Events That Preceded World War II

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    Hyperinflation In Germany

    French and Belgian troops occupied the Ruhr, the industrial region of Germany in the Ruhr valley, to ensure reparations payments. Inflation was exacerbated when workers in the Ruhr went on a general strike and the German government printed more money to continue paying.
  • Mussolini named prime minister of Italy

    Mussolini named prime minister of Italy
    Mussolini was given the head seat of power. He was driven by the idea of creating "New Rome". More Info
  • Japan Invades Eastern China

    Japan Invades Eastern China
    Japan invaded Manchuria. Japan then occupied this region until the end of WWII.
  • The Manchurian Incident

    A section of Japanese owned railway was destroyed in China. The Japanese blamed China for the explosion, but many speculate that the Japanese did it for an excuse to invade.
  • Hitler becomes the Chancellor of Germany

    Hitler becomes the Chancellor of Germany
    The People Of Germany were still angry over the bitter defeat of WWI. Hitler told them he knew how to make Germany into the greatest nation in the world. More Info
  • Japan withdraws from the League of Nations

    The League of Nations had received reports blaming Japan for the events in Manchuria. Japan decided to leave when the league voted for Japan to withdraw it's troops from China.
  • U.S. Passes Neutrality Acts

    U.S. Passes Neutrality Acts
    Congress passed the first Neutrality Act prohibiting the export of “arms, ammunition, and implements of war” from the United States to foreign nations at war and requiring arms manufacturers in the United States to apply for an export license. Learn More
  • Hitler Sends Troops Into Rhineland

    Hitler Sends Troops Into Rhineland
    Hitler violates the Treaty of Versailles and Locarno Pact by sending military forces into western Germany.
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    The Spanish Civil War

    The War was a struggle between Liberals and Republicans, Republicans won.
  • Anschluss

    Anschluss
    Austria was annexed into German territory. More Info
  • Munich Conference

    Munich Conference
    Britain and France gave into Hitler's requests to annex Sudetenland.
  • Kristallnacht

    Kristallnacht
    Nazis in Germany torched synagogues, vandalized Jewish homes, schools and businesses and killed close to 100 Jews.
  • Germany Takes The Rest Of Czedchoslovakia

    Germany Takes The Rest Of Czedchoslovakia
    During a meeting with Czech President Emil Hacha, Hitler threatened a bombing raid against Prague, unless he obtained from Hacha free passage for German troops into Czech borders. That same day, German troops poured into Bohemia and Moravia. The two provinces offered no resistance, and they were quickly made a protectorate of Germany
  • Germany Invades Poland

    Germany Invades Poland
    The Polish army fell within weeks of the invasion from both Russia and Germany. Warsaw Radio
  • Tripartite

    Tripartite
    The Axis Powers are created. Germany, Italy, and Japan join together as allies.