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Events Leading to WWII

  • WWI Ends

    WWI Ends
    An armistice between the Allied powers and Germany was signed on this day, signaling the end of World War 1. Along with accepting defeat, the Germans had to cease all fighting, withdraw all German troops to behind their own borders, exchange prisoners, pay reparations, and give warships and submarines to the Allied powers.
  • Low economic growth, mass unemployment and high inflation

    Low economic growth, mass unemployment and high inflation
    This occurred as a result of the treaty of Versailles and continued for many years. All of these things contributed to the support of extremist parties in Germany in the future.
  • Period: to

    Events leading up to WW2

  • Hitler goes to German Workers party

    On this date, Hitelr went to a meeting of the Germany Workers party and joined. During these meetings, Hitler began to think in a very extremist way due to the speeches he listened to while in this group.
  • Allies present final reparation bill

    Allies present final reparation bill
    The Allies presented Germany with a final reparation bill of 132 billion marks. They also told Germany that if they failed to pay the reparations, they would be invaded.
  • Monthly Average Circulation of Reichsbank Notes

    Monthly Average Circulation of Reichsbank Notes
    1,984 milliard marks (1,984,000,000,000)
  • Inflation begins to occur

    Inflation begins to occur
    Inflation began to get out of control during the summer of 1923. After the war, Germany experienced deficit spending. To pay for the reparations, they printed money like crazy. As a result, they experienced an enormous amount of inflation, widespread hunger and malnutrition, and they wiped out the middle class.
  • Monthly Average Circulation of Reichsbank Notes

    Monthly Average Circulation of Reichsbank Notes
    17,291 Milliard Marks (17,291,000,000,000)
  • Beer Hall Putsch

    Beer Hall Putsch
    This is Hitler's first attempt to overthrow the government. He attempts to overthrow the government of Munich, Bavaria, and the rest of Germany. He starts revolts and then stages a march to Berlin. Some of his men are killed, and Hitler is wounded and captured. As a consequence, he is sent to prison for 9 months where he helps to write Mein Kampf.
  • Average Monthly Circulation of Reichsbank Notes

    Average Monthly Circulation of Reichsbank Notes
    Milliard Marks 496,500,000,000 (496,500,000,000,000,000,000)
  • U.S. Stock Market Crashes

    U.S. Stock Market Crashes
    When Wall Street crashed, the United States gave Germany 90 days to repay the debts they owed. Companies throughout Germany went bankrupt and workers were layed off in the millions. Inflation was completely out of hand at this point.
  • Hitler Named Chancellor

    Hitler Named Chancellor
    Hitler was offered Chancellorship by Hindenburg. This meant that Hitler was the legal head of the government, and the only person who had more power than him was HIndenburg, who would pass away shortly after. This was the begin of Nazi Germany.
  • Reichstag Fire

    Reichstag Fire
    This was an arson attack on the Reichstag building. Though many people believe it was caused the Hitler and the Nazis, Hitler blamed the Communists in an attempt to gain even more power and acceptance from the people. After this event, Hitler got the emergency decree, which limited free speech and press. He also passed the enabling act, which suspended the constitution and let him rule by decree.
  • Reichstag Fire Decree

    Reichstag Fire Decree
    Allowed German government to ignore all and any rights of the German people for the protection of the country.
  • Enabling Act of 1933

    Enabling Act of 1933
    Allowed government to pass laws without parlamentary consent.
  • The Nazis were put in charge of the government

    On this date, Nazi officials were put in charge of all local governments in the provinces of Germany.
  • New laws in favor of Nazi party

    On this date, a law was passed making it illegal to form a new political party. It also made the Nazi party the only legal political party in Germany. This made it so that the Nazi party had no opposition whatsoever. They had complete control of the entire country of Germany.
  • Germany Rearmament

    Germany Rearmament
    Germany disobeys the the treaty of versailles and begins to rearm.
  • Germany Reoccupies the Rhineland

    Germany Reoccupies the Rhineland
    Germany disobeys the treay of versailles once again and reocuppies the Rhineland.
  • Germany invades Poland

    Germany invades Poland
    Germany invaded Poland, officailly marking the beginning of World War 2.