Chapter?36: New Conflagrations: World War II and the Cold War Chapter Outline Origins of World War II Japan's war in China Global conflict began with Japanese invasion of Manchuria, 1931 League of Nations?condemned action; Japan simply withdrew from league 1937, Japan launched full-scale invasion of China The Rape of Nanjing characterized war waged against civilians Aerial bombing of Shanghai In Nanjing, widespread rape and slaughter Chinese resistance movement Nationalists and communists formed "united front" against Japanese Unable to effectively work together, they conducted guerilla attacks Communists gained popular support throughout war Japan's Triple Pact with Germany and Italy, 1940; neutrality pact with Soviet Union, 1941 Italian and German aggression