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Mussolini takes power in Italy
After becoming Leader of the Fascist Party, Mussolini sent out the Blackshirts to riot against Communists. Mussolini and his Fascist party marched on Rome, scaring the government enough so that they offered him the power to form a new government. He tightened his grip on Italy by ending other parties, censoring the press, and ending civil liberties. -
Stalin comes to power in Russia
Stalin took power after the Lenin died in 1924. In 1922, Stalin became General Secretary of the Communist Party which he used to get his supporters into important positions. He underhandedly exiled Trotsky by telling him the wrong date of Lenin's funeral and by using his own poor background as a commonality with the people. -
The U.S. stock market crashes
Known as Black Tuesday, the day the stock market crashed was the worst the American stock market has ever been. Everyone panicked and sold their stocks and eventually everyone- banks, farmers, businesses, families- was negatively affected by the resulting Great Depression. -
Japan Invades Manchuria
Japan had many investments in Manchuria and in order to keep an eye on their investments they had a large army stationed there. An explosion on a section of the South Manchuria Railway gave the army the perfect excuse to attack. The League of Nations, at China's request, ordered the troops to withdraw but they didn't listen and launched a full invasion of Manchuria. -
FDR is elected president
Before running for president, Roosevelt was the governor of New York and after that became Wilson's Assistant Secretary of the Navy. He ran for president and won promising a "new deal" for the American people. He was struck with polio and his wife Eleanor became his eyes and ears. He passed the most legislature in one term than any other president by using the "quarterback approach". -
Hitler is named chancellor of Germany
Frustrated with the terrible economy after the war, the people of Germany turned to the charismatic Hitler as a new leader. Hitler built up support for his Nazi Party and was eventually named chancellor. -
The U.S. passes the Neutrality Act
Between 1935 and 1937, the United States passed 3 Neutrality Acts that tried to keep America out of the war by making it illegal to sell or transport weapons to belligerent countries. -
Italy invades Ethiopia
Ethiopia was a prime candidate for Italian expansion. By taking it, Italy could create a unified line of countries from Italian Somaliland to Eritrea. Ethiopia also had a weak army, making it an easy target. The invasion began in October of 1935. -
Germany remilitarizes the Rhineland
Hitler wanted revenge on the Allied countries that had forced the Treaty of Versailles on Germany. He cancelled the treaty's military clauses and began remilitarizing the Rhineland and preparing for war in March of 1936. -
Civil war erupts in Spain
The Spanish Civil War started when Spanish troops in Morocco, led by General Francisco Franco, revolted against the government. -
Anschluss
In February 1938, Hitler created an Anschluss, a political union between Austria and Germany. -
The Munich Conference
The Conference and called by Adolf Hitler where he met with the representatives from France, United Kingdom, and Italy. Hitler discussed wanting to take control of the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia. He reasoned this by saying that the German speaking people of this area were being mistreated by the government. The agreement was signed stating that Hitler could not invade anywhere else. However, Hitler broke the treaty by invading all of Czechoslovakia in 1939. -
Germany occupies the Sudetenland
Germany invading the Sudetenland was a result of the Munich Conference. To avoid war, the three countries involved in the Munich Conference gave Hitler the rights to cede. This made Hitler surprised by Britain and France's weakness, leading to his occupation of the rest of Czechoslovakia. -
Kristallnacht
The Nazi's unleashed a wave of pogroms against the Jews in Germany. In just a few hours, thousands of synagogues, Jewish homes and Jewish businesses were destroyed. It is also known as the night of broken glass. -
The Nazi-Soviet Pact
Nazi Germany and Soviet Union representatives met on August 23, 1939 to sign the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact. This pact said that the two countries couldn't attack each other. Hitler liked the pact because it meant that Germany would not be fighting a two-front war, while the Soviets were given Poland. Less than two years later, Germany broke the pact by invading the Soviet Union. -
Germany invades Poland
Hitler invaded Poland because of the recently signed Soviet Non-Aggression Pact which allowed him to invade without fear that the Soviets would interfere. Germany defeated the Polish army within weeks. Soon Germany took control of all of Poland before deciding to invade the Soviet Union. -
The "Phony" War
The "Phony" War started in October of 1939 and ended in April of 1940. During this time, there was little conflict between the Allies and Germany; however, Hitler launched an invasion on Scandinavia. In February of 1940, a British destroyer stops the German "Altmark" where many laws were broken on both sides. In April, after a few battles, Germany launches its Blitzkrieg forcing the British to remove their troops. -
Churchill is elected prime minister of England
Churchill was chosen to take the place of Prime Minister of England after the Chamberlain resigned in 1940. The people favored him because of his experience in warfare and because he had played a vital role in World War 1. The same day of Churchill's election, Germany invaded Belgium, Holland, and Luxemburg, proving that Churchill was the right choice. -
Miracle at Dunkirk
The Miracle at Dunkirk began on May 27 and ended on June 4, 1940. Allied soldiers were removed from the harbor and beaches of Dunkirk, France. This was because the Germans had cut off the British, French, and Belgium. Over 338 thousand men were evacuated by all available boats. -
France surrenders
Hitler's blitzkrieg invasion of France caused the British and French soldiers to be pushed to the English Channel where the Miracle at Dunkirk happened. On June 14, Hitler invaded France's capital where on June 17, the French declared their defeat. France calls for an armistice which is signed on June 22 where it is agreed that 2/3rds of France will be occupied by Germany and it's army is to be disbanded. -
The Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain started on July 10 and ended on October 31 of 1940. During this time, Hitler sent rampages of bombing runs, attempting to gain air superiority. This battle was the first major campaign to be fought completely by air force. This led to be the turning point against Germany in World War 2, as they had failed to destroy Britain's air defenses. This ended Hitler's threat of Operation Sea Lion. -
Japan seizes French Indo-China
By invading French Indo-China, Japan was trying to blockade China and prevent it from receiving fuel, arms, and other materials from America. -
The Lend-Lease Act
The Lend-Lease Act was passed on March 11, 1941. Under this program, the United States supplied many Allied countries with hardware and materials up to 1945. It was made to promote the defense of the United States, but ended the view of America as neutral. -
The Atlantic Charter
The Atlantic Charter was a document signed on August 14, 1941 by President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill. This was an affirmation declaring that they will meet on common principles with countries to preserve peace and to better the future world. -
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor
This attack by the Japanese was a surprise military sttack on the American troops in Hawaii. Their goal was to prevent the United States Pacific Fleet from interfering with the actions that Japan was planning against the Netherlands, United Kingdom, and United States. All eight of the United State's ships were damaged and over 2 thousand died. This attack led to the American's entry into World War 2 including declaring war on Japan the next day.
