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Mussolini Takes Power of Italy
Benito Mussolini took power of Italy behind the ideas of the Fascist party which he created. -
U.S. Stock Market Crashes
On August 24, 1921, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at a value of 63.9. By September 3, 1929, it had risen more than sixfold, touching 381.2. It would not regain this level for another twenty-five years. By the summer of 1929, it was clear that the economy was contracting and the stock market went through a series of unsettling price declines. These declines fed investor anxiety and events soon came to a head on October 24 (known as Black Thursday) and October 29 (known as Black Tuesday). -
Japan Seizes Manchuria
The Japanese invasion of Manchuria began on September 19, 1931, when Manchuria was invaded by the Kwantung Army of the Empire of Japan immediately following the Mukden Incident. The Japanese established a puppet state, called Manchukoku, and their occupation lasted until the end of World War II. -
FDR is elected president
FDR is elected to be president of the United States. He beats Hoover by a landslide and promises the American people that he will get them out of the Great Depression. He achieves his goals with the New Deal which offered American’s jobs, and social benefit programs. -
Hitler is named Chancellor of germany
On this day in 1933, President Paul von Hindenburg names Adolf Hitler, leader or fÜhrer of the National Socialist German Workers Party (or Nazi Party), as chancellor of Germany.
The year 1932 had seen Hitler's meteoric rise to prominence in Germany, spurred largely by the German people's frustration with dismal economic conditions and the still-festering wounds inflicted by defeat in the Great War and the harsh peace terms of the Versailles treaty. A charismatic speaker, Hitler channeled popul -
Italy invades Ethiopia
Italy wanted to expand its Empire, so Ethiopia was a perfect opportunity. It was weak and its access to the Red Sea would come in handy to Italy’s trade market. Italy easily obtained Ethiopia because of its weak military and because no other countries stepped in to defend Ethiopia. -
Hitler defies the Treaty of Versailles
Hitler, when in power, had not payed back Great Britain or France and was suppose to because of the Treaty of Versailles. He marched some of his military back into Rhineland where he remilitarized Rhineland; this was a direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles. This helped cause World War Two because it showed European countries that Hitler would not follow any written rules. -
France militarizes Rhineland
In part of the Treaty of Versailles it was agreed that Germany was not allowed to build on the Rhineland and it should be protected by military forces. In June of 1930 British forces who had been sent there to protect the land returned home along with the French forces seeing that Rhineland was safe. This affects World War II because it leaves Rhineland wanting more and holds Germany to a promise that they would not keep. -
Civil War erupts in Spain
The Spanish army tried to rebel against its government but failed. Germany and Italy gave support to the people rebelling which gained their loyalty. This caused Spanish civilians to supply the countries with information, men, weapons and other demands. -
Japan invades China
The United States of America and other countries had denied Japan resources, Japan had to go in search of its own. China was one of those countries; it had an abundance of natural resources. This contributed to WW2 because it caused the United Stated to provide aid to China which would then in turn caused Japan to become very angry with the USA. -
Anschluss
The annexation of Hitler unionized Austria and Germany politcally. This also marked the beginning of Hitler sending Jews, Communists, and other social and racial miniorities to concentration camps. -
Munich Conference
This was an agreement made that allowed Germany to annex Sudetenland. -
Kristallnacht
Also called "The Night of Broken Glass," this was a series of attacks on Jews throughout Germany, as Hitler blamed the Jews for all of Germany's problems. -
Nazi-Soviet Pact
This was an agreement made between Russia and Germany that said that neither country would attack the other for a certain amount of time. They also agreed to trade certain goods and raw materials. -
Germany invades Poland
This is the event that is considered the beginning of WWII. This invasion also influenced France and Great Britain to declare war on Germany. -
Phony War
Many countries had big talk in the West but none took action militarily. -
Churchill Elected Prime Minister in England
After the former Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain resigned, Churchill became Prime Minister. He was an excellent leader during a tough time for Britain. -
Miracle at Dunkirk
Unable to stop the German assault, thousands of French Soldiers were stuck on the coast at Dunkirk. Allied ships and civilian boats came to help, and 340,000 were rescued. -
France Surrenders
After Paris was taken over by the German Army, France surrendered to Germany and Italy. An area of the country known as Vichy France was established and led by France. -
Battle of Britain
This was the first battle of World War II, Britain won the battle and Germany was forced to surrender. This was an important turning point in World War II because this was the first big battle the allied forces won, it showed this would not be a small and short war. -
Lend-Lease Act
Program under which the United States of America supplied the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, China, Free France, and other Allied nations with weapons -
Japan seizes French Indo China
In order to punish Japan the U.S. placed a large embargo on Japeneses oil. Hideki Tojo took control of the Japanese goverment after this even and played a big role in WWII due to his unwillingness to compromise anything. -
Atlantic Charter
the Atlantic Charter was a joint proclamation resulting in an agreement between Britain and the United States to fight the Axis Powers. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
This unexpected Japanese attack on the American port in Hawaii killed nearly 2400 Americans and injured over 1000 more. This devastating defeat to the United States directly led to the US declaration of war against Japan on the very next day.
