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Bolshevik Takeover
Lenin's forces overthrew a government. The Bolsheviks quickly seized power in other cities. They aimed at building up a proletarian socialist state. -
Russian Civil War Begins
The war was fought between Reds (aka Bolsheviks) and Whites (Tsarists). There was brutality on both sides. Reds captured and executed Tsar and his family. The Reds end up winning. -
Mussolini Creates Fascist Party
Fascism glorified action, violence, discipline, and, above all, blind loyalty to the state. It was a political system that allowed the existence of only one political party. -
Hitler Joins NSDAP
Hitler became the leader of the NSDAP or Nazi party. He later brought men from his army to join this party. -
New Economic Policy (NEP)
This allowed some degree of free enterprise to encourage higer production by the peasants. -
March on Rome
The cause of the march was to demand that the government makes changes. Fearing a civil war, the King had asked Mussolini to form a government as prime minister. -
Beer Hall "Putsch"
Hitler's ego was to overthrow the government. It was a total disaster, yet it earned Hitler a good deal of publicity as a national hero defending German honor against domestic violence and foreign humiliation. -
Hitler Writes Mein Kampf
While in prison for 9 months, Hitler wrote "My Struggle," which outlined his political beliefsand strategies for seizing power. -
Lenin's Death
Lenin is remembered as the father of the Revolution. His legacy was passed on to Stalin to carry out the real revolution transformation of Russia. -
Creation of 5 Years Plan
The government set goals for economic growth such as building industries, improving transportation, and increasing farm output. However, due to politics, constant confusion and work stoppages were caused. -
Invasion of Manchuria
Japan invaded Manchuria in northeastern China, adding it to the growing Japanese empire. -
Nazi Wins Majority in Elections
Two factors helped the Nazis win, the Depression and the bad economy. The Depression raised international tensions. Also, the stock market crash left 6 million Germans unemployed. -
Hitler Becomes Chancellor
Hitler skillfully used his government powers, propaganda, lies, and brute force to divide his enemies and then destroy them one by one. -
"Great Purges"
In this reign of terror, the Great Purge, Stalin and his secret police cracked down especially on Old Bolsheviks, party activists from the early days. -
Invasion of Ethiopia
Mussolini pursued his own imperialist ambitions by attacking Ethiopia. The Ethiopians appealed to the League of Nations for aid but that did not stop Italy from conquering Ethiopia. -
Collectivization of Agriculture
This was mainly a means to produce enough food to support an urbanized industrial society. -
Re-Militarizes Rhineland
Hitler defied the Treaty of Versailles again by moving German forces back into Rhineland, the demilitarized part of Germany. -
"Rape of Nanjing"
The Japanese attacked China proper this time around. The Japanese set up their puppet government in Nanjing. -
Anschluss - Annexation of Austria
Hitler, himself being of Austrian birth, wanted the unification of Austria with Germany, whether the Austrians liked it or not. -
Munich Conference
A conference between Britain, France, Italy, and Germany met at Munich where the Fascist dictators bullied and persuaded France and Britain to agree to the Nazi takeover of Sudetenland. -
Capture of Sudetenland
Sudetenland, a part of Czechoslovakia with a large German population, was the next target of Nazi aggression. -
Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact
The Pact bond Hitler and Stalin to peaceful relations.They agreed (1) not to fight if the other went to war and (2) to divide up Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe between them. -
Creation of Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis
Japan joined with Germany and Italy. This new, combined alliance would turn WW II into a brutal, wide-ranging conflict.
