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Anglo-German Naval Agreement
The Anglo-German Naval Agreement was signed by Germany and the United Kingdom to limit the size of their navies. -
Mussolini Attacks Ethiopia
Italy's leader, Mussolini attacked Ethiopia. This attack made it clear that the League of Nations and the Allies were not powerful enough to stop Italy's forces. Mussolini attacked Ethiopia out of spite from when Italy suffered defeat in Ethiopia in 1896. It was also to distract Italians from domestic issues. -
Germany Violates Treaty of Versailles
Germany violates some contents of the Treaty of Versailles by militarizing the Rhineland. Under the Treaty of Versailles, Allied forces would occupy the Rhineland for fifteen years. By militarizing the Rhineland, Germany violated the treaty because they were not permitted to construct any fortification within the Rhineland. If they violated this "in any manner whatsoever, they shall be regarded as comitting a hostile act... and as calculated to destroy the peace of the world." -
Spanish Civil War Begins
When the Spanish monarchy broke 1931, the government that followed antagonized landowners, the Catholic Church, nationalists, and conservatives. The Spanish Popular Front emerged, but was opposed by the Spanish fascists. Franco led an army against the republic, thus beginning the Spanish Civil War. -
Olympics Held in Berlin
The Olympic Games created a brief break in Germany's progression against Jews. The games allowed Germany to present a peaceful, tolerant Germany to the rest of the World. Having the Olympics Games in Berlin signified Germany's reentrance back into world politics after it had been shunned after WW1. -
Germany and Japan sign Anti-Comitern Pact
Nazi Germany and the Imperial Japan come to an agreement by signing the Anti-Comitern Pact. This was directed against the Communist movement and the Soviet Union. The agreement stated that in case of an attack by the Soviet Union against Germany or Japan, the two countries agreed to consult on what measures to take "to safegaurd their common interest." -
Japan invades China
Also called the Second Sino-Japanese War. It was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. Ended when Japan surrender in 1945. -
Battle of Shanghai begins between Japan and China
The Battle of Shanghai begins between Japan and China was one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the war. It was the first of the twenty-two major engagements fought between the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China and the Imperial Japanese Army of the Empire of Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War. It resulted in the Japanese capture of Shanghai. -
Germany Annexes Austria
Nazi Germany completes the annexation or incorporation of Austria. By doing so, Austria was the first country to be annexed by Hitler's Germany. Austria wanted to remain independent, but the vote was in favor of transferring power to Germany -
The Soviet-Japanese Border Wars begins
The Soviet-Japanese Border Wars began with the Battle of Lake Khasan. Also known as the Changkufeng Incident. This incursion was founded in the beliefs of the Japanese side that the Soviet Union misinterpreted the demarcation of the boundary based on the Treaty of Peking between Imperial Russia and the Manchu Empire and furthermore, that the demarcation markers were tampered with. -
Kristallnacht
During the Kristallnacht, Jewish store fronts and synagogues were vandalized. Under Nazi Party orders, Jewish property was smashed or burned. The broken glass from the store fronts helped earn the name Kristallnacht, meaning Crystal Night. -
Germany Plan Z
In an attempt to better the British Royal Navy, Hitler gave the approval for Plan Z. The plan was a five year project aimed at expanding the Nazi Germany navy fleet by 1944. The plan called for 10 battleships, 4 aircarriers, 3 battlecruises. 3 old panzerschiffe, 5 heavy cruisers, 36 light cruisers M class, 68 destroyers, 90 torpedo boats, and 249 U-boats. -
Nazi Germany and Italy sign "Pact of Steel"
The "Pact of Steel" was an agreement between Nazi Germany and Italy. The agreement consisted of a declaration of open trust between Italy and Germany. It also included a union of policies between Italy and Germany's economy and military. -
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact is signed
The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact is signed between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. With secret provisions for the division of Eastern Europe - joint occupation of Poland and Soviet occupation of the Baltic States, Finland and Bessarabia. This protocol gives Hitler the green light for his invasion of Poland, which begins on September 1. -
Britain, France, Australia, and New Zealand declare war on Germany
Austrailia, Britain, and New Zealand declared war on Germany as a response to Germany's invasion of Poland. Two days before war was declared, Germany had bombed Polish cities and towns. The bombing had killed and injured thousands.
