-
Stalin comes to power
After Lenin's death in 1924 there were two main candidates that could follow him, Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin. Due to Trosky's unpopularity and overly ambitious ideas, Stalin easily overtook Trosky with his popularity and better image, and came to power in Russia. He later made a pact with Germany, which was broken during the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. -
Mussolini takes power in Italy
Benito Mussolini found his country in political and economic chaos. This inspired him to form extremist political parties. He took his party into parliament, and this was the starting of Benito Mussolini's power in Italy. He had won, he was the Prime Minister. -
The U.S. stock market crashes
During this time prices plummeted. Vast amounts of Americans were selling their stocks. Margin calls were sent out. Crowds gathered outside of the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street, stunned at the downturn. This marked the beginning of the greatest depression in American history. The stock market crashing led to an end of optimism for Americans as a devastating result of buying on margin, speculation on the stock market, and difficulties for farmers. -
Japan invades Manchuria
The Japanese Kwangtung Army attacked Chinese troops in Manchuria commonly known as the Manchurian Incident. Ebasically, this was an attempt by the Japanese Empire to gain power over the whole province, in order to eventually encompass all of East Asia. This proved to be one of the causes of World War II. -
FDR is elected president
Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected president in 1932 with his promise of the "New Deal" to restore the nations economy. He spearheaded the successful wartime alliance between Britain, the Soviet Union and the United States and helped lay the groundwork for the post-war peace. -
Hitler is named chancellor of Germany
Hitler is named chancellor, beginning his rise to power. This marked a crucial turning point for Germany. Adolf Hitler’s plan embraced by much of the German population was to do away with politics and make Germany a powerful, unified one-party state. -
Italy invades Ethiopia
It was a brief colonial war (also known as the second Italo-Abyssinian war). Mussolini (leader of Italy) had hopes of annexing Ethiopia into Italy’s newly created colony of East Africa. Although the Italian military was successful in occupying Ethiopia, the Abyssinians did not capitulate or surrender to the Italian forces. Both Italy as well as Ethiopia was members of the League of Nations yet this did not prevent Italy from violating the rights of Ethiopia as well as the League’s articles. -
Germany remilitarizes the Rhineland
Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party seized full power in Germany, promising vengeance against the Allied nations that had forced the Treaty of Versailles on the German people. In 1935, Hitler unilaterally canceled the military clauses of the treaty and in March 1936 denounced the Locarno Pact and began remilitarizing of the Rhineland. Two years later, Nazi Germany burst out of its territories, absorbing Austria and portions of Czechoslovakia. In 1939, Hitler invaded Poland. -
Civil war erupts in Spain
This war broke out with a military uprising in Morocco, and was triggered by events in Madrid. Within days, Spain was divided in two: "Republican" or "Loyalist.” Both sides were in contrast between the Soviet Union's intermittent help to the Republican government and the committed support of Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany for the Nationalists. In the early days of the war, over 50,000 people were assassinated or executed. Victims were taken from refuges or jails by armed people to be shot. -
Anschluss
Hitler announces an "Anschluss" (union) between Germany and Austria, in fact annexing the smaller nation into a greater Germany. Despite the fact that Hitler did not have the full approval of Austrian Social Democrats, the rise of a pro-Nazi party within Austria in the mid-1930s paved the way for Hitler to make his move. In 1938, Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg, agreed to a greater Nazi presence within Austria. He hoped that agreeing to Hitler's demands would prevent a German invasion. -
The Munich Conference
The Munich Conference was held to sign the Munich Agreement, which was a settlement permitting Nazi Germany's annexation of Czechoslovakia's areas along the country's borders. The agreement was negotiated at a conference held in Munich, Germany, among the major powers of Europe without the presence of Czechoslovakia. Today, it is widely regarded as a failed act of appeasement toward Germany. -
Kristallnacht
The Nazis staged vicious anti-Jewish riots against the Jewish community of Germany. These were known as Kristallnacht (commonly translated as “Night of Broken Glass”). Practiced by the Nazi regime, the rioters burned or destroyed 267 synagogues, vandalized or looted 7,500 Jewish businesses, and killed at least 91 Jewish people. These acts of violence were encouraged by the Nazis, and lead to genocide and the Holocaust. -
Germany occupies the Sudetenland
After the annexation of Austria into Germany, Germany turned its attention to Czechoslovakia. Germany, following the terms of the Munich Conference, annexed the Northern and Western borders of Austria, known as Sudetenland. This left Austria weak and powerless to resist occupation by German forces. -
The Nazi-Soviet Pact
Also known as the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, it assured a non-involvement of the Soviet Union in a European War, as well as separating Germany and Japan from forming a military alliance. The pact was broken on the 22nd of June 1941, when Germany invaded the Soviet Union. -
Germany invades Poland
Marking the beginning of World War II, German forces invaded Poland from the North, South, and West. Polish forces withdrew to Eastern Poland, and waited for Allied support. Though the Allies had declared war on Germany, support was very limited. The Soviet Union arrived to aid Germany, and Poland could do little to resist being annexed by Germany. -
The "Phony War"
An early phase of World War II marked by the lack of any major military operations between the Allies and Germany. Beginning the day war was declared and ending during a series of German attacks on British Naval forces and air raids (also known as the Twilight War and Der Sitzkrieg). -
Churchill is elected Prime Minister of England
Before becoming Prime Minister, Winston Churchill led the campaign warning about Nazi Germany and rearming Great Britain. After war broke out, he was elected Prime Minister. His steadfast refusal to consider defeat, surrender, or a compromise peace helped inspire British resistance, especially during the difficult early days of the war. Churchill was noted for his speeches, which helped inspire the British people. -
Miracle at Dunkirk
This is also known as the Dunkirk Evacuation, the Miracle at Dunkirk was an evacuation of Allied soldiers from the harbor of Dunkirk, France after being cut off by German forces. Despite the situation, nearly 338,226 soldiers were rescued over the course of nine days by a fleet of small ships such as merchant ships, fishing boats, and lifeboats. -
France surrenders
After one month of fighting, the Germans succeeded in overtaking France. German forces arrived in an undefended Paris on June 14, and their commanders met with French officials who sought an alliance with Germany. An armistice was soon signed between France and Germany, putting it under Axis control until the Allied invasion nearly four years later. -
The Battle of Britain
An air campaign issued by the German Air Force on Great Britain that attempted to give Germany air superiority over the Royal Air Force (RAF). After nearly three months of fighting, Germany failed to gain any advantage on the RAF. This battle is considered one of Germany's major defeats and a turning point for the war. -
The Lend-Lease Act
In July 1940, after Britain had sustained the loss of 11 destroyers to the German Navy over a 10 day period, newly elected British Prime Minister Winston Churchill requested help from President Roosevelt. This was document issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt that would provide supplies to the United Kingdom, Soviet Union, France, China, and other allies. Nearly a quarter of Allied munitions came from this act. -
Japan siezes French and Indo-China
Tokyo decided to strengthen its position in terms of its invasion of China by moving through Southeast Asia. France had long occupied parts of the region, and Germany, a Japanese ally, now controlled most of France through Petain's government, France agreed to the occupation. Japan followed up by occupying Cam Ranh naval base, where Americans had troops, and the British base at Singapore. President Roosevelt swung into action by freezing all Japanese assets in America. -
The Atlantic Charter
A statement issued by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and US President Franklin D. Roosevelt that discussed the goals of the Allies for during the war and post-war. While not an official document, the Allies pledged to uphold its principles. -
The U.S. passes the Neutrality Act
Congress amended the Neutrality Act of 1935 to allow American merchant ships access to war zones, thereby putting U.S. vessels in the line of fire. In anticipation of another European war, and in pursuit of an isolationist foreign policy, Congress passed the Neutrality Act in August 1935, forbidding the sale of munitions by U.S. firms to any and all belligerents in any future war. Less than two years later, a second Neutrality Act was passed. -
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor
This was a surprise strike conducted by the Japanese Navy in an attempt to prevent the USA from getting involved in any Japanese military affairs. The US Navy took a heavy hit, losing four of their eight battleships. This event finally pulled the USA into World War II. The United States declared war on Japan the following day.
