The fascist power like Germany, Italy and Japan followed a policy of aggressive militarism against other countries between 1931 and 1938.

1. In 1931 Japan attacked China and captured Manchuria. England, France and USA kept mum because they thought that Japan could be used to weaken China and U.S.S.R.

2. In 1935, Italy invaded Ethiopia. The League of Nations condemned Italy's role and imposed economic sanctions against her. However, no concrete step was taken to punish Italy.

3. The fascist forces in Italy and Germany supported General Franco to topple the Popular Democratic Government in Spain backed by U.S.S.R. Britain and France did not intervene. Ultimately, the fascist forces toppled the democracy and General Franco established his dictatorship in 1939.

4. Germany captured Austria in 1938 and annexed whole of Czechoslovakia. England and France did nothing to check Germany.

The Second World War could have been averted if the Western countries had not followed the policy of appeasement.