Bear the situations leading up to the invasions of China and Poland Japan and Germany invaded other countries before invading China and Poland China and Poland were prepared to fight their Invaders China and Poland received foreign aid against potential invasions Japan and Germany were at war with China and Poland
The situations leading up to the invasions of China and Poland by Japan and Germany were quite different. Here are the key events and factors that preceded the invasions:
Japan's Invasion of China:
1. Second Sino-Japanese War: The invasion of China by Japan began in 1937 during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Tensions between the two countries had been escalating for several years.
2. Manchurian Incident: In 1931, Japan had already invaded Manchuria, a region in northeast China. This invasion marked the beginning of Japan's aggressive expansion in mainland China.
3. Marco Polo Bridge Incident: In July 1937, a clash between Chinese and Japanese troops near the Marco Polo Bridge in Beijing served as a catalyst for the full-scale invasion of China.
4. Stalled Peace Negotiations: Prior to the invasion, negotiations between China and Japan attempted to solve the escalating conflict. However, the negotiations failed, leading to the outbreak of war.
5. Chinese Resistance: Despite being significantly outnumbered and outmatched, China put up a strong resistance against Japanese forces during the invasion. The Chinese Nationalist government, led by Chiang Kai-shek, fought back through guerilla warfare and large-scale battles.
Germany's Invasion of Poland:
1. German Aggression: Nazi Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, had been expanding its territories and influence through aggressive foreign policies. Hitler aimed to establish a greater German empire, known as Lebensraum, which required the conquest of new territories.
2. German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact: In August 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression pact, known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. This agreement included secret protocols that divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence, effectively allowing Germany to invade Poland without Soviet interference.
3. Polish Corridor and Danzig: Hitler's main justification for invading Poland was the alleged mistreatment of German minorities living in the Polish Corridor and the Free City of Danzig (Gdańsk). He claimed that these territories rightfully belonged to Germany.
4. Failed Diplomacy: Diplomatic attempts to prevent the German invasion failed as negotiations between Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, and France could not find a mutually acceptable solution.
5. Blitzkrieg Tactics: On September 1, 1939, Germany launched its invasion of Poland using its newly developed tactic of blitzkrieg, which relied on rapid and synchronized offensives by air and ground forces. This overwhelming force quickly broke through Polish defenses.
Foreign Aid and international responses:
1. China's Foreign Aid: During Japan's invasion of China, the Chinese government received limited help from international allies. The Soviet Union provided some military assistance, while Western powers imposed economic sanctions against Japan, mainly the United States cutting off oil exports.
2. Germany's International Responses: The invasion of Poland by Germany triggered international outrage. The United Kingdom and France, honoring their mutual defense pacts with Poland, declared war on Germany, marking the beginning of World War II.
In summary, the situations leading up to the invasions of China and Poland by Japan and Germany differed significantly. While Japan had been involved in the Second Sino-Japanese War and faced Chinese resistance, Germany's invasion of Poland marked the beginning of World War II, with international responses from various countries.