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Mussolini’s March on Rome was a show of force that pressured the king to appoint him prime minister. Its outcome marked the start of fascist rule in Italy. -
Stalin slowly gained power after Lenin's death by using his position as a General Secretary to gain loyal supporters and push his rivals away. This event was significant because it led to a fully centralized dictatorship that impacted the soviet life for decades. -
When he was in prison, Hitler wrote Me in Kampf to outline his ideology, including nationalism, antisemitism, and expansionism. It is important because it because what was to be the foundation for Nazi policies. -
Stalin's first "five year plan" attempted to rapidly transform the Soviet Union from a rural,farming society into a modern industrial nation. As this did turn the USSR into an industrial power, this plan caused massive suffering. -
Japan invaded Manchuria for natural resources and to expand its empire. The invasion is significant because it challenged the international order and showed the failure of the league of Nations to prevent aggression.
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The Holodomor was a man made famine caused by Stalin's brutal collectivization policies. The goal of the polices was to stop resistance from Ukrainian farmers and force them onto state farms.This action is significant because it killed many people and showed the lengths the soviet government would go to remain in control. -
In 1933, Hitler's appointment as chancellor gave him the legal pathway to dismantle democracy from within. This moment oped the door for full Nazi dictatorship, and marked the beginning of Hitler absolute power. -
The "Night of the Long Knives” in Germany was ordered by Hitler, where he sent a troop to murder 200 leaders of the Nazi Party's paramilitary wing. The purpose of this was to eliminate his rivals and secure military support. This event cemented his full authority in Nazi Germany. -
The Nuremberg Laws were racial laws that stripped Jews of citizenship and basic rights. Their significance is that they legalized discrimination and laid the foundation for the Holocaust. -
Italy invaded Ethiopia to build a new Roman style empire. Its significance is that it showed the weakness of the league of nations and encouraged further aggression by Axis powers. -
The Spanish Civil War was fought between fascist and Republican forces, with foreign powers supporting both sides. Its significance is that it became a preview of world war ll, showing how fascism and communism would clash. -
The great purge was Stalin campaign to eliminate anyone he viewed as disloyal. Millions were imprisoned or excited, often sent to gulags. Its significance is in how it created a feeling of fear that kapt Stalin in total control.
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The Rape of Nanjing was a massacre carried out by the Japanese where they sent forces to carry out mass killings and assaults on there own civilians. This still stands as one of the worst wartime atrocities and revealed how brutal Japans expansion was. -
Kristallnacht was a violent, state ordered attack on Jewish homes, synagogues, and businesses. Its significance is that it marked a shift from discrimination to open, government-led terror.
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Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939 triggered World War ll when Britain and France declared war. The significance of this is that it became a preview of World War ll
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Japan bombs Pearl Harbor in 1941 to weaken the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The significance is that it directly brought the United States into World War ll.