Rise of the Axis Timeline

  • Treaty of Versailles

    Treaty of Versailles
    The treaty marked the end of the first world war. It forced Germany into surrendering and claiming all responsibilities of the war. Britain and France gained major land and money from the treaty leaving Germany in major poverty and despair and surrendering most of its land. The treaty is often referred to as the beginner of the second world war.
  • Mussolini becomes fascist leader of Italy

    Mussolini becomes fascist leader of Italy
    After the treaty of Versailles, Italy gained nothing from the war even though they spent many years fighting. Mussolini believed that democracy had failed the country after leaving them with nothing. He threatened the current leader and took the country for himself being the first person to use fascism. Mussolini spent the next few years building the power of its military and improving the nation.
  • Mein Kampf is published

    Mein Kampf is published
    While in prison, Hitler wrote his book Mein Kampf. In his book, he explains how he would improve the nation and take revenge for what France and Britain did to Germany. After losing the war, Hitler was upset about his country and its lack of power. His book gained the eye of some people who also supported his idea. This kick started his path to becoming a leader.
  • Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany

    Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany
    After almost a decade from the publishing of his book, Hitler is elected Chancellor of Germany. This was the final event before Hitler gained complete power of his country. Unlike most other fascist leaders, Hitler gained power through a complete democratic process. He didn’t have to kill anyone until after he was elected but at that point the people didn’t care because they loved him.
  • “Night of the Long Knives” Hitler consolidates power

    “Night of the Long Knives” Hitler consolidates power
    After being elected completely legit, Hitler begins his spree of killing. He has any opposers or political enemies of his assassinated in one night. 100 - 1000 people were killed in the night. The event completes Hitlers power as now not one person has any power to stop him.
  • Period: to

    “Night of the Long Knives” Hitler consolidates power

    After being elected completely legit, Hitler begins his spree of killing. He has any opposers or political enemies of his assassinated in one night. 100 - 1000 people were killed in the night. The event completes Hitlers power as now not one person has any power to stop him.
  • Italy invades Ethiopia

    Italy invades Ethiopia
    Mussolini decides he wants to take Ethiopia. Ethiopia was one of the few nations in Africa that was independent from any other nation. The League of Nations tried to impose restrictions on Italy for this but it gained little support and wasn’t very successful. This created tension between Italy and the other Western countries.
  • Period: to

    Italy invades Ethiopia

    Mussolini decides he wants to take Ethiopia. Ethiopia was one of the few nations in Africa that was independent from any other nation. The League of Nations tried to impose restrictions on Italy for this but it gained little support and wasn’t very successful. This created tension between Italy and the other Western countries.
  • Japan Invades China

    Japan Invades China
    Japan sees the power that Germany and Italy have. Japan wants that type of power so it decides to invade China. Japan believed that it was racially superiors to the Chinese. Japan was able to take the capital of China with very little resistance. Japan was in the middle of its industrial revolution and needed the resources that China had.
  • Period: to

    Japan Invades China

    Japan sees the power that Germany and Italy have. Japan wants that type of power so it decides to invade China. Japan believed that it was racially superiors to the Chinese. Japan was able to take the capital of China with very little resistance. Japan was in the middle of its industrial revolution and needed the resources that China had.
  • Japanese Rape of Nanjing

    Japanese Rape of Nanjing
    During the conquest between China and Japan, Japanese soldiers often killed civilians and raped women them for competitive game. The Japanese had no care for the Chinese people as they were seen as inferior. A common sight would be bodies all over the ground as hundreds of thousands were killed. After the war, Hideki Tojo was executed by hanging for the war crimes of this disaster.
  • Period: to

    Japanese Rape of Nanjing

    During the conquest between China and Japan, Japanese soldiers often killed civilians and raped women them for competitive game. The Japanese had no care for the Chinese people as they were seen as inferior. A common sight would be bodies all over the ground as hundreds of thousands were killed. After the war, Hideki Tojo was executed by hanging for the war crimes of this disaster.
  • Germany and Italy sign the Pact of Steel

    Germany and Italy sign the Pact of Steel
    Hitler and Mussolini created an alliance before the inevitable war. Hitler proposed the idea to Mussolini in order to form the Axis powers. The two would support each other in resources and armies for the war. Mussolini agreed to Hitler because both believed that fascism was the better form of government and saw that an alliance would be beneficial to both nations.
  • Germany invades Poland, beginning World War II

    Germany invades Poland, beginning World War II
    After signing the Pact of Steel, Germany invaded Poland as the first push for the war. All of the places that Germany and Italy have taken were small and uncontrolled by major nations. That was until Germany invaded Poland which had the support of Britain and France. Immediately after the invasion the other European powers came together to form the allied powers to start the second world war.
  • Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact

    Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact
    Hitler, Mussolini, and Tojo met up in Berlin. They formed an alliance for mutual assistance in war. The alliance was created as an opposition to the neutral US. The three nations would form the greater of the Axis powers. Japan was recognized as the greater East Asia nation while Germany and Italy would be seen as the powers of Europe. The Tripartite Pact could seen as the downfall of the Axis powers as America might not have been involved in the war if Japan wasn’t related to the Axis powers.