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Events Leading Up To World War II

  • Hitler Violates Treaty of Versailles

    Hitler Violates Treaty of Versailles
    In 1935, Hitler violates the Treaty of Versailles by reintroducing the draft and rearming Germany. Hitler thought that the Germans were the superior race and they should not be treated unequally. Therefore, ignores the treaty and rearms the country. This event is important because it shows how Hitler wants to change the treaty so that it statisfies the Germans.
  • United States of America Passes the Neutrality Act

    United States of America Passes the Neutrality Act
    The United States of America passes the Neutrality Act saying that selling arms or lending money to nations at war will be illegal. They did this because they really didn't want to be involved in the war and thought that there is no reason why they should be involved in the war. This is important because later on they realize that they can't be netrual forever.
  • Hitler's Numberg Race Law is Created

    Hitler's Numberg Race Law is Created
    The Numberg Race Laws deprived German Jews of their rights of citizenship, rights of marriage with the pure Germans, and their rights as humans. This event is important because it emphasizes Hitler's belief that pure Germans were the superior race. Therefore, Hitler did not want to ruin the German race. Also, this event foreshadows Hitler's violent actions towards the Jews.
  • Italy attacks Ethiopia

    Italy attacks Ethiopia
    France and Britain were both willing to appease him, in the hope that Italy would offset Germany’s growing power. They offered to allow him to control Ethiopia only if it would remain legally independent. Mussolini refused, but France and Britain still did not substantially oppose him. This showed that the League of Nations and Allies were weak.
  • Hilter's Germany Occupies Rhineland

    Hilter's Germany Occupies Rhineland
    Hitler violates the Treaty of Versailles by reoccupying the demilitarized zone in the Rhineland. This event is important because it notifies everyone that Hitler will do anything even if it is against the Treaty of Versailles. Also, now that this is not his first time violating the Treaty of Versailles. Also, that he probably will invade more countries and will do other things that is against the Treaty.
  • Spanish Civil War Begins

    Spanish Civil War Begins
    On the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, the military leaders immediately asked Germany for help. Adolf Hitler decided to help. This event is significant because the Spanish Civil War was an event for Hitler to practice his tactics, weapns and his army for later wars. Also, by supporting the Spanish, Hitler was able to become closer to Italy who was also supproting the civil war, giving him advantages.
  • Germany and Japan come to an agreement

    Germany and Japan come to an agreement
    Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan come to an agreement by signing the Anti-Comintern Pact directed against the communist movement and the Soviet Union. The pact was one of a series of agreements leading to the formation of the Axis Powers. Ostensibly directed against the Comintern, an association of national communist parties that degenerated under Stalin into an instrument of Soviet politics, the pact contained a secret agreement stating that if either signatory power went to war with the USSR.
  • Marco Polo Bridge Incident

    Marco Polo Bridge Incident
    Marco Polo Bridge Incident is a battle between the Chinese and Japanese armies. Started the Second Sino-Japanese War. The war was the largest Asian war in the twentieth century. It also made up more than 50% of the casualties in the Pacific War.
  • Austria is taken by Germany

    Austria is taken by Germany
    Germany declares an "union" with Austria. However, this union was actually Germany annexing Austria. Austria was very weak, so it couldn't rebel or do anything. This event is important because Germany is starting to increase its territory by invading and taking other countries.
  • British Prime Minister Chamberlain appeases Hitler at Munich

    British Prime Minister Chamberlain appeases Hitler at Munich
    The Munich Agreement is signed by France, Italy, the UK, and Nazi Germany. The purpose of the agreement was to allow the annexation of Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland borders. Hitler’s demands were met, and he gained control of the Sudetenland. However, he promised that he had no further territorial demands in Europe. Chamberlain claimed he had brought “peace with honor".
  • Germany Invades Czechoslovakia

    Germany Invades Czechoslovakia
    Hitler wanted to take over Czechoslovakia because he wanted to provide more living space for the Germans as well as to control its important natural resources. This is an important event because it shows Hitler is consistently invading other countries and taking them over. This again shows that even after the Munich conference Hitler isn't going to keep the promise made.
  • Pact of Steel is Signed

    Pact of Steel is Signed
    The Pact of Steel is signed by Italy and Germany. It is said that this agreement was based on an assumption that there would be a war very shortly. This pact promised and tied the German and Italian economic, military and Foreign policies together. Therefore, this event is important because while Britain and France kept appeasing Germany, Hitler was getting prepared for a war.
  • Nazis and Soviets sign a Pact

    Nazis and Soviets sign a Pact
    The Non-Aggression Pact is signed and the agreement stated that these two countries would not declare war on each other. Also, Hitler persuaded Joseph Stalin to sign this agreement by promising to give half of Poland if Russia helped Germany invade Poland. This was significant because this pact also shows us that Hitler was getting ready to go to war. He was making allies, and getting ready to also invade Poland.
  • Germany Invades Poland

    Germany Invades Poland
    On this day, German forces bombed Poland on land and from the air, as Adolf Hitler seeked to regain lost territories and ultimately rule Poland. This event is significant because this was the final event that cause Britain, France, New Zealand and Australia to declare war on Germany. Also, this event again emphasizes Hitler's continuous invasions.
  • Declaration of War on Germany

    Declaration of War on Germany
    After two days, Britain, France, New Zealand, and Australia declare war on Germany. Britain and France now realized that all their appeasements meant nothing to Germany. Therefore, before Hitler made further invasions, they declared war. This is significant because after the World War I, everybody realized the effects of wars, so therefore, they did not want to go to war in any situation.