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1918: End of World War I
World War I came to a complete halt on the 11th of November 1918 following the signing of an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany who requested a ceasefire. This was later set into motion at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month – now prominently known as the Remembrance Day. -
The Inter-War Years
Events Preceding To World War II -
Paris Peace Conference
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors, following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris during 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities. The major decisions were the creation of the League of Nations; the five peace treaties with defeated enemies, including the Treaty of Versailles with Germany -
Treaty Of Versailles
World War I officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on the 28th of June 1919. Negotiated among the Allied powers with little participation by Germany, its 15 parts and 440 articles depicted Germany the instigator of the war, whilst imposing a series of punitive policies that included an assigned liability of US$44.9 billion dollar war reparation, limited to 100,000 army personnel, disbanded the air force, and restricted the production of weapons and munitions. -
League Of Nations
The League of Nations, modern day United Nation, was an intergovernmental organization created after the First World War as a lenient treaty that would provide a forum for resolving international disputes. Though first proposed by US President Woodrow Wilson as part of his Fourteen Points plan for an equitable peace in Europe, the United States never became a member. -
National Socialist Party - Nazi Party
On the 12th of September 1919, Adolf Hitler was sent to spy on the German Workers’ Party (D.A.P), but only later having formed a bond with the party. He was enchanted to find that the faction reflected political thinking much like his own personal ideology – building a strong nationalist, pro-military and anti-Semitic party. This was his first step into the world history book as he became the leader of the party and believed it would somehow become a movement rather than just a political party. -
Introduction of Fascism
First came to prominence in Italy by Benito Mussolini, fascism was a form of radical authoritarian nationalism and a political philosophy that eventually brought upon another world war. Fascism believes neither in the possibility nor the utility of peace, but instead emphasizes on patriotism, hatred of communism, admiration of military values and unquestioning obedience. Later adapted by Adolf Hitler, Germany quickly plunged into a fascist state gaining him even more power and popularity. -
Beer Hall Putsch
During this time, Nazi members of 55,000 adherents opposed to the democratic government in Berlin and demanded action be done against the state. Ultimately, a plot was forged and carried out at 8:30pm in which Hitler and the Nazi troops would kidnap the leaders of the Bavarian government and force them at gunpoint to accept Hitler as their leader. The attempt to seize power was a disaster as ring leaders, including Hitler was charged with treason and a short imprisonment with special privileges. -
The Great Depression
After the collapse of the New York stock exchange, the effects of the Great Depression begun rippling throughout the whole of Europe and millions of people worldwide lost everything they had owned. The crisis was so bad that not even a family’s life saving could perchance enough necessities for a week. In Germany however, Hitler and his Nazi party instead promises more jobs to feed the famine whilst using the depression as an opportunity to boost even more power against other political factions. -
American Isolationism
The combination of the Great Depression and the memory of tragic losses in World War I contributed significantly in pushing the American public opinion and policy towards isolationism. In simpler terms, it advocates non-involvement in European and Asian conflicts and non-entanglement in international politics. Taking measures to avoid political and military conflicts across the oceans, the United States did not join the League of Nations for these very reason. -
Japanese Militarism
Prior to the Great Depression, the Japanese lost faith in their government, and began turning to military leaders. Unlike other nations, the militarists focused on restoring power to the military. They used foreign expansion to mend country’s economic crisis, and set eyes on making a Pacific empire that would produce supplies and markets for good, and provide more room for the increasing population. In this way, Japan disrupted world stability, and challenged world peace. -
Hitler Named Chancellor of Germany
With the continual public support, as well as from other countries, Adolf Hitler was finally appointed the chancellor of Germany by President Paul Von Hindenberg. This simply meant that Hitler was now the head of the German government which gave him dictatorial power to make laws and change the constitution as he wished. Additionally, the commission of Hitler as chancellor gave him support from even the most rural Germans, which helped create the foundation Hitler needed to rise higher in power. -
Japan Withdraws from League of Nations
Held by the League of Nations, after a unanimous vote of 42-1, blaming for the Invasion of Manchuria, Japanese delegation formally withdrew from the league. According to the League’s charter, it should have responded with economic sanctions or a war but none of these actions was undertaken. It was the first of many such failures–in September, Germany would join Japan in her withdrawal; in 1936 Italy would pull the same stunt over Abyssinia. The world was poised once again on the brink of war. -
Germany Withdraws from League of Nations
Some nine months after Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany, the German government announced its withdrawal from the League of Nations. The ostensible reason was the refusal of the Western powers to acquiesce in Germany’s demands for military parity. -
Nazification of Germany
The Nazis will now control all of German social, political, economic and cultural life; both the private and the public. -
Führer of Germany
After the death of German President Hindenburg, it was reported that Hitler would use the unfortunate event as an opportunity to seize total power in Germany by elevating to the position of supreme ruler or Führer (absolute leader) of Germany by totalitarian dictatorship. The Nazi government under the ruling of Hitler began implementing many of the plan and policies in Mein Kampf which Hitler write during his time in prison for treason. -
Violation of Treaty of Versailles
Breaking the Treaty of Versailles had been one of Hitler's major goals even before he came to power. After rising as dictator of Germany, he saw his chance. During this time he started rebuilding and strengthening the German military, thus contradicting the Treaty of Versailles, which forbid Germany from rearmament of its military. By expanding its army, building of navy ships and submarines, as well as re-establishing and upgrading its air force, Germany was well and truly prepared for war. -
Nuremberg Race Laws
Soon after the self-declaration of Hitler as Führer, he passed a set of rules claiming not of religion but of race, known as the Nuremberg Race Laws. Although baring weight on the Second World War it had not, the effects of these laws impacted the German Jewish communities tremendously. Under the influence of Hitler, many were manipulated into believing Jew “the race” was a disgrace to and had contaminated true German blood, and so begun the holocaust by discrimination and mass massacres. -
Hitler Annex Rhineland
As the position of Führer allowed Hitler to do as he wished, under his endorsement Germany begun a full scale invasion on Rhineland state. The remilitarization of Rhineland was significant act as it once again violated the terms of the Treaty of Versailles as well as the Locarno Treaties. Despite the act of aggression, neither Britain nor France took action in hopes of preserving peace; having Hitler more confidence. This eventually led to more future invasions of other nations by the Germany. -
Spanish Civil War
During the outbreak of a civil war in Spain, Hitler had sent 26 fighter aircrafts, 15,000 troops 30 Junkers 52s, and four tank companies to aid the Spanish resistance. Hitler condoned the war as it gave Germany a chance to test its military leaders as well as weapons and war tactics. It also opened possibility of an alliance with Italy, who was another supporter of the dispute. Italian President Mussolini saw the involvement in Spain as yet another opportunity to expand his power and influence. -
Italy Withdraws from League of Nations
The Spanish Civil War was deeply unpopular in Italy, as many Italians could not see the reason for their involvement, not to mention it was hardly a success. As relationships between Italy and Germany grew closer, Hitler had yet to display his military power for Mussolini. Believing that an alliance with Hitler would lead to Italy becoming more powerful throughout Europe, Mussolini became convinced that Germany was the power he should ally with; thus withdrawing from the League of Nations. -
Countries Call For Munich Conference
After Hitler’s remilitarization in Rhineland, countries feared for potential conflicts called for an immediate conference; Britain, France, Russia, Germany and Italy. Claimed by Hitler, if he was granted control over the Sudetenland, then no further German expansion will occur. Due to both Britain and France neither military prepared for another world war, they appeased Germany. This however led to more conflicts; it was just another one of Hitler's schemes in order to obtain Czechoslovakia. -
Germany Invades Czechoslovakia
Soon after the Munich Conference, the promise Hitler made with Britain and France was broken when German military invaded Czechoslovakia. The Czechs were inferior to any scale of invasion, and soon enough the country was in the hands of Germany. This incursion symbolized Hitler's determination to make Germany a world power, even if it meant making promises he would soon shatter. -
Hitler Signs Pact of Steel with Mussolini
The signing of the Steel Pact by Hitler with Mussolini meant that both country, Germany and Italy, have now formed an official alliance. Additionally, it also meant that with the establishment of a new friend, Hitler no longer had to face the loneliness of future conflicts against league alone. This gained him more and more confidence to progress forward and plan his next annexation. -
German Russian Alliance
An alliance between Germany and Russia was formed after Hitler signed the Non-Aggression Pact with Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union. The two countries agreed upon to never attack each other, and further made secret agreements to partition Poland after invading it. Although they were once enemies, Stalin saw the increasing power of Hitler, and thus being a power-hungry person himself, decided to support Hitler. Germany was now an imminent threat to Britain and France’s attempts for peace. -
Poland Annexation
As the long planned annexation, on this day Hitler leads his expanding military into Poland boarders. As promised, Stalin would command his troops across the eastern border to commence infiltration whilst Hitler uses his abundant battle tested weapons into crushing Poland with a quick defeat. Another invasion this may be, but served as “the last straw” it also have in finally drawing Britain and France’s attention into declaring war on Germany with a quick shut down of any possible appeasement. -
WORLD WAR II
The declaration of war upon Germany was nothing short of a devastation to both Britain and France as they have tired countless methods in preventing world disputes and maintaining peace. But as Germany continues to push the boundaries there is no other option than that of a full scare war to stop the Hitler and his Nazi military in its tracks. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Regarded as an unexpected, bastardly and unprovoked attack, with no warning and no declaration of war, Japanese fighter aircraft begun laughing numerous devastating bombing sorties on the US Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Claiming the lives of approximately 2,300 Americans including that of civilians, US was forced out of Neutrality and onto the side of the Allies whilst declaring war on Japan. This was extremely significant as now one of the most powerful nation had entered the war. -
Hiroshima Bombing
Shortly after German scientists perfected the first and second bomb (Little-Boy & Fat-Man) in the United States, endorsed by President Roosevelt the US began targeting its first targets. On this day a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber departed from Tinian Island set course towards Japan, and at 8:16 a.m. “Little-Boy” was released over Japanese city Hiroshima killing 146,000 Japanese civilians. Those who survived suffered burns, radiation sickness, and other injuries as a result of the fallout. -
Nagasaki Bombing
At an attempt to force Japan into an unconditional submission, Boeing B-29 Superfortress released Fat-Man over the city of Nagasaki just days after the first killing over 80,000 Japanese. Now with the death of approximately 226,000 Japanese, the imperial forces either committed seppuku by disembowelment or surrendered to Allied forces.
