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Mussolini takes power
Mussolini was a fascist leader. He did not support Italy’s entrance in the First World War and disagreed with the Treaty of Versailles. He was a skilled speaker and encouraged violence against Communists and Socialist. He eventually allied with Hitler in entering the Second World War -
Stalin comes to power in Russia
Stalin made an agreement with Hitler that the Soviet Union would stay out of Germanys way if they didn’t not attack the Soviet Union. When this agreement was made it gave Hitler control over the world and boosted his confidence. Although he feared Hitler, Stalin thought the deal would give them security. -
The U.S. stock market crash
When the stock march crashed in the US it affected the whole world. Tariffs were being put on foreign goods so Americans would by American products, but this caused people to lose their jobs overseas. The US also called in all there loans from the First World War. This again made it hard for the citizens of these other countries to keep their jobs. This created a tension between all nations involved. -
Japan invades Manchuria
The Japanese Army invaded Manchuria, without the approval of its government, for the land and resources that the Japanese needed. After the government ordered the army to stop, they simple refused the order. This showed the weakness of Japans government and the strength of this new found nationalism. The military continued to gain influence on the government. When the League of Nations criticized the invasion Japan withdrew, showing the powerlessness of the League of Nations. -
FDR is elected president
FDR was very helpful during WWII. He was responsible for getting US troops overseas to defeat Hitler, he also helped plan the Normandy invasion. He also helped the allies get the supplies they needed to defeat Hitler. -
Hitler is named chancellor of Germany
When Hitler was put in charge he could finally put all of his ideas into action. He was given control of everything, but he wanted more. He wanted the world to be his. -
The U.S. passes the Neutrality Act
This act bans travel on aggressive ships, forbids the arming of American merchant ships trading with belligerents, and issues an arms restriction with warring nations. -
Italy invades Ethiopia
Ethiopia defeated Italy in the late 1800s in a battle over the establishment of colonies, which left many Italians still bitter. Mussolini used a border dispute between Ethiopia as the reason for the invasion. Italy came in strong and Ethiopia was unable to resist them. This invasion again shows the weakness of the League of Nations because when the Ethiopian emperor asked them for help, they could do nothing. -
Germany remilitarizes the Rhineland
In the Treaty of Versailles it stated that German troops must stay out of the Rhine River area to protect France from Germany. When Hitler broke the treaty, he claimed that a recent military agreement with the Soviet Union threatened Germany. This surprised France because there was no reason for military action against Germany. Hitler and the German troops remained in the Rhineland as he grew more powerful. -
Civil war erupts in Spain
The political conflict between Communists and Fascists, Nationalists led to the Spanish Civil War. This war gained attention from around the world. Many countries joined in the fight to help the side they were trying to support. It was eventually won by the fascists, leaving them under dictator rule. -
Anschluss
Hitler tried to get Austria to unite with Germany, or Anschluss, but the Austrian government refused the unity. This angered Hitler so he sent his troops into Austria, again breaking the Treaty of Versailles. Although Germany’s neighbors protested this they didn’t take any further actions to stop him, making him confident that no one could, or would try to stop him. -
The Munich Conference
A Conference between Germany, Britain and France, in which they all agreed to keep a peace, or at least Britain and France did. This took place after Germany took over the Sudetenland and Britain and France wanted to stop Hitler before he went any farther. They ensured people that everything was at peace now when in reality there was a great war on the horizon. -
Germany occupies the Sudetenland
Hitler got the Germans in the Sudetenland to protest Czechoslovakian rule, in which he would follow up with a threat of military attack. To end the crisis the British prime minister and the French premier met with Hitler to try and avoid war. Czechoslovakia was not present at the conference, and had no say, so they were outraged when they found out Britain and France allowed Hitler to annex the Sudetenland. They said it was create peace, when in reality there was about to be a war. -
Kristallnachte
Kristallnachte is also known as the night of broken glass. Thousands of Jewish businesses were ransacked along with nearly 200 synagogues that were set on fire. Also almost 100 Jews were sent to concentration camps. -
The Nazi-Soviet Pact
Stalin agreed to stay out of Hitler’s way as long as Germany didn’t attack the Soviet Union. This shocked much of Europe because they hoped that Stalin would back them up if Germany were to attack them. Stalin feared Hitler so this gave him a sense of security. This also added to Hitler’s growing confidence and power over the world. -
Germany invades Poland
As an excuse for the invasion Hitler dressed up a German in Polish military clothing and had him killed at the German-Polish border. Hitler claimed this as an attack by Poland and immediately launched his invasion. Germany used the blitzkrieg tactic to demolish Poland. The Polish fought long and hard but they were no match to the German army. -
The “Phony War”
The Phony War is also known as the sitzkrieg. The Germans did not attack much to the Allies surprise. Germany was actually planning an attack on France and Belgium through the Ardennes Forrest. Since the forest was so thick the French wouldn’t think to defend it and put their defense somewhere else. -
Churchill is elected prime minister of England
He knew that Hitler was not to be trusted from the start. He was an inspiring speaker and was able to encourage the British troops after France surrendered and they were left to fight for themselves. He refused a peace agreement with Hitler. -
Miracle at Dunkirk
Germans had trapped thousands of Allied soldiers at the French port of Dunkirk. To save them, Allied ships and civilian boats picked them off the shore bring them back to safety. This was able to happen because of the British defense. -
France surrenders
The German troops overwhelmed the unprepared French, shattering French defense lines on their way to Paris. France surrendered, giving Hitler complete control over the country. -
The Battle of Britain
Germany tried to take down the British Royal Air Force, but for the first time failed. Great Britain was able to create a great amount of damage to the German planes by using radar, new technology that uses radio waves to detect on-coming planes. When thousands of citizens were being killed by the bombs Germany was throwing over them, Churchill kept their spirits high. Britain won, and Hitler had to call off any plans for future invasion. -
Japan seizes French Indo-China
When Japan took over French Indo-China, it threatened American and British interest in the land. Roosevelt punished Japan economically by denying access to oil supple. This greatly threatened Japans future. The pressure from the Japanese minister of war, Hideki Tojo, forced their government resign, ending the compromise with Japan. -
The Lend-Lease Act
The U.S. lent Great Britain and the Soviet Union arms to use in the war that they can pay for after the war is over. -
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor
Japanese planes attacked American bases at Pearl Harbor, destroying U.S. aircrafts and naval vessels. Along with all of that this attack killed more than 2,000 service men and nearly 70 citizens. -
The Atlantic Charter
Roosevelt and Churchill met secretly off the coast of Canada to talk about the Atlantic Charter. It was an agreement that proclaimed the shared goals of Britain and the United States to oppose Hitler and his allies.
