1920-1945 Timeline: The Great Depression and WWII

  • Hitler Takes Office- Political

    Adolf Hitler became the leader of the National Socialist Party, or the Nazis.
  • Benito Mussolini- Political

    Mussolini founded the Italian Fascist Party in 1922. The party marched in Rome and established him as leader.
  • Mein Kampf- Social

    Hitler publishes his autobiography, "Mein Kampf", or My Struggle. It summarized his ideology and hatred towards the Jews,
  • Black Tuesday- Economic

    The stock market crashed on this day, and it was a major cause of the Great Depression.
  • FDR Appointed President- Political

    Frankling Delano Roosevelt was elected on this date and greatly reduced the economic problems in the US.
  • New Deal- Economic

    FDR established the New Deal Program as a result of the Great Depression. It introduced employee benefits and greatly improved the economy.
  • First Concentration Camp- Technological

    The first Nazi concentration camp was opened up Oranienburg outside of Berlin, Germany.
  • Hitler Becomes The Fuhrer- Political

    Hitler was appointed as the Fuhrer of Germany on this date, giving him absolute power.
  • Nanking Massacre- Social

    Japan invaded Nanking, China on this date. 200,000-300,000 people were brutally murdered and raped.
  • Kristallnacht- Social

    German Nazis stormed Jewish owned businesses and killed many people on the night referred to as the Night of Broken Glass.
  • WWII Starts- Military

    Germany invades Poland, commencing World War II.
  • Attack on Pearl Harbor- Military

    Pearl Harbor, a naval base in Hawaii is attacked. US declares war on Japan.
  • Battle of Coral Sea- Military

    This battle was one of the major naval battles of World War II. It was fought between the Japanase naval and air forces and the United States and Austrialian forces.
  • Battle of Midway- Military

    The Battle of Midway was one of the most important naval battles of World War II. The United States Navy decisively defeated an Imperial Japanese Navy attack against Midway Attoll.
  • Germany's Surrender- Military

    German troops were forced to surrender as a result of Russia's victory.
  • Tehran- Social

    The meeting in Tehran discussed the future of WWII. There was an agreement to split Germany into 4 parts and divide them among the allied powers.
  • D-Day Invasion- Military

    The day Western Allied forces (Canadian and American forces) invaded Normandy, France. The largest amphibious invasion that ever took place.
  • Yalta- Political

    FDR pledged that he was to assist post-war Europe in the creation of Democratic governments. Germany was also said to pay for all reparations.
  • End of WWII- Diplomatic

    After being bombed by the US, Japan surrenders to us, bringing an end to the war.
  • Nuremberg Trials- Social

    The Nuremberg Trials were trials held for Nazi war criminals. 23 officials were executed.