how were the invasions of china and poland different
The invasions of China and Poland were different in several aspects:
1. Timing: The invasion of Poland took place in September 1939, marking the beginning of World War II in Europe. On the other hand, the invasion of China occurred in various stages throughout the 1930s and continued even after the outbreak of World War II.
2. Motive: The invasion of Poland was primarily driven by Adolf Hitler's vision of Lebensraum (living space) for the German people and the desire to expand German territories. It was part of Nazi Germany's plan for territorial expansion in Europe. In contrast, the invasion of China by Imperial Japan was aimed at obtaining natural resources, particularly in Manchuria, and establishing control over strategic areas in East Asia.
3. Military techniques and strategies: The invasion of Poland was characterized by the Blitzkrieg (lightning war) strategy employed by the Germans, which involved rapid and coordinated movements of armored units supported by air power. In comparison, the Japanese invasion of China involved a combination of conventional military tactics along with brutal warfare methods, including widespread massacres and atrocities against Chinese civilians.
4. International response: The invasion of Poland led to a declaration of war by France and the United Kingdom against Germany, initiating the wider conflict of World War II. On the other hand, the international response to Japan's invasion of China was limited, with economic sanctions imposed by the League of Nations, but no military action taken by major powers to stop Japanese aggression.
5. Duration and outcome: The invasion of Poland was relatively short-lived, with Poland surrendering to Germany in just over a month. In contrast, Japan's invasion of China lasted for several years, escalating into a full-scale war known as the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), which had a significant impact on China's political and social landscape.
Overall, while both invasions were acts of aggression, the motivations, strategies, international responses, and outcomes differed significantly between Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland and Imperial Japan's invasion of China.