Japanese Expansion and the Second Sino-Japanese War

1931 Japanese-engineered incident in Manchuria used as a justification for Japanese military expansion.

Northeastern region of China that Japan occupied beginning in 1931 because of its strategic position and resources.

Japanese-controlled puppet state established in Manchuria in 1932.

Former Chinese emperor who was placed by Japan as the head of Manchukuo.

"Rule from below"; the tendency of Japanese military officers to act independently or pressure higher authorities into accepting their actions.

Japanese army force stationed in Manchuria that played a major role in the Mukden Incident and Japanese expansion.

Japan wanted resources

The growing political influence of Japan's military and its support for territorial expansion and war.

A July 1937 clash between Japanese and Chinese forces near Beijing that escalated into full-scale war between Japan and China.

The major war between Japan and China that began in 1937 and continued throughout WWII.

Leader of Nationalist China who directed Chinese resistance against Japan.

The Chinese government led by Chiang Kai-shek that fought Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

1937 Japanese attack on the USS Panay

American gunboat attacked by Japanese aircraft in China in December 1937.

Japanese concept of a regional empire presented as Asian liberation but used to justify Japanese political

Japan wanted territory

French colonial territory in Southeast Asia increasingly occupied by Japan before Pearl Harbor.

Southeast Asian territory rich in oil and other resources that Japan invaded during its early wartime expansion.

British-controlled Southeast Asian territory invaded by Japan shortly after Pearl Harbor.

British-controlled territory invaded by Japan partly to threaten India and cut supply routes to China.

Important Burmese port and city captured by Japanese forces during their Southeast Asian expansion.

It contained major oil supplies that Japan needed to fuel its military and economy.

1940 agreement linking Germany

Germany

1941 agreement in which Japan and the Soviet Union pledged neutrality toward one another.

It reduced the immediate threat from the Soviet Union while Japan focused its expansion southward.

Japanese military and political leader who became prime minister in 1941 and led Japan during Pearl Harbor and the early Pacific War.

Commander of Japan's Combined Fleet and a major planner of Pearl Harbor and the Midway operation.

Japan wanted to temporarily cripple American naval power while it seized resource-rich territory and established a defensive perimeter.

Japanese surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Hawaii on December 7

December 7

The United States declared war on Japan and entered WWII.

The attack directly brought the United States into war with Japan; Germany and Italy then declared war on the United States.

1941

1941

U.S. president who guided the country from neutrality toward greater Allied support and ultimately through American entry into WWII.

The desire of many Americans during the 1930s to avoid involvement in foreign wars.

Americans remembered WWI casualties and costs and feared being drawn into another European conflict.

The belief that arms manufacturers and financial interests had profited from WWI and helped push the United States into war.

U.S. senator who led investigations into the influence of arms manufacturers and financial interests on U.S. involvement in WWI.

Congressional investigation associated with Gerald Nye that examined the role of arms manufacturers and financial interests in WWI.

Major American isolationist organization that opposed U.S. involvement in the European war.

U.S. laws passed during the 1930s that restricted American involvement in foreign wars.

Policy allowing belligerent nations to purchase American goods if they paid cash and transported the goods themselves.

Britain had the naval power and geographic access needed to transport American goods across the Atlantic.

U.S. program allowing military supplies to be provided to countries whose defense was considered important to American security.

It showed the United States was moving away from strict neutrality and increasingly supporting the Allies before entering the war.

American destroyer sunk by a German U-boat in October 1941 before the United States formally entered WWII.

It demonstrated that the United States was already experiencing direct conflict with Germany before formally entering WWII.

Hitler's policy of acquiring territory and overturning the post-WWI European political order.

Peace treaty that ended WWI with Germany and imposed territorial

The policy of making concessions to aggressive powers in an attempt to avoid another major war.

1938 agreement allowing Germany to annex the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia.

Hitler continued expanding after receiving concessions

1939 German-Soviet non-aggression pact that secretly divided parts of Eastern Europe into German and Soviet spheres of influence.

Agreement allowing Germany to attack Poland without immediately fearing a Soviet attack from the east.

German plan for invading Poland in 1939.

Germany invaded Poland on September 1

1939

1939

"Lightning war"; German method of rapid warfare using tanks

It disrupted enemy command and defenses before opposing forces could establish stable defensive lines.

German plan for invading Western Europe through Belgium

German plan for the second phase of the invasion of France after the Allied forces were defeated or evacuated from northern France.

Location where hundreds of thousands of Allied troops were evacuated from France to Britain in 1940.

The evacuation preserved a large portion of Britain's army so Britain could continue fighting Germany.

Germany defeated France in 1940 after a rapid offensive through Western Europe.

Collaborationist French government established after France's defeat in 1940.

1940 air campaign between Germany and Britain in which Germany attempted to gain air superiority over Britain.

Britain's air force that defended Britain during the Battle of Britain.

German air force that attempted to defeat the RAF and gain air superiority over Britain.

British fighter aircraft that played an important role in the Battle of Britain.

British fighter aircraft that played an important role in defending Britain during the Battle of Britain.

Technology that allowed Britain to detect approaching aircraft and direct fighters toward incoming German attacks.

British radar network that provided early warning of approaching German aircraft.

It gave Britain advance warning of German attacks and allowed fighters to be efficiently directed toward incoming aircraft.

German plan for invading Britain that depended on first gaining air superiority.

Germany failed to gain the necessary air superiority over Britain.

German bombing campaign against British cities

British prime minister during WWII who strongly opposed making peace with Hitler and led Britain during the Battle of Britain.

Britain remained a major base for Allied operations and prevented Germany from dominating Western Europe completely.

German invasion of the Soviet Union launched on June 22

June 22

The enormous WWII theater where Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union.

Hitler sought territory

Soviet city surrounded by German and Finnish forces during a devastating siege that lasted for years.

Long German siege that caused extreme starvation

Major Soviet military commander associated with the defense and later counteroffensives against Germany.

Nazi antisemitic conspiracy theory falsely portraying Jews and communism as part of the same enemy.

It demonstrates how Nazi racial ideology and anti-communism shaped the brutal war against the Soviet Union.

Nazi systematic persecution and murder of approximately six million European Jews and millions of other victims.

January 1942 meeting where Nazi officials coordinated aspects of the implementation of the "Final Solution."

Nazi plan and policy for the systematic murder of Europe's Jews.

Extended struggle between Allied shipping and German U-boats over control of Atlantic supply routes.

German submarines used to attack Allied shipping and attempt to cut Britain off from supplies.

1941 agreement between Roosevelt and Churchill outlining broad principles for the postwar international order.

American lieutenant colonel who led the April 1942 bombing raid against Japan.

April 18

It caused limited physical damage but demonstrated that Japan's homeland was vulnerable and boosted American morale.

American aircraft carrier from which the B-25 bombers of the Doolittle Raid were launched.

Japanese term describing overconfidence produced by Japan's rapid early military victories.

Rapid victories created confidence that Japan could continue expanding despite growing strategic and logistical problems.

American-controlled territory attacked and invaded by Japan shortly after Pearl Harbor.

American commander in the Philippines who was ordered to leave and later returned to the Philippines.

MacArthur's famous promise after leaving the Philippines.

Major American air base in the Philippines attacked by Japan shortly after Pearl Harbor.

Location where Japanese forces landed during their invasion of Luzon in the Philippines.

Philippine peninsula where American and Filipino forces made a major defensive stand against Japan.

Heavily fortified island at the entrance to Manila Bay that became the final major American defensive position in the Philippines.

American commander who took responsibility for remaining U.S. forces in the Philippines after MacArthur left.

Japanese commander who led Japanese forces during the campaign in the Philippines.

Forced march of American and Filipino prisoners after the fall of Bataan in which many prisoners died from starvation

It became a major example of Japanese mistreatment of Allied prisoners and resulted in thousands of deaths.

American-controlled Pacific island captured by Japan after fierce resistance in December 1941.

American Pacific territory captured by Japan shortly after Pearl Harbor.

British battleship sunk by Japanese aircraft near Malaya in December 1941.

British battlecruiser sunk by Japanese aircraft near Malaya in December 1941.

Their destruction demonstrated the vulnerability of major surface warships to air power.

Japanese fighter aircraft known for long range and maneuverability but limited armor and pilot protection.

It combined exceptional range and maneuverability with experienced Japanese pilots.

Its light construction sacrificed armor and protection for speed

Allied intelligence gained from intercepting and decrypting Axis communications.

German encryption system whose messages were broken by Allied codebreakers.

British center for codebreaking and intelligence during WWII.

Radar detected approaching aircraft; Ultra provided intelligence from intercepted and decrypted enemy communications.

A term requiring lecture context; it can refer to a communist military organization

May 1942 naval battle between Japan and Allied forces that stopped Japan's attempt to capture Port Moresby by sea.

Strategic New Guinea location Japan attempted to capture during the Coral Sea campaign.

It would have strengthened Japan's position toward Australia and helped protect Japanese expansion.

The opposing surface ships did not directly see or fire upon each other; aircraft from carriers did most of the fighting.

American aircraft carrier sunk during the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Japanese light carrier sunk during the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Japan failed to capture Port Moresby by sea

Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and a major American commander during the Battle of Midway.

June 1942 American victory in which Japan lost four major fleet carriers.

June 4-7

Japan wanted to capture Midway and lure the remaining American carriers into a battle where they could be destroyed.

American codebreakers identified Japanese plans and determined that "AF" referred to Midway.

The Japanese code name that American intelligence identified as referring to Midway.

Akagi

Japan lost four major carriers and many experienced naval aviators that were difficult to replace.

Japan's offensive momentum was severely damaged and the strategic balance in the Pacific shifted toward the United States.

It destroyed four major Japanese carriers and weakened Japan's ability to continue its rapid expansion.

August 1942-February 1943 Allied campaign that marked the beginning of sustained American offensive operations in the Pacific.

Airfield on Guadalcanal that became the central objective of the Guadalcanal campaign.

Control of the airfield allowed control of much of the surrounding airspace and affected naval and ground operations.

It shifted the Pacific War from primarily Japanese expansion toward sustained Allied offensive operations.

Coral Sea stopped Japan's advance toward Port Moresby; Midway destroyed four Japanese carriers and shifted strategic momentum.

Pearl Harbor was a major Japanese victory that brought America into the war; Midway was a major American victory that damaged Japan's offensive power.

Japan sought rapid victories

Japan lacked the industrial capacity and resources to easily sustain a prolonged war against the United States.

The United States possessed enormous industrial capacity

Japanese leaders knew Japan was less capable than the United States of sustaining a long industrial war.

Pearl Harbor began Japan's offensive expansion; Guadalcanal represented the beginning of sustained American offensive operations.

Japan became increasingly overextended while facing growing American industrial

The RAF

Germany failed to destroy the RAF or gain air superiority

Hitler believed the Soviet Union could be defeated and sought territory

It consumed enormous German resources and eventually became central to Germany's defeat.

It was a major Soviet industrial and symbolic city that Germany failed to capture despite a prolonged siege.

American leaders increasingly opposed Japanese expansion and viewed Chinese resistance as strategically important.

Japanese expansion conflicted with American interests

Japanese expansion into China and Southeast Asia increased conflict with the United States and contributed to the decision to attack Pearl Harbor.

Pearl Harbor was intended to temporarily weaken American naval power while Japan rapidly seized territory and resources across the Pacific.

Japan's strategy of capturing islands and territories to create a large zone that would make an American counteroffensive difficult.

The raid exposed Japan's vulnerability and contributed to Japanese interest in extending its defensive perimeter through Midway.

It demonstrated that Japan's expansion could be stopped and prevented the capture of Port Moresby.

Japan continued seeking strategic victories

After Midway weakened Japan's offensive capability

Pearl Harbor → Japanese expansion → Doolittle Raid → Coral Sea → Midway → Guadalcanal.

Poland → Fall Gelb → France → Battle of Britain → Barbarossa → Eastern Front.

Merchants of Death → Nye Committee → Neutrality Acts → Cash-and-carry → Lend-Lease → Pearl Harbor.

Gekokujo → Mukden → Manchuria → Manchukuo → Marco Polo Bridge → China → Southeast Asia → Pearl Harbor.

Mukden Incident and beginning of Japanese conquest of Manchuria.

Manchukuo established in Japanese-controlled Manchuria.

Marco Polo Bridge Incident and beginning of full-scale Sino-Japanese War.

Munich Agreement and major example of appeasement.

Germany invaded Poland and WWII began in Europe.

Germany defeated France and the Battle of Britain took place.

Germany invaded the Soviet Union and Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.

Doolittle Raid

1931

1937

1939

1940

France surrendered to Germany.

1941

1941

1942

Battle of the Coral Sea.

1942

United States landed at Guadalcanal.

Guadalcanal campaign ended.

Leader of Nationalist China and major Chinese opponent of Japanese expansion.

American general who commanded Allied forces in the Philippines and later returned to the Pacific.

Japanese admiral who commanded the Combined Fleet and was central to Pearl Harbor and Midway.

Japanese prime minister and military leader during the Pearl Harbor period.

U.S. senator associated with the Nye Committee and investigation of the arms industry.

Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and major American commander at Midway.

American officer who led the 1942 raid on Japan.

Major Soviet commander during the war against Germany.

Japanese commander during the invasion of the Philippines.

American commander who led remaining U.S. forces in the Philippines after MacArthur left.

British prime minister who led Britain during the early years of WWII.

German dictator who directed Nazi Germany's expansion and military strategy.

Soviet leader during the German invasion and the Eastern Front.

Italian fascist dictator and Germany's major European Axis partner.

Restrictions and resentment created political conditions that Hitler exploited to gain support for German expansion.

Economic crisis destabilized societies and contributed to support for extremist political movements.

Fascist governments emphasized authoritarianism

Hitler's concept of acquiring additional territory

Germany's invasion of Poland triggered declarations of war by Britain and France and began WWII in Europe.

It reduced the risk of immediate Soviet intervention while Germany attacked Poland and later turned toward Western Europe.

They had pledged to support Poland and responded to Germany's invasion.

German mobile warfare bypassed major defenses and rapidly penetrated France.

German forces bypassed it by attacking through the Low Countries and the Ardennes.

It allowed Britain to evacuate a large portion of its army after the fall of France.

Germany failed to gain air superiority over Britain.

It demonstrated Britain's ability to withstand sustained German bombing and continue fighting.

It allowed early detection and efficient deployment of RAF fighters.

It gave the Allies valuable intelligence about Axis plans and movements.

It opened the enormous Eastern Front and turned Germany's war into a massive conflict against the Soviet Union.

The USSR had enormous territory

Rapid

To invade and defeat Britain after Germany gained control of the air.

To defeat the Soviet Union

German plan for the invasion of Poland.

German plan for the invasion of Western Europe.

German plan for the second phase of the invasion of France.

American program supplying military equipment to nations whose defense was considered important to U.S. security.

Isolationist organization opposed to American involvement in WWII.

Laws restricting American involvement in foreign wars during the 1930s.

1940 agreement linking Germany

1941 agreement in which Japan and the Soviet Union pledged neutrality toward each other.

Japanese overconfidence caused by rapid early military victories.

Allied intelligence obtained from intercepted and decrypted Axis communications.

Technology used to detect distant aircraft and other objects using radio waves.

Britain's air force during WWII.

Japanese fighter aircraft famous for range and maneuverability.

British fighter aircraft used extensively during the Battle of Britain.

British fighter aircraft used extensively during the Battle of Britain.

Prewar U.S. Navy planning for a possible war with Japan in the Pacific.

U.S. Navy prewar contingency planning for a potential war against Japan.

It shows that American military planners had considered the possibility of war with Japan before Pearl Harbor.

The two countries had experienced years of conflict over Japanese expansion

The Philippines threatened Japanese lines of communication and were strategically positioned between Japan and resource-rich Southeast Asia.

They were located along major Pacific routes and could support American operations against Japanese expansion.

Malaya provided strategic territory and access toward Singapore and resource-rich Southeast Asia.

Japan wanted access to oil and other natural resources.

Burma provided strategic access toward India and was an important route for supplying China.

It was a major British naval and military base controlling access to Southeast Asia.

They allowed aircraft to strike targets hundreds of miles away without requiring opposing fleets to directly engage.

The vast distances of the Pacific made long-range aircraft launched from carriers essential for naval operations.

Experienced pilots were difficult to replace

The United States could produce enormous quantities of ships

The huge distances required the Allies to transport troops

Japan had to win quickly because it was poorly positioned for a prolonged industrial war against the United States.

The United States had greater industrial capacity

Japan's rapid expansion initially dominated the region

Germany achieved rapid victories but failed to defeat Britain and became increasingly overextended after invading the Soviet Union.

Japanese expansion → European war → fall of France → Battle of Britain → Barbarossa → Pearl Harbor → Japanese expansion → Coral Sea → Midway → Guadalcanal.

Pearl Harbor → Philippines → Doolittle Raid → Coral Sea → Midway → Guadalcanal.

Poland → France → Battle of Britain → Barbarossa → Eastern Front.

Isolationism → Neutrality Acts → cash-and-carry → Lend-Lease → Pearl Harbor → U.S. entry into WWII.