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Mussolini’s March on Rome
On October 27, 1922, Mussolini demanded the resignation of the government and that a new fascist government would take over. If they did not comply, armed fascists would be near Rome and would march into Rome and take over by the use of force. After 2 days, the King appointed Mussolini as the Prime Minsiter of Italy. -
Stalin becomes dictator of USSR
Joseph Stalin became the leader of the Soviet Union after the founder of the Soviet Union, Vladimir Lenin, died in 1924. Until his death in 1953, he was known as a brutal leader who was responsible for the deaths of over 20 million people. -
Hitler writes Mein Kampf
While Hitler was in prison for a failed coup attempt, he started to write a book in 1924 called Mein Kampf, which meant "My Struggle", that promoted Nazism and outlined his future plans for Germany. -
1st “five year plan” in USSR
The first "five-year plan" in the USSR was implemented by Joseph Stalin and concentrated on developing heavy industry and collectivizing agriculture, at the cost of a drastic fall in consumer goods. It started in 1928 and lasted until 1932. -
Japan invades Manchuria
On September 18, 1931, Japan decided to invade Manchuria for oil, rubber, and lumber in order to make up for the lack of resources in Japan. When they invaded, they did not declare war, breaching the rules of the League of Nations. At the end of the war, they established the puppet state of Manchukuo. -
Holodomor
Holodomor was a man-made famine, engineered by the Soviet government of Joseph Stalin, in Soviet Ukraine from 1932 to 1933 that killed millions of Ukrainians. Stalin wanted to replace Ukraine's small farms with state-run collectives and punish Ukrainians who posed a threat to his totalitarian authority. -
Hitler appointed chancellor of Germany
On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany. Hitler was not yet a dictator at the time, but the Nazis were now in power and paved the way for Hitler to become a dictator. -
“Night of the Long Knives” in Germany
The Night of the Long Knives was a purge of Nazi leaders ordered by Adolf Hitler. Hitler feared that the paramilitary SA had become too powerful, so he ordered his elite SS guards to murder the organization’s leaders, including Ernst Röhm. He also killed hundreds of other perceived opponents. -
Italian invasion of Ethiopia
On October 8, 1935, Italy declared war on Ethiopia in order to boost Italian national prestige. This is because Italy was defeated at the Battle of Adwa by the Ethiopian army in 1896. About half a year later, Italy defeated Ethiopia and won the war. -
Nuremberg Laws enacted
The Nuremberg Laws were antisemitic and racist laws that were enacted on September 17, 1935. These laws said stuff like Jews could not marry "citizens of German or kindred blood" and could not fly the German flag. They were the first of the Nazi laws that led to the Holocaust. -
The Great Purge and Gulags
The Great Purge was a campaign launched in 1936 by Joseph Stalin to eliminate dissenting members of the Communist Party and anyone he considered a threat. More than a million people were sent to forced labor camps, known as Gulags, while at least 750,000 people were executed. The Great Purge lasted for 2 years and ended in 1938. -
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War was a military revolt by the Republican government of Spain because there was a refusal by the Spanish parties and groups to compromise and respect democratic norms.
On March 28, 1939, the Republicans surrendered and the war came to an end. The Spanish Civil War is often considered a prelude to World War II. -
The Rape of Nanking
The Rape of Nanking was the mass murder of Chinese civilians in Nanjing, the capital city of the Republic of China, by the Imperial Japanese Army. Besides murder, the Japanese also committed other atrocities like mass rape, looting, and arson. -
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht was an incident where Nazis attacked and destroyed Jewish synagogues, businesses, hospitals, schools, and homes. About 100 Jewish people were killed and over 30,000 were arrested. After the incident, the Jews were blamed and fined for the destruction. -
Nazi Germany invades Poland
On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland to regain lost territory and ultimately rule their neighbor to the east. This event marked the start of World War II. -
Japan bombs Pearl Harbor
At about 8 a.m. on December 7, 1941, Japanese planes bombed the American naval base of Pearl Harbor killing hundreds. The Japanese thought that it would cause the U.S. to negotiate peace, but instead, led to the United States declaring war on Japan and entering World War II.