Rise of the Axis Timeline

  • Treaty of Versailles

    Treaty of Versailles
    The Treaty of Versailles was signed by the Allied Nations and Germany on June 28, 1919, officially ending World War One
  • Mussolini becomes fascist leader of Italy

    Mussolini becomes fascist leader of Italy
    Mussolini is an Italian nationalist and the was the founder of Italian Fascism. From 1922–1925 he was the Prime Minister of Italy.
  • Mein Kampf is published

    Mein Kampf is published
    Mein Kampf is an autobiographical by Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler in 1925. The book describes the process of how Hitler became antisemitic and how he outlines his political ideology ,and future plans for Germany.
  • Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany

    Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany
    Hitler was sworn in during a brief ceremony in Hindenburg's office,and then the Nazi Party assumed control.
  • “Night of the Long Knives” Hitler consolidates power

    “Night of the Long Knives” Hitler consolidates power
    The Night of the Long Knives was a turning point for the German government. It established Hitler as the supreme administrator of justice of the German people
  • Italy invades Ethiopia

    Italy invades Ethiopia
    The goal of invading Ethiopia was to boost Italian national prestige, which was hurt by Ethiopia's defeat of Italian forces at the Battle of adowa in the late nineteenth century.
  • Japan Invades China

    Japan Invades China
    A explosion destroyed the section of railway track near the city of Mukden. Japan who owned the railway, blamed Chinese nationalists for the incident and used the opportunity to retaliate and invade Manchuria.
  • Japanese Rape of Nanjing

    Japanese Rape of Nanjing
    The Japanese butchered an estimated 150,000 male “war prisoners,” massacred an additional 50,000 male civilians, and raped at least 20,000 women and girls of all ages, many of whom were mutilated or killed in the process
  • Germany and Italy sign the Pact of Steel

    Germany and Italy sign the Pact of Steel
    Germany and Italy expanded their political alliance into a military one by signing the Pact of Friendship and Alliance. Dubbed the Pact of Steel by Mussolini, the agreement provided for military cooperation and mutual defensive support between Germany and Italy.
  • Germany invades Poland, beginning World War II

    Germany invades Poland, beginning World War II
    The German invasion happen one week after the signing of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact between Germany and the Soviet Union, and one day after the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union had approved the pact.
  • Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact

    Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact
    The Tripartite Pact created a defense alliance between the countries and was largely intended to deter the United States from entering the conflict.