Causes of World War II: the road to war in Europe

By stephaniehill

  • Hitler declarded that Germany had an air force

    Hitler announced that Germany had an air force and was reintroducing conscription.

  • Italy joined Britain and France

    Italy joined Britain and France in protesting against German rearmament in defiance of the Treaty of Versailles.

  • Anglo- German Navel Agreement

    The Anglo- German Navel Agreement allowed Germany a navy 35 per cent the size of Britain's Royal Navy.

  • Mussolini odered Italian military attacks on Abyssinia

    The Italian military used poisonous gases and extreamly brutal tactics to overcome the poorly armed Abyssinians.

  • The League voted for the withdrawal of the Italian forces.

    The League of nations voted for economic sanctions (no arms sales to Italy and a ban on importing Italian goods) to force Italian withdrawal.

  • Britain & France made a secret agreement

    In late December, Britain and France made a secret agreement to hand over part of Abyssinia to Italy.

  • Britain and France failed to act

    In March 1936, Britain and France failed to act when Hitler marched 20 000 troops into the demilitarised Rhineland.

  • Addis Ababa was captured

    This is when the Italian military forces captured the capital, Addis Ababa.

  • Hassbach Conference

    This is where Hitler told his generals to prepare for a major war in the mid 1940's.

  • Hitler encouraged Germans to cause unrest

    From March 1938, Hitler encoraged Sudeten Germans to cause unrest.

  • German army invaded Austria

    German army invaded Austria and recieved a warm welcome. Germany then annexed Austria. In April, Britain recongised the enlarged Germany.

  • Munich ConferenceMunich Conference

    At the Munich Conference, after Hitler preparded for war, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlin agreeed to Hitler's demand for immediate control of the Sudetenland.

  • Breach of the Munich Agreement

    In March, 1939, in breach of the Munich Agreement, Hitler invaded and dismembered what remained of Czechoslovakia.

  • Hitler demanded territory

    This date is when Hitler demanded territory from Lithuania and Poland at the end of March 1939, Britain and France gave garantees to Poland of aid against aggression.

  • Pact of Steel signed

    In May 1939, Germany and Italy signed the Pact of Steel, promising military support if either of them was at war.

  • The German invasion of Poland began

  • German invations of Poland began

    This is when Britain responded by declaring war on Germany on 3rd of September.

  • Britain declard war on Germany

    Britain responded by declaring war on Germany on the 3rd of September, 1939. Hitler was surprised that this invasion provoked Britain and France into declaring war. He had wanted a war of conquest in eastern Europe. Instead he had provoked a war with the western European powers.