s military leaders took power in Japan. • Japan lacked many natural resources such as coal and oil. • The new leaders believed they had the right to win an overseas empire just as France and Britain.

Military Rulers in Japan. • In 1931 Japan seized Manchuria in Northeastern China. • The Japanese wanted Manchuria because it was rich in coal and iron. • Japan changed the name of Manchuria to Manchuko.

Military Rulers in Japan. • China called on the League of Nations for help. • League of Nations condemned China, but did nothing else. • The U. S. refused to recognize Manchuko, and did nothing else to help the Chinese.

Japanese War against China. • In 1937 Japan began an all out war against China. • Japan bombed Beijing, Shanghai, and other major cities. • Thousands of Chinese civilians were killed.

Japanese War against China. • The Japanese military defeated the Chinese armies and occupied Northern and Central China. • This advance alarmed American leaders. • They felt it undermined the open door policy.

Japanese War against China. • Japan also threatened the Philippines, which was under U. S. control. • Despite threat, isolationists kept the U. S. from taking a stronger stance with Japan.

War in Europe • While these things were taking place in Asia, in 1936, Hitler : 1. Moves into the Rhineland 2. 1938 Hitler takes Austria 3. Hitler reclaims the Sudetenland back from Czechoslovakia

War in Europe • France and Britain signed treaties with Czechoslovakia to protect that country. • Sept 1938, Hitler has the Munich Conference with France and Britain assuring them he wants no more territory.

War in Europe • Britain and France give in to Germany giving Hitler the Sudetenland. • They hoped this would Appease Hitler avoiding further conflict. • Hitler would take the rest of Czechoslovakia in 1939.

Stalin and Hitler become Allies • Britain and France realized they had to act to stop further Nazi aggression. • Britain tried to form an alliance with the Soviet Union, but Stalin thought these countries lacked the will to fight.

Stalin and Hitler become Allies • Rejecting Britain’s bid to form an alliance, Stalin, in stead signs the Nazi. Soviet Pact with Hitler. • The Soviets and the Nazis agree not to attack each other and secretly forge an agreement to divide up Poland other parts of Eastern Europe.

Stalin and Hitler become Allies • This agreement left Hitler free to attack Poland without fear of attack from the Soviets. • 1 Sept 1939 Hitler rolls into Poland 2 days later Britain and France declare war on Nazi Germany.