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Mussolini's March on Rome - The outcome
The March on Rome, which took place in late October 1922, was a planned mass demonstration by the Fascist Party that resulted in Benito Mussolini's National Fascist Party ascending to power in Italy. On October 28th, Fascist demonstrators and Blackshirts (paramilitaries) marched towards Rome. Prime Minister Luigi Facta wanted to declare a state of siege, but King Victor Emmanuel III, fearing bloodshed, persuaded Facta to resign instead. -
Hitler writes Mein Kampf
Mein Kampf is an autobiographical book by Adolf Hitler, published in 1925. It outlines his political ideology, ambitions for Germany, and expresses his personal views. This book is widely considered to be a foundational text of Nazism. -
Japan invades Manchuria – why?
Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931, primarily driven by a desire for natural resources and "living space" to support its rapidly growing population and expanding industries. -
Holodomor begins- why?
The Holodomor, a devastating famine in Soviet Ukraine from 1932 to 1933, was primarily caused by the forced collectivization of agriculture and grain requisition policies implemented under Joseph Stalin's regime. -
Hitler appointed chancellor of Germany
On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany by President Paul von Hindenburg. This event marked a pivotal moment in German history, paving the way for the establishment of the Nazi dictatorship. -
“Night of the Long Knives” in Germany - purpose
The Night of the Long Knives was a purge orchestrated by Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany from June 30 to July 2, 1934. Its primary purpose was to consolidate Hitler's power and eliminate potential rivals within the Nazi party and the government. -
Nuremburg Laws enacted - what were they?
The Nuremberg Laws were antisemitic and racist laws enacted in Nazi Germany on September 15, 1935, at a special meeting of the Reichstag during the annual Nuremberg Rally of the Nazi Party. -
The Great Purge begins
The "Great Purge," also known as the "Great Terror," was a period of large-scale repression in the Soviet Union from 1936 to 1938. It involved the systematic removal of perceived political opponents, including members of the Communist Party, government officials, and Red Army leadership, through imprisonment and execution. -
The Rape of Nanking
The Rape of Nanking, also known as the Nanjing Massacre, was a horrific period of mass killings and atrocities committed by the Imperial Japanese Army against the residents of Nanjing (then Nanking), China, in late 1937 and early 1938. In addition to killings and rapes, Japanese soldiers engaged in widespread looting, arson, and other forms of torture and violence against the Chinese population. -
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht, also known as the "Night of Broken Glass," was a pogrom (a violent riot aimed at the massacre or persecution of an ethnic or religious group, particularly one aimed at Jews) that took place in Germany and German-annexed territories on November 9 and 10, 1938. It marked a significant escalation in the Nazi persecution of Jews, transitioning from discriminatory policies to widespread violence and destruction.