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March on Rome
Mussolini declared a "March on Rome" and threatened to take over the Italian government, claiming that the nation had descended into chaos. He was successful and governed as prime minster for a year and then later seized control of the state. This is important because now Italy is now under a new leader, a leader who later formed an alliance with Hitler. -
Hitler implemented the policy of Lebensraum
Lebensraum was new space for living, which would be made possible through an expansion of Germany’s territory into Austria and Czechoslovakia, and then through Poland, Ukraine, and Russia. This is important because it went against the restrictions on acts of aggression and expansion which the Paris Peace Treaty had placed on Germany. -
Hitler becomes Chancellor
He led Germany in an aggressive manner with an end goal of being the strongest country in Europe. This is important as he gave Germany its military back and broke other rules in order to accomplish his goal of returning Germany to its former glory. -
Hitler makes Germany a totalitarian state
A totalitarian state is a state in which the individual is subordinated to a centralized administration that control the national economy, politics, media, and culture, usually under a single dictator or small council. In this case, Hitler became sole ruler, which broke the governmental regulations for Germany which had been set by the Paris Peace Treaty -
Hitler re-armed Germany
Hitler re-armed Germany in direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles. This was one of the most important rules that had been discussed as it was feared that if Germany once again had a military, they would use it to invade other countries again. -
Hitler re-arms Germany
Hitler re-armed Germany in 1935. This went directly against what the Treaty of Versailles had dictated, as the European powers feared that if Germany had a military they would once again invade others countries. -
Mussolini attacked Ethiopia
Mussolini attacked Ethopia and conquered it a year later in 1936. He refused to withdraw, despite the protests of the League of Nations. Mussolini then withdrew Italy from the League of Nations. This is important as it symbolizes how Italy now behaves according to its own rules, which is similar to how Germany originally acted in WW1. -
Anti-Comintern Pact
Germany signed an Anti-Comintern Pact with Japan, pledging mutual support against possible attacks from the USSR. This is important as Germany was not allowed to have allies. -
Night of Broken Glass
synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses througout Germany were attacked by German paramilitary forces and by mobs in the Kristallnacht assault -
The Creation of the Axis Powers
The two governments of Italy and Germany proclaimed an “axis” that bound them together in an alliance if war happened. This is extremely important as these two countries were both very militaristic, which scared the European powers. Also, Germany was not allowed to make any pacts/alliances, and in doing so broke a part of the Paris Peace Treaty. -
The Hitler-Stalin Pact
Hitler was going to attack Poland but realized that Britain was going to defend and also try to recruit the USSR to help defend it. Hitler ignored his hatred of communism and had a non-aggression oath be signed with the USSR. This was important as it allowed Germany to take control of Poland, which directly went against the rules that had been set in place for Germany.
