Causes of World War II

Axis Philosophy and AggressionCauses of World War II

TotalitarianismThe Axis nations were totalitarianism dictatorships.

Totalitarianism (or totalitarian rule) is a political system where the state holds total authority over the society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life wherever necessary.TotalitarianismThey Scorned:

Democratic ideals of civil libertiesThe dignity of the individualWorld peaceAnd they openly declared their intent to destroy democracyMilitarismthe belief that a government should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests.MilitarismSpent vast sums of money on armamentsDevised new weapons and battle techniquesBuilt huge military organizationsAnd psychologically prepared their people for warThey proclaimed war a glorious adventure and the death of the fatherland the highest honorNationalismideology based on the premise that the individuals loyalty and devotion to the nation-state surpass other individual or group interests.

NationalismYour country was more important than anything including the individual. Japanese Shinto teachings, Italian dreams of a revival of the roman empire, and the German Master Race doctrine all fostered a narrow and bigoted nationalismThe axis nations considered themselves superior and destined to rule over lesser peoples.

Imperialism belief in empire-building:the policy of extending the rule or influence of a country over other countries or coloniesdomination by empire:the political, military, or economic domination of one country over another

Imperialism The Axis powers embarked upon imperialism with the excuse that they lacked land and resources.Japan expanded into Manchuria in 1931-1932 and China in 1937. Japan wanted to create a, Greater East Asian Co-prosperity Sphere.Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935 and wanted to turn the Mediterranean Sea into an Italian Lake.ImperialismGermany remilitarized the Rhineland in 1936 and aided General Franco in the Spanish Civil War from 1936-1938. Invaded and annexed Austria in 1938Occupied the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia in 1939