Japan’s Path Toward WWII

• Japan colonized Korea in 1910 and already was an imperial power and
wanted to take over Manchuria in 1931.
• On September 18, 1931 Japanese soldier disguised as Chinese soldiers
blew up a section of the Manchurian railway near the city of Mukden.
• Even though Japan owned this area they used this “Mukden Incident”
as an excuse to take over all of Manchuria.
• After taking over Manchuria the Japanese set their sights on expanding their
empire.
• Worldwide protests against Japan taking over Manchuria lead to the League of
Nations investigating and condemning the take over.
• When Japan’s actions were condemned Japan left the League of Nations.
• The USA refused to recognize Japan’s takeover of Manchuria but would not
threaten to use force against Japan.
• Chaing Kai-Shek the leader of China wanted to suppress Chinese communists in
his country so he allowed Japan to govern areas in northern China.
• Japan continued to expand southward into China and Chaing changed his stance
in December of 1936 and decided to resist the Japanese take over.
• In 1937 Chinese and Japanese forces clashed south of Beijing and hostilities
spread.
• Japan did not plan to declare war on China but the 1937 incident turned into a
major conflict.
• Japan took over the Chinese capitol of Nanjing in December. The Japanese
destroyed the city and massacred more than 100,000 civilians and POWs.
• The event was known as the “ Rape of Nanking”.
• China refused to surrender to Japan and continued to fight.
• Japan hoped to establish a new Asian order
made up of Japan, Manchuria, and China.
• Japan planned to attack Soviet Siberia
which was rich in resources.
• Japan cooperated with Nazi Germany in the
late 1930s and when the USSR signed the
non-aggression pact with Germany, Japan
had to abandon its plan.
• Japan lacked the resources to eventually
attack the Soviets so they turned their
attention to acquiring resources in South
Asia.
• The United States had already condemned the Japanese invasion of
China and Japan knew any move they made in South Asia would
provoke a response from the US.
• The USA also warned they would apply economic sanctions on Japan
if they did not leave the areas they had taken over after 1931.
• Japan was getting oil and scrap metal from the US and needed these
materials to keep expanding their empire.
• Japan decided the best course of action was to launch a surprise
attack on the US and European colonies in Southeast Asia.