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The main factor that contributed to Stalin's rise began with his appointment as General Secretary Position. April 22nd, Stalin was working as a General Secretary Position for the Communist party. He started eliminating possible rivals, gaining power through campaigns and maneuvering his way to the top. This impacted his rise and ultimate position for dictator of USSR. -
the main outcome of Mussolini's March on Rome was his appointment as the Prime Minister of Italy. This marked the beginning of a Fascist government. On October 24th,1922 the Fascist Party leaders planned an insurrection to take place on October 28th, consisting of a march on Rome by the fascist armed squads known as Blackshirts. After October 27th 1922, the fascists attacked and occupied government buildings, barracks and prisons across Italy and they were often heavily armed. -
Adolf Hitler wrote "Mein Kampf" an autobiographical political topic. This book served as a blueprint for the Nazi ideology and his future plans Germany. Hitler wrote this book to present his ultimate goals and philosophy, and to serve as a propaganda platform. He also hoped this would solve his legal expenses. His book revolved around the ideas within Germany's dominance, by taking over the Jewish people and their hatred for them. Volume 1 of his book was published in 1925 and Volume 2 in 1926. -
The main purpose of the USSR's First Five- Year Plan was to increase industrialization, collect agricultural, national defense, and social transformation. Ultimately the Soviet economic program focused on state controlled industrialization and aimed to transform the USSR into a powerful defense. They used intense propaganda to mobilize workers and control everything overall. -
Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931 ultimately for its natural resources that were important to industry. Some of the main reasons they invaded Manchuria was because they were highly rich in coal, iron, and soybeans, which were essential for Japan's industrial growth. Another strong standpoint, was the need for militaristic expansion within the Japanese army. They eventually wanted to take over and dominate Manchuria. -
The Holodomor (Ukrainian Death by Hunger) occurred in 1932-1933 due to a combination of intentional and unintentional Soviet policies under Joseph Stalin. They had forced agricultural collectivization, impossibly high grain quotas, and specific repressive measures against Ukrainians. These actions ultimately led to a man made famine that killed millions of people, a majority of whom were ethnic Ukrainians. -
Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933, by President Paul von Hindenburg. This was orchestrated by conservative elites like Franz von Papen who believed they could control Hitler and the Nazi Party. -
The main purpose of the "Night of the Long Knives" was for Hitler to merge his power, by taking out any threats to him. Some of these threats included powerful leaders such as, Ernst Rohm and other politcal rivals. The overall goal of this was to eliminate all SA threats (Stormtroopers) and the leader Ernst Rohm, secure Army stability, consume power, and end radicalism. -
The Nuremburg Laws were two antisemetic and racist laws enacted by the Nazi in Germany. These provided legal ideas for the prosecution of Jews in Germany and lead to the Holocaust. The laws from the legislation included the Reich Citizenship Law that declared that only individuals of "German or related blood" were eligible for Reich citizenship. The second law was the Law for the protection of German Blood and German Honor and these prohibited marriages between Jews and non- Jewish Germans. -
Italy's 1935 invasion of Ethiopia, led by Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, was driven by a strong desire for colonial expansion, revenge, industrialization, and they did this by using modern weapons, such as poison gas, machine guns, and artillery. The main goal of this invasion was to boost Italian pride and make sure Italy was a major powerhouse. In the end, Italy captured the capital, Addis Ababa, forcing Selassie into exile and annexing Ethiopia. -
The Great purge was Stalin's brutal campaign of political dominance in the USSR. Stalin began targeting perceived enemies, including party officials, military leaders, and even ordinary citizens. the Gulag system existed before this era, its prime time was used for mass arrests and harsh sentences. Over millions ended up being arrested with over 700,000 sentenced to death. Overall this was a period of time used to install terror. -
The Spanish Civil War was a critical conflict fought from 1936-1939 between Republicans and Nationalists. This fight ultimately led to a Nationalist victory and the rise of Francisco Franco's dictatorship. This was was mainly triggered by political instability and the assassination of a left wing activist. In the end the war was finalized by April and tragically, Francisco Franco became dictator. -
The Rape of Nanking, also known as the Nanjing Massacre, was a brutal episode of mass murder and mass rape committed by the Imperial Japanese Army against the residents of Nanjing China. These fatal acts were done over a period of 6 weeks, beginning December 13th, 1937, The victims included both disarmed Chinese soldiers and civilians. There were over 300,000 estimated deaths. -
Kristallnacht, also known as the "Night of Broken Glass". was a series of violent, planned, and distraught events. This took place throughout Germany, annexed Austria, and the Sudetenland on the night of November 9-10, 1938. This marked a crucial turning point, which escalated Nazi policy. Mobs burned over 1,400 synagogues, vandalized and looted thousands of Jewish owned business and homes, disturbed cemeteries, assaulted people, and murdered dozens of Jews. -
Nazi Germany invaded Poland on Spetember 1st 1939, which ended up starting WW2. The invasion used Blitzkrieg tactics, by coordinating land and air attacks. Germany had goals to take over and gain territory that they lost after WW1 and to colonize the country. The result of this invasion prompted Britain and France to both declare war on Germany and overall began the war. -
Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, in a surprise attack to damage the U.S Pacific Fleet. Japan warplanes attacked the U.S naval base in Hawaii, killing Over 2,400 Americans and numerous ships destroyed. This attack led directly to the U.S entering World War 2 and prevented America from interfering with Japan's expansion into South east Asia. Overall Japan believed that the element of surprise would allow Japan to consolidate its conquests.