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Mussolini Takes Power in Italy
Mussolini becomes leader of Italy after his blackshirts “March on Rome”. After taking power, he establishes a fascist dictatorship and assumes complete control. -
Stock Market Crashes
The US market crashing caused many of the economies around the world to go into a recession, Germany included. It also weakened the Japanese economy, giving them a greater desire to get more land. -
Civil War erupts in Spain
Fascist general Francisco Franco tries to take power in Spain. He is backed by Hitler and Mussolini and wins control of the government. -
Japan Invades Manchuria
The Japanese army seizes Manchuria in order to gain its land and resources. The Japanese government orders the army to end the action. The army officers simply refuse to stop. -
Japan Seizes French Indo-China
Japan seized French-Indo China along with Manchuria in order to gain land and use the resources that the areas provided. -
FDR Becomes President
FDR runs against Hoover in the 1932 election. Many people hate Hoover for his perceived failures and love FDR for his actions in New York and his warm personality. He is elected President in a landslide victory (472:59 electoral votes) -
Hitler Becomes Chancellor of Germany
Hitler joined the National Socialist party after WWI and tried to make a revolt against the German government. This revolt failed. His book, Mein Kampf, gained lots of respect while he was in prison. When he got out, the Nazis were the largest party in the government. They then named him Chancellor. -
Italy Invades Ethiopia
In a display of power, Italy invades Ethiopia and easily defeats the inhabitants. While the League of Nations condemned the violence, nothing was done to stop it. -
U.S. Neutrality Act
Act that was passed in order to keep the U.S. out of the war. This kept the U.S. from having any part in the war at all. -
Hitler Defies Treaty of Versailles
Germany sends troops into the Rhineland in a play to take back the land lost in the First World War, saying that the recent French treaty with the Soviet Union threatens Germany. -
Hitler defies the Treaty of Versailles
Hitler tries to get the Austrian government to accept becoming a part of Germany, when they do not, Hitler sends troops into Austria and forces it to agree. -
Anschluss
Hitler tries to get the Austrian government to accept becoming a part of Germany, when they do not, Hitler sends troops into Austria and forces it to agree. -
Munich Conference
British Prime Minister, French Premier, and Hitler meet in Munich to discuss Hitler annexing the Sudetenland. Germany is allowed to stay. It is seen as a step to avoiding war. -
Nazi-Soviet Pact
Hitler and Stalin sign a non-aggression pact, effectively allowing Germany to focus on France. -
Germany invades Poland
Germany dresses up a German prisoner in the uniform of a Poland army officer and shoots him near the Poland border. Uses this incident to attack Poland. -
Churchill is Elected Prime Minister in England
Churchill is elected prime minister because of his outspoken manner towards the actions of the former prime minister and his inspiring voice. -
Lend-Lease Act
FDR gets an act passed that will allow the U.S. to lend or lease arms and weapons to the Allied powers fighting to end Hitler’s reign. -
Phony War
The time from the attack on Poland to Germany attacks in Dunkirk is known as the phony war because while it was thought that a big fight was going to happen, nothing did. -
France Surrenders
French leaders surrendered to Germany and Italy and gave control of the country to Germany. -
Miracle at Dunkirk
British and French forces are cornered at Dunkirk by Germany. Military, business, and private craft rush to the port to rescue any surviving soldiers. -
Battle of Britain
Hitler, seeking an end to the war, sends his Air force to bomb Britain into submission. Where it not for the advanced radar systems and the skill of British pilots, he would have most likely succeeded. -
Atlantic Charter
Charter signed between FDR and Churchill that outlined the goals of the war and their opposition to Hitler and his rule. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor in an attempt to destroy the U.S. fleet and nock them out of the war. This plan failed miserably.
