To compare the situations leading up to the invasions of China and Poland, we need to consider the context of each invasion:
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Preparedness to Fight:
- China had a long-standing military tradition and pushed back against Japanese advances, but was internally weakened due to civil conflict (e.g., the Chinese Civil War) and corruption.
- Poland, facing the German invasion in 1939, was better prepared than often thought but was ultimately overwhelmed by the swift campaign of Blitzkrieg tactics employed by Germany, particularly when it was combined with the Soviet invasion from the east.
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Prior Wars:
- Japan had been involved in wars and conflicts in Asia, such as the Second Sino-Japanese War that began in 1937, paving the way for further aggression against China.
- Germany, under the Nazi regime, had aggressively expanded into Austria and Czechoslovakia before invading Poland.
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Previous Invasions:
- Japan had invaded Manchuria in 1931 and established a puppet state, which was part of the lead-up to the deeper invasion of China.
- Germany’s annexation of territories in the late 1930s set a precedent and emboldened its military actions leading up to the invasion of Poland.
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Foreign Aid:
- China received some international support against Japanese aggression, including military aid from the Soviet Union and the U.S. before entering World War II.
- Poland also had alliances with France and the UK, which promised assistance against German aggression, but this aid was limited and ineffective in preventing the invasion.
Based on these evaluations, the most relevant and accurate comparison statement is:
"Japan and Germany invaded other countries before invading China and Poland."
This highlights the context of prior militaristic actions that set the stage for the invasions of both countries.