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General elections in Italy
General elections in Italy. 35 seats went to Fascists (PNF), 108 to Catholic Party, 138 to Socialists and Communists. Giolitti’s National Bloc coalition is defeated by the Socialists, with Ivanoe Bonomi appointed Prime Minister. Mussolini wins election to the Chamber of Deputies for the PNF party. -
The Treaty of Rapallo
The Treaty of Rapallo signed between Germany and the USSR which restored diplomatic and economic relations. -
French and Belgian troops occupy the Ruhr
French and Belgian troops occupy the Ruhr after Germany failed to pay its reparations bill in 1922. In response, the German government ordered a campaign of passive resistance. This required the government to continue to pay striking workers by printing money. This exacerbated already high levels of inflation with the German mark, creating hyperinflation which caused the mark to plummet in value, wiping out savings and pensions, particular amongst the middle classes. -
The Corfu Affair
The Corfu Affair occurs as Italy invades Corfu after an Italian official was killed on the Greek border with Albania. The League condemns the actions and Mussolini agrees to withdraw due to British threats but secures payment of 50 million lire of compensation from the Greek government. Mussolini’s reputation is enhanced. -
The Treaty of Rome
The Treaty of Rome with Yugoslavia gives Italy the port of Fiume. This emboldens Mussolini to further incite Croatian nationalism within Yugoslavia. -
The Locarno Pact
Mussolini demonstrates his commitment to the European status quo by signing the Locarno Treaties which confirmed Germany’s Western borders. This ushered in a new period of cooperation known as the ‘Locarno Spirit’. -
Germany joins the League of Nations
Germany, under the Chancellorship of Wilhelm Marx and Foreign Minister Gustav Stresemann, joins the League of Nations. -
The Pact of Friendship and Security
The Pact of Friendship and Security between Italy and Albania, with Albania becoming a de jure protectorate of Italy. -
Mussolini encourages Croatian separatists
Mussolini encourages Croatian separatists led by Ante Pavelic who wantedto break away from the newly created state of Yugoslavia. The angered Yugoslavia into signing a secret military pact with France on 11 November. -
The Italo-Ethiopian Treaty of Friendship
The Italo-Ethiopian Treaty of Friendship with Abyssinia is signed, increasing economic links and promising to refer all future disagreements to the League of Nations. -
Kellogg-Briand Pact
Germany and Italy sign the Kellogg-Briand Pact, committing member states to renounce the use of war and the called for the peaceful resolution of disputes. -
Mussolini encourages Macedonian separatists in Yugoslavia
Mussolini encourages Macedonian separatists in Yugoslavia, supporting the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation (IMRO) in a campaign of assassinations against Yugoslav officials, culminating in the assassination of King Alexander I of Yugoslavia in 1934. -
Federal Election
In the Federal Election, the Nazi Party gains 18.3% of the vote in the Reichstag elections, winning 6 million votes and increasing their seats in the Reichstag from 12 to 107. The Social Democratic Party remained the largest party with 143 seats. -
The lstituto Mobiliare Italiano
The lstituto Mobiliare Italiano created in Italy to give financial
support to banks and industries. Also brought allocation of raw materials under government control and increased nationalisations of key industries. -
Presidential Elections in Germany
The Presidential Elections in Germany as Hitler loses against General Paul Von Hindenburg but won 11 million votes (30%) in the first round of voting and 13 million votes (36%) in the second round. This rise in popularity encouraged the belief amongst conservatives that Hitler could be used by the elites as a means to restore order. -
Hitler is appointed Chancellor of Germany
With the NSDAP gaining three seats in the new cabinet: Hitler as Chancellor; Wilhelm Frick as Minister of the Interior; and Hermann Goring as Minister of the Interior for Prussia. -
Mussolini proposes the Four Power Pact
The Four-Power Pact (Quadripartite Pact) signed in Rome between Italy, France, Germany and Britain. Under Mussolini’s influence, the Pact was designed to increase the role of ‘Great Powers’ in international diplomacy at the expense of smaller powers and was heralded as a success for Mussolini. -
A 10-Year Non-Aggression Pact between Germany and Poland signed
The Pact broke the French diplomatic encirclement of Germany by drawing Poland away from its 1921 alliance with France. The Pact also strengthened the British view of Hitler as a sensible international statesman. -
Mussolini meets Hitler in Venice
As his plane put down in Venice on 14 June 1934, Adolf Hitler felt himself at a decided disadvantage. Still new to dictatorship, he had not foreseen that his brown gabardine and limp fedora would be overshadowed by the snappy attire of the commander-in-chief of the Italian Fascist militia. Then there were the facts that Mussolini spoke German, while he himself did not know Italian, and that this was foreign territory. -
The Final Declaration of the Stresa Conference
Is signed between Italy, France and Britain, aiming to reaffirm the Locarno Treaties and confirm Austrian independence. It was designed as a warning to Hitler. The ‘Stresa Front’ agreed to prevent any future changes to the post-war European settlement. -
Italy invades Abyssinia
Italy invades Abyssinia with over 500,000 troops and support soldiers -
League imposes limited sanctions on Italy
League imposes limited sanctions on Italy but were ineffective as they did not include the sale of oil, nor did it close the Suez Canal to Italian shipping. -
Mussolni talks with the German Ambassador
Mussolini informs the German ambassador, Ulrich von Hassell, that he no longer objects to Anschluss, marking a turning point in Italo -German relations. -
German troops into Rhineland
German troops march into the Rhineland whilst Britain and France do nothing to stop him. This move is accompanied by a peace offer by Hitler. -
Italy conquers Abyssinia
With the capture of Addis Ababa. Emperor Haile Selassie fled to Britain. Abyssinia became part of Italian East Africa with Eritrea and Somaliland. The invasion came at a high price as the budget deficit rose to 16 billion lire, along with the cost of maintaining 250,000 troops. -
Italy and Germany intervene in the Spanish Civil War
Italy and Germany intervene in the Spanish Civil War with Italy sending over 70,000 troops to support General Franco, drawing Italy and Germany into closer collaboration. -
The Axis Treaty
The Rome-Berlin Axis Treaty signed by Italian foreign minister Galeazzo Ciano and German foreign minister Konstantin von Neurath. -
Neville Chamberlain becomes Prime Minister of Britain
Neville Chamberlain becomes Prime Minister of Britain, seeking a more conciliatory approach to Germany that would become known as appeasement. -
Italy joins the Anti-Comintern Pact
Italy joins the Anti-Comintern Pact with Germany and Japan, an
anti-Soviet alliance. -
Italy out of the League of Nations
Italy withdraws from the League of Nations. -
Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg pressured by Hitler
Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg pressured by Hitler into signing an ultimatum. He returns to Austria and on 9 March announces a plebiscite on independence scheduled for 13 March. -
Hitler invades Austria to enforce Anschluss
Hitler invades Austria to enforce Anschluss which is announced on the 13 March by Hitler after visiting his hometown of Linz. The Austrian army was ordered not to resist. Austria became the pro -
The Karlsbad Programme is presented to the Czech government
The Karlsbad Programme is presented to the Czech government by Sudeten German Party leader Konrad Heinlein. It consisted of eight demands including autonomy and special rights for the Sudeten Germans. -
The May Crisis
The May Crisis occurs as rumours of German military preparations on the Czech border begin to circulate. As a result, the Czech government ordered a partial mobilisation of forces, with Britain and France sending warning to Hitler. Hitler was forced to deny the rumours, making it appear that he had backed down to French and British threats. -
Czech President Benes submitted the Fourth Plan
With violence increasing in the Sudeten region, Czech President Benes submitted the Fourth Plan, agreeing to all the demands of the Sudeten Germans for autonomy. Hitler told Heinlein to reject this proposal, deciding upon war instead. -
The Berchtesgaden Meeting
The Berchtesgaden Meeting occurs as British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain meets with Hitler to discuss the Sudeten issue. It is agreed to transfer the Sudetenland to Germany in return for peace. -
The Godesberg Memorandum
The Godesberg Memorandum is issued by Hitler insisting that Hungarian and Polish demands for Czech land are also met and that German troops can occupy the Sudetenland by 28 September. The Czechs and French reject the demands. War seems likely. -
The Munich Conference
The Munich Conference occurs Mussolini, Hitler, Chamberlain and Daladier meet and sign the Munich Agreement. Sudetenland would be given to Germany on 1 October, Poland to be given Teschen, Hungary given South Slovakia, and all powers would guarantee the independence of Czechoslovakia. Without any input, Czech President Edvard Benes was forced to resign. War is averted. -
Mussolini announces his long-term program
Mussolini announces his long-term programme of breaking out of the
‘prison’ of the Mediterranean to the Fascist Grand Council. -
Hitler invades the rest of Czechoslovakia
Hitler invades the rest of Czechoslovakia, breaking the Munich Agreement and going beyond simple treaty revision. Mussolini was not consulted. Slovakia was made an independent state, whilst Bohemia and Moravia were declared a protectorate of Germany. -
British policy towards Germany changes
British policy towards Germany changes, with Chamberlain
announcing that no reliance can be placed on any assurances by Nazi leaders -
Hitler declares agreements null
Hitler declares the Anglo-German Naval Agreement and Polish-German Non-Aggression Pact of 1934 to be null and void. Planning for ‘Operation White’, the Nazi attack on Poland begins. -
Italy invades its protectorate of Albania
Italy invades its protectorate of Albania in a show of strength in an effort to intimidate Yugoslavia. Over 100,000 troops and 600 aircraft are used. King Zog fled to Greece and Tirana was captured on 8 April. On 12 April, the Albanian parliament deposed King Zog and voted to unite with Italy in ‘personal union’. -
Italy and Germany sign the Pact of Steel
Italy and Germany sign the Pact of Friendship and Alliance or Pact of Steel military alliance. Its secret protocols were aimed towards a union of military policies against Britain and France. -
The Nazi-Soviet Pact is signed between Germany and the USSR
The Nazi-Soviet Pact is signed between Germany and the USSR. Italy was only informed two days before the Pact. Each pledged to remain neutral in the event of either nation being attacked by a third party. Its secret protocols divided Northern and Eastern Europe into German and Soviet spheres of influence. Poland was divided between the two. -
Start of the European War
Germany invades Poland at 4.45am, starting the European War and Italy declares itself a non-belligerent. -
Mussolini declares war
Mussolini declares war on Britain and France. -
The US Lend-Lease Act
The US Lend-Lease Act launched a programme for supplying Britain and other allies with ‘surplus’ armaments in return for bases. Over $50 billion in supplies were given, ending any pretense of neutrality
