Final answer:
Aggressive regimes in Europe and Asia, particularly Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, pursued expansionist policies through military action and occupied territories with brutality, leading to global conflicts and shaping the geopolitical aftermath of the Second World War.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 1930s, global peace was threatened by the actions of aggressive regimes in both Europe and Asia. Most democratic leaders responded to these provocations with verbal outcries and failed attempts at appeasement, which the Axis powers—led by Hitler, Mussolini, and Japan's militarist leadership—interpreted as weakness. This appeasement only emboldened them further, leading to a series of unchecked aggressive acts that precipitated World War II.
Hitler's Aggressive Acts:
Adolf Hitler aimed to break the constraints of the Treaty of Versailles, unite German-speaking populations, and acquire more lebensraum, or 'living space', for Germany. Hitler began by rearming Germany and ultimately sending troops into the demilitarized Rhineland in 1936. Despite violating the peace terms, Western democracies did little beyond condemnation.
Japan's Path to Expansion and Conflict:
Japan pursued a vision of an expansive empire through force, leading to the invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and establishment of the puppet state Manchukuo, aiming to exploit resources and markets. Japan's military actions included defeating Russia and China in wars and imposing brutality on conquered regions like China and Southeast Asia, contributing further to geopolitical tensions.
The Aftermath in Europe:
Post-war, fascism in Europe took a hit with its defeat in the war, yet some authoritarian governments, such as in Spain and Portugal, survived by staying neutral. Eastern Europe faced oppressions under totalitarian regimes influenced by Stalin's Soviet Union, an outcome shaped by geopolitical realities and the outcomes of conferences like Yalta and Potsdam.