Events That Lead to World War II By chewythevikingfan Period: Jan 1, 1919 to Dec 31, 1922 Fascist Party rises to power in Italy Period: Jan 1, 1919 to Dec 31, 1923 Nazi Party rises to power in Germany Period: Jan 1, 1920 to Dec 31, 1929 Japan lacking land and natural resources, becomes land-hungry and looks to establish an empire Period: Jan 1, 1922 to Dec 31, 1922 Mussolini is appointed Prime Minister of Italy Period: Nov 1, 1923 to Nov 30, 1923 Hitler tries to overthrow German government, but fails and is imprisoned Period: Jan 1, 1930 to Dec 31, 1939 Japan's economy worsens as a result of the Great Depression Period: Jan 1, 1931 to Dec 31, 1931 Japan's army seizes Manchuria (northen China Period: Jan 1, 1931 to Dec 31, 1936 Japan's military takes over government Period: Jan 1, 1933 to Jan 31, 1933 Nazi Party is the largest political party in Germany's Reichstag and Hilter becomes head of the German state Period: Jan 1, 1933 to Dec 31, 1937 America passes a series of Neutrality Acts saying that the US would withhold weapons and loans from all nations at war. Period: Oct 1, 1935 to Oct 31, 1935 Mussolini and Italy invade Ethiopia Period: Jan 1, 1936 to Dec 31, 1936 Hitler signs an alliance with Mussolini, forming the Axis Powers Mar 9, 1936 German troops invade the Rhineland Period: Jan 1, 1938 to Dec 31, 1938 FDR moves American Pacific fleet from San Diego to Pearl Harbor Period: Mar 1, 1938 to Mar 31, 1938 Hitler annexes Austria Period: Mar 1, 1938 to Mar 31, 1938 Hitler annexes Austria Period: Sep 1, 1938 to Sep 30, 1938 Hitler demands the Sudetenland; Britain and France agree in the Munich Conference Period: Mar 1, 1939 to Mar 31, 1939 Hitler annexes Czechoslovakia Mar 8, 1939 Britain and France pladge support to Poland in the event that it is invaded by Germany Sep 1, 1939 Hitler invades Poland- Blitzkrieg Sep 3, 1939 France and Great Britain declare war on Germany Period: Jan 1, 1940 to Dec 31, 1940 Japan controls most of Eastern China Period: Jan 1, 1940 to Dec 31, 1940 America First Committee forms to fight for American isolationism Apr 9, 1940 Sitzkrieg ends- Germany attacks Denmark and Norway May 10, 1940 Germany launches blitzkrieg on Belgium Period: Jun 14, 1940 to Jun 17, 1940 German troops enter Paris and France surrenders Period: Sep 1, 1940 to Sep 30, 1940 Japan allies with Germany and Italy- Tripartite Pact Period: Sep 1, 1940 to Sep 30, 1940 Congres authorizes the first peacetime graft in the nations history- Selective Service Act Period: Nov 1, 1940 to Nov 30, 1940 Roosevelt is reelected to a third term Period: Dec 1, 1940 to Dec 31, 1940 Germany begins bombing England/ Battle of Britain Period: Mar 1, 1941 to Mar 31, 1941 Lend Lease Act Period: Apr 1, 1941 to Apr 30, 1941 Japan signs neutrality pact with Soviet Union Period: Apr 12, 1941 to Aug 12, 1941 Japanese forces occupy Indochina; U.S. freezes Japan's American assets and cuts off trade Nov 25, 1941 Japanese fleet begins moving toward Southeast Asia; US demands that Japan withdraw for Tripartite Pact Period: Dec 1, 1941 to Dec 31, 1941 German raids on England end Dec 7, 1941 American military base, Pearl Harbor, is attacked by Japanese warplanes Dec 8, 1941 United States declares war on Japan Dec 11, 1941 Germany and Italy declare war the United States