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Mussolini takes power in Italy
After serving in WWI, he dreamed of military glory in the second war. He made his Blackshirts, the fascist group go around Italy. They caused turmoil. Benito threatened to make his Blackshirts march through Rome. Mussolini sent a message to the King asking about Italy's status. The King replied, "his majesty the King asks you to come immediately to Rome for he wishes to offer you the responsibility of forming a Ministry." -
Stalin comes to power in Russia
Following Lenin's death in 1924, there was a feeling of confusion as to who would lead Russia. One of the most important factors when coming in to power was Stalin's position and role with the Communist Party. He continued Lenin's work to keep Russia strong. -
US stock market crashes
Also is known as Black Tuesday. The crash was the most devestating stock market crash in the history of the United States. It signaled the start of the Great Depression- one of the worst times in American history. -
Japan invades Manchuria
Manchuria was invaded by the Kwantung Army of the Empire of Japan following the Mukden Incident. The Japanese established a puppet state, called Manchukuo, and it lasted until the end of World War II. -
FDR is elected president of the US
The 1932 lection took place in the middle of the Great Depression that ruined the promises of President and Republican candidate Herbert Hoover to bring about a new era of prosperity. Economics were a popular subject since the US wanted to get out of the hard times they were facing in the Depression -
Hitler is named chancellor of Germany
1932 was Hitler's meteoric rise to sucess in Germany, spurred mainly by the German people's frustration with dismal economic conditions and the wounds caused by defeat in the War. A charismatic speaker, Hitler created popular discontent with the post-war Weimar government into support for the Nazi party. -
US passes Neutrality Act
The act was passed in response to the growing turmoil in Europe and Asia that led to WWII. They were brought about by the growth in isolationism and non-interventionism in the US following its costly engagement in the first World War. It sought to ensure that the US would not become involved in foreign conflicts again. -
Italy invades Ethipoia
Mussolini, Italy's leader, had his eye set on annexing Ethiopia into Italy’s newly created colony of East Africa. Even though the Italian military was successful in taking over Ethiopia, the Abyssinians did not capitulate or surrender to the Italian forces. -
Germany remilitarizes the Rhineland
German military forces entered the Rhineland which was significant because it violated the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Treaties, marking it as the first time since the end of World War I that German troops had been in this particular region. -
Civil War erupts in Spain
The war broke out with a military uprising in Morocco which was triggered by events in Madrid. Within days, Spain was divided in two parts: a "Republican" or "Loyalist". In the beginning, over 50,000 people who were caught on the "wrong side" of the line were assassinated or executed. The outbreak of the war provided a reason for settling accounts and resolving long-standing feuds between countries. -
Anschluss
This was among the first major steps of Adolf Hitler's creation of a Greater German Reich which was to include all of the German lands and territories which the German Empire had lost after World War I. With the Anschluss, the Republic of Austria continued to exist as a fully independent state. -
The Munich Conference
This was a settlement permitting Nazi Germany's annexation of Czechoslovakia's areas along the country's borders mainly inhabited by Germans to which a new territorial designation "Sudetenland" was created. The agreement was negotiated in Munich. The purpose of the conference was to discuss the future of the Sudetenland for the demands made by Adolf Hitler. The agreement was signed by Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and also Italy. -
Germany occupies the Sudetenland
Nazi Germany formally took possession of the Sudetenland, part of Czechoslovakia. The majority of population, however, was of German ancestery. This secession of territory was a result of the Munich Agreement. Intended to avert a war on the European continent, it gave Hitler time to strengthen his growing war machine. -
Kristallnact
Also referred to as the night of the broken glass. The people attacked Jewish-owned stores, buildings, and temples. Atleast 91 Jews were killed and 30,000 arrested and sent into concentration camps. -
Nazi-Soviet Pact
Reperesentatives from Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union joined to sign a pact stating the two countries would not attack eachother. However, the pact was broken two years later in 1941. -
Germany invades Poland
The Polish army was defeated in weeks due to the invasion. From East Prussia and Germany in the north and Silesia and Slovakia in the south, German units containing 2,000 tanks and over 1,000 planes, broke through Polish defenses along the border and advanced on Warsaw in a huge attack. -
The "Phony War"
This name was given to the period of time in WWII from September 1939 to April 1940 when, after the attack on Poland. Nothing happened. Many in Great Britain expected a major calamity but barely nothing happened, which is why it is titled the "Phony War". -
Churchill is elected prime minister of England
Churchill was famous for his steadfast refusal to consider defeat, surrender, or a compromise peace helped inspire British resistance, especially during the earlier days of the War when Britain was alone in their opposition to Hitler. Churchill was particularly remembered for his speeches and radio broadcasts, which helped inspire the British people. -
Miracle at Dunkirk
This was the evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beaches and harbor of Dunkirk, France. This happened because the British, French, and Belgian troops were cut off by the German army during the Battle of Dunkirk in WWII. -
France Surrenders
Within three weeks, a large part of the British force along with some French defenders are pushed to the English Channel and forced to abandon the continent at Dunkirk. German advances continue to sweep south before retreating French army- an estimated 10 million refugees fleed for their lives. -
Battle of Britain
This was mainly an air battle. It is the name given to the Second World War air campaign waged by the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) against the UK. The objective of the campaign was to gain superiority over the Royal Air Force (RAF) and especially the Fighter Command. -
Japan seizes French Indo-China
This was also known as the Vietnam Expedition, was a move by the Empire of Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War in order to prevent China from importing arms and fuel through French Indochina from the Sino-Vietnamese Railway. Japan occupied parts of northern Indochina, which tightened the blockade of China. -
The Lend-Lease Act
The act was for means providing US military aid to foreign nations during World War II. The act authorized the president to transfer arms or other defense materials to which Congress appropriated money to government of any country whose defense the President thinks is vital to the defense of the United States. -
The Atlantic Charter
This defined the Allied goals for the post war world. It was drafted by Britain and the US. It later agreed to by all of the Allies. The Charter stated the ideal goals of the war like no territorial changes made against the wishes of the people, restoration of self-government to those deprived of it, and also free access to raw materials. -
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor
This was a surprise military attack conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack was intended as a preventive action in order to keep the US Pacific Fleet from interfering with military actions the Empire of Japan was planning in Southeast Asia against territories of the UK, Netherlands, and the US.
