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Treaty of Versailles
The Germans had to pay reparations for WW1 and were very angry at the impossible amount (132 billion marks)
1. Blame (War Guilt Clause)
2. Reparations: 132 billion gold marks
3. Armed force restrictions: max 100,000 men in army, 6 battleships, no submarines, max 15000 men in navy and no air force
4. Territory: the Rhineland was to be occupied by Allied troops for 15 years. Germany lost 13% of its land and 6 million citizens -
Hitler joined the Nazi Party
Hitler joined the Nazi party and became its leader in 1920 -
Period: to
Roaring 20s and Jazz age
For many people in Western Societies, the 20s were a decade of optimism, affluence and new directions after the terrors of WW1, made possible by strong economic conditions for most of the decade.
- Mass production
- Cultural development
- Social liberation
- A new era of music
- Flapper generation and evolution of womens rights -
The SA was formed
Hitler formed a group of soldiers and thugs - the SA - to attack rival parties -
Washington Conference
International conference called by the United States to limit the naval arms race and to work out security agreements in the Pacific area. Held in Washington, D.C., the conference resulted in the drafting and signing of several major and minor treaty agreements.
Japan was not happy. -
Benito Mussolini becomes Italian Premier
King declares Mussolini premier in an attempt to head off violent conflict between the Fascists and communists -
Hyper-inflation
Prices rose rapidly due to poor economic conditions and overprinting of money. -
Beer Hall Putsch
Hitler and General Ludendorff led a small contigent of followers in a harmless, comical attempt at rebellion in Munich. It failed, 16 Nazis were killed and Hitler was put in prison -
Mein Kampf
Hitler wrote a book titled 'My Struggle' outlining his ideas while in prison -
Hitler Youth
The youth were taught Nazi ideas and to obey Hitler -
Period: to
Great Depression
US Stock market crashed - many investors realised they had paid too much for stocks and started selling. By October, the stock market lost 47% of its value. Many investors (most owned companies) lost all their money. US withdrew loans and imposed tariffs. There was bad unemployment (6 million)
Support for the Nazi party grew -
Final League of Nations Disarmament Conference
Fails to secure any agreement -
Hitler becomes Chancellor
In an attempt to reel in the chaos of the German government, President Hindenburg made Hitler chancellor, thinking he could control him. This was the first major step in Hitler's ascent to dictatorship. -
Reichstag Fire
The Reichstag was burned down. Hitler used this as an excuse to arrest communist opponents -
General Election
Nazis won 44% of votes. This didn't give him a majority, so he put the 81 communist deputies in prison -
Enabling Act
The Reichstag gave Hitler the power to create his own laws
--> Issue decrees with the status of law -
Opposition Parties banned
Nazi party was declared the only political party in Germany -
Night of Long Knives
Hitler used the SS to kill hundreds of the SA, winning the allegiance of his army -
Hitler became Führer
President, chancellor and commander of the army -
Spanish Civil War
Diverted Britain and France's attention -
Munich Pact
Britain and France appease Hitler by signing the Munich pact, which grants Hitler control of the Czech Sudetenland -
Nazi-Soviet Non-aggression pact
Germans and Soviets agreed that Poland should be divided between them -
Germany invades Poland
Early 1939, Hitler was determined to invade and occupy Poland, which had guarantees of the French and British military support should it be attacked by Germany. Hitler neutralised the possibility that the Soviet Union would resist the invasion through the Nazi-Soviet Non-aggression pact in Moscow. Germany and the Soviets agreed that Poland should be divided between them. -
Britain and France Declare war on Germany
In response to Hitler's aggression in Eastern Europe, Britain and France go to war with Germany in an attempt to stop Hitler's bid for global hegemony