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Mussolini’s March on Rome – Outcome
Benito Mussolini and his Fascist Party staged a coup by marching to Rome, which pressured King Victor Emmanuel III to appoint Mussolini as Prime Minister of Italy. This marked the start of fascist rule in Italy. -
Hitler Writes Mein Kampf
Adolf Hitler authored Mein Kampf while imprisoned for a failed coup. In it, he outlined his ideology, including anti-Semitism, Aryan supremacy, and expansionism. The book became a manifesto for Nazi beliefs. -
Japan Invades Manchuria – Why?
Japan invaded Manchuria to secure natural resources and expand its empire. The attack marked the beginning of aggressive Japanese imperialism and defiance of the League of Nations. -
Holodomor Begins – Why?
The Soviet Union, under Stalin, imposed grain requisitions and collectivization policies that led to a man-made famine in Ukraine, killing millions. It aimed to suppress Ukrainian nationalism and resistance. -
Hitler Appointed Chancellor of Germany
President Paul von Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor, believing he could be controlled. This decision gave Hitler legitimate power and led to the dismantling of the Weimar Republic. -
“Night of the Long Knives” – Purpose
Hitler ordered a purge of the SA (Stormtroopers) and political rivals to consolidate power and reassure the military. This helped secure his dictatorship. -
Nuremberg Laws Enacted – What Were They?
The Nuremberg Laws institutionalized racial discrimination, defining who was considered Jewish and stripping Jews of German citizenship and rights. -
The Great Purge Begins
Joseph Stalin initiated the Great Purge to eliminate dissent within the Communist Party, resulting in mass arrests, executions, and the establishment of a climate of fear in the Soviet Union. -
The Rape of Nanking
Japanese troops committed mass atrocities in Nanking, China, killing an estimated 300,000 civilians and prisoners of war. This event shocked the world and remains one of WWII’s worst war crimes. -
Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass)
Nazi-led mobs attacked Jewish businesses, synagogues, and homes across Germany and Austria. This pogrom marked a significant escalation in Nazi anti-Jewish policy.