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Period: to
The Steps to War
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Mukden Incident
On September 18th 1931 some dynamite was detonated by Lt.Kawamoto Suemori close to a railroad owned by Japan's South Manchuria Railway near Mukden, The Japanese accused the Chinese and invaded Manchuria -
Japan Conquers Manchuria
The day after the Mukden Incident, Japan invades Manchuria, which is just north of Korea. It resulted in 500 Chinese lives lost, and 2 Japanese lives lost. Japan had many economical problems and was over populated. The league of Nations takes no action against the Japanese aggression. -
Germany Rearms
Hitler became the Chancellor of Germany and he begins to expand the German army and air forces much beyond the limit set out in the Treaty of Versailles. The German military slogan is, "Today Germany. Tomorrow the world!" -
Mussolini Invades Ethiopia
Italy invades Ethiopia in Africa to expand its territory and to obtain the region's rich oil resources. The aim of invading Ethiopia was to boost Italian national prestige, which was wounded by Ethiopia's defeat of italian forces at the Battle of Adowa in the nineteenth century -
Hitler Occupies the Rhineland
German troops invaded the Rhineland, even though the Treaty of Versailles stated that German troops were forbidden from moving within 50 kilometers of the Rhine River. No one stops the German army -
Germany Aneexes Austria
Nazi soldiers seige the Austrian government by force and unity, without a single shot being fired, other nations were worried about starting another war, therefore they make no action to stop Hitler's advance. -
Munich Agreement is Signed
Britain and France meet with hitler and sign the Munich Agreement. They allowed Germany to have Sudentenlan because they believe it will prevent the war. -
Rome-Berlin Axis Pact is Signed
Hilter signs a pact with Mussolini. Mussolini allows Hitler to take Austria and other territories in the central-northern Europe. Hitler promises to let Mussolini take over southern Europe. In 1940 Japan joins the alliance, These countries are known as the Axis Powers. -
Hitler Occupies Czechoslovakia
Hitler had claimed the Sudetenland was his last demand for territory, but nazi troops occupy all of Czechoslovakia on March 16 1939 -
Germany and Soviet Union Sigh Non-agression Pact
Germany signs a pact with the Soviet Union, promising that the two countries will not fight with each other in the event of a war. They also secretly divide Poland between them. Hitler is now able to plan his moves against France and Britain in the west. He realized Germany having to split their army in the first world war was a big factor to why Germany had lost the war so he decided not to let that happen again. -
Hitler Invades Poland
Hilter demanded that the Polish Corridor that was awarded back to Poland after the Treaty of Versailles be handed back to Germany. Poland refuses and the Nazis launch a Lightning war on Poland. Poland falls to the Nazi attack -
Britain and France Declare War
Britain and France realized that there can be no more appeasement. They declare war on Germany -
Canada Declares War on Germany
