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The March on Rome, a largely non-violent yet intimidating mass demonstration in October 1922, saw thousands of Benito Mussolini's Blackshirts converge on the Italian capital after seizing key regional infrastructure. The purpose was to demand the resignation of the liberal government and force King Victor Emmanuel III to appoint Mussolini as prime minister, thereby establishing a fascist regime. The immediate outcome was the King's capitulation. -
The Mein Kampf translates to "My Struggle," it is a autobiographical written by Hitler that was published in 1925. He authored the book while serving a prison sentence for high treason after the failed Beer Hall Putsch of 1923. It became a foundational text for Nazi ideology and outlined his vision for Germany’s future. This book laid the foundation for the Holocaust and continued to promote this ideology of the "master race." -
Stalin came up with a plan to quickly industrialize the Soviet Union and take control of farms. His goal was to turn the country from mostly farming into a modern industrial nation and use farming to pay for heavy industry. This led to big growth in factories and machines, but it also caused terrible famines, suffering, and food shortages, completely changing life in the Soviet Union under strict government control.This event is significant as it established total state control over the economy. -
After Vladimir Lenin's death, Stalin rose up and became the dictator of the USSR. He took totalitarian control, killing millions of Soviet citizens. This event was significant because it was the first step to a dictatorship and the creation of the "Five-Year Plans." The secret police further expanded and his regime ensured total obedience from citizens. -
The invasion of Manchuria by the Japanese was significant for being a major act of military expansion in the build up to WWII. This event was triggered by the "Mukden Incident," Japanese army officers staged an explosion on a railway line near Mukden then blamed it on Chinese nationalists. Japan seeked access to Manchuria’s rich reserves of coal, iron, and other essential raw materials, along with new markets for its goods, a need that became particularly wanted during the Great Depression. -
In Soviet Ukraine, from 1932 to 1933, the Holomodor was a man-made famine that tragically killed millions of Ukranians. The Soviet Government forced collectivization of agriculture, meaning that all private farmland and livestock were eliminated. Joseph Stalins regime caused the Holomodor. It brought about a severe shortage of food which ultimately resulted in widespread malnutrition. This is a significant event in history as this tragedy is labeled as a genocide. -
On Janurary 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed as German Chancellor. This was a political maneuver that helped Hitler's Nazi party gain popularity as a majority thought the appointment of Hitler would stabalize Germany. This marked the end of democracy. After Hindenburg died, Hitler combined the roles of Chancellor and President, calling himself Führer. By 1934, he had complete control over Germany. Hitler's aim was to crush opponents and eliminate rivals. -
The "Night of the Long Knives" was a purge in Nazi Germany, a series of killings that targeted the leadership of the Sturmabteilung. This event eliminated internal threats to the Nazi Party that further rose Adolf Hitler into power, increasing his control. This tragedy lasted from June 30th to July 2nd. Joseph Goebbels utilized propaganda to make it seem like the action was necessary to stop an upcoming coup, while Hitler claimed he was the final authority. -
The Great Purge was a period of time in Stalin's regime where he used his secret police to eliminate individuals he identified as enemies. He purged the Communist Party, military, and intelligentsia. The Gulag system was a network across the Soviet Union that housed prison camps and and labor camps. This event holds significance as it instilled fear in the people and gave more power to Stalin. -
The Italian Invasion of Ethiopia (1935–1936) was led by Mussolini, who wanted more land, resources, and revenge for Italy’s past defeat. Italy used modern weapons, even chemical attacks, against Ethiopia’s weaker army. The invasion was important because it showed the League of Nations was too weak to stop aggression, hinted at the violence that would come in World War II, inspired anti-colonial movements, and proved Italy couldn’t regain its old glory. -
"The Nuremberg Laws (1935) were Nazi race laws that stripped Jews of citizenship (Reich Citizenship Law) and banned marriages/relations between Jews and Germans (Law for the Protection of German Blood and Honor). Later decrees defined who was Jewish. These laws legalized discrimination and were significant because they gave Nazis a legal basis for persecution, paving the way for the Holocaust. -
The Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) was a violent fight between the Republican government, which was elected by the people, and the Nationalist rebels led by General Francisco Franco. The war happened because of major political, social, and economic problems in Spain, and it also reflected bigger struggles in Europe between fascism, democracy, and communism. In the end, the Nationalists won, Franco became dictator, and many lives were lost. -
The Rape of Nanking was a period of mass murder, mass rape, and other violent acts committed by the Imperial Japanese Army that lasted up to six weeks. The victims of the tragedy were residents of Nanjing, China. The Japanese wanted to break the Chinese morale and avenge themselves from the Battle of Shanghai. This event is so significant as it was one the most savagest atrocities of the 20th century. The geopolitical impact was large, thousands of people died. -
"Kristallnacht, or the 'Night of Broken Glass,' happened on November 9–10, 1938, in Nazi Germany. It was a violent attack against Jewish people, their homes, businesses, and synagogues, organized by the government. This event showed a shift from unfair laws to open violence and was a major turning point that led toward the Holocaust. It showed the shift from years of antisemitic laws and discrimination, like the Nuremberg Laws, to government-led terror against Jewish people. -
On September 1, 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland in a fast and violent attack using Blitzkrieg tactics, which combined planes, tanks, and soldiers. Hitler wanted more living space, land, and control, and this invasion started World War II. Afterward, Germany and the Soviet Union split Poland, leading to terrible violence and the beginning of the Holocaust there. -
On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor to weaken the U.S. Pacific Fleet and expand into Southeast Asia. The attack killed over 2,400 Americans and damaged many ships, but it failed to destroy U.S. aircraft carriers or vital oil supplies. Instead of stopping the U.S., it backfired by uniting the country and bringing America into World War II. This attacked occurred because Japan wanted to destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet so it wouldn’t stand in the way.