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Mussolini Forms the Fascist Party in Italy
In 1919 Benito Mussolini formed Italy’s Facsist Party. It was originally called the Fasci di Combattimento, but later changed its name. He created this party because he thought it was what was best for Italy and it would allow him to become Italy’s ruler. The effect this event had on WWII was becoming one of the totalitarian governments that Hitler based Nazi Germany on. -
Treaty of Versailles is signed
Primary treaty that came out of the Paris Peace Conference out of the end of world war 1. Signed by Allied, associated powers, and Germany in the Halls of Mirrors in The Palace of Versailles. Went into effect on Jan 10, 1920. -
Hitler joins the German Workers Party
Hitler attended a German Worker parties meeting and was asked to join. He joined because he was displeased with how disorganized the group was and was set about transforming the group. This created high tension leading up to WWII. -
League of Nations is founded
It was established on January 10, 1920. The league was an international organization, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, created after the First World War to provide a non-bias forum for resolving international disputes. The first nations in the Leauge were Great Britain, France, Italy, and Japan -
Washington Naval Conference
Between 1921 and 1922, the world's largest naval powers gathered in Washington, D.C. for a conference to discuss naval disarmament. They came up with three treaties- the four power treaty, five power treaty, and the nine power treaty. signed by the US, Great Britain, France and Japan. These treaties banned large military ships, but failed in preventing smaller military ships. -
Mussolini Threatens to March on Rome
In late October of 1922, Mussolini threatened to march on Rome. The march on Rome was an insurrection in Rome by Italy’s Fascist Party Rulers. It was meant to bring Mussolini into power in Italy. He was able to stage the march because of the political atmosphere that WWI had created. The effects this had on WWII were bringing Mussolini into power and marking the beginning of Italy's Fascist rule. -
Hitler Attempts to Overthrow the Wiemar Government; Beer Hall Putsch
In Munich, Germany Adolf Hitler and Erich Ludendorff attempted an insurrection on the Wiemar Government. It lasted two days and was unsuccessful. They did this because they were unhappy with the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and how they treated Germany. They also wanted to take over the government of Bavaria, Germany. The failed insurrection resulted in Hitler being sentenced to prison for five years, of which he only served less than a year. In this time he wrote Mein Kampf. -
US creates Dawes/Circular Loans Plan
European powers are stalemated over German reparations. So they form a committee under Charles G. Dawes In April 1924; the Dawes plan was proposed with lower annual reparations, and payment to allies slowly increasing over time with development of German economy. The U.S loans Germany money to to stabilize their economy and pay their annual war reparations. The money paid to France and Britain goes directly back to the U.S so they too can pay off their war debts. -
Kellogg Briand Pact
Signed in 1928, it is an international agreement drafted by the U.S. legislature and signed by 60 countries. The treaty was ultimately signed to outlaw war and largescale conflicts. This treaty was highly innefective because it could not be enforced as the start of WWII happens in the next decade. -
Great Depression begins
Stock Market crashes, sending Wall Street into a panic and wiped out millions of investors. Consumer spending and investment dropped. This created high tension in the US. -
Japan Occupies Manchuria, China
Japanese troops were protecting a railroad in Southern Manchuria, but wanted to take control of land there. So they blew up the railroad as an excuse to invade Manchuria sending railroad troops and troops from Korea to take control over major cities. By February 27, 1932 all Chinese troops surrendered. The League of nations sent a commission to investigate and found Japan guilty. Japan left the league of Nations. -
Geneva Disarmament Conference begins
February 1932, Sixty countries sent delegates to the Disarmament Conference that convened in Geneva in reductions in armaments, with emphasis on offensive weapons such as gases. This convention failed in 1934 when Germany withdrew from the Geneva Disarmament Conference, due to unfair treaty of versailles. -
Hitler placed second in German national elections for president
Paul Von Hindenburg won reelection but many people close to him wanted Nazis to have some control in government. So Paul removed his chancellor for Franz Von Papen who lifted regulations on Hitlers Brown coats and unilaterally removed German reparations. Franz’s policies were not liked so eventually after Paul gave in he made Hitler Chancellor in January 1933. -
Hitler Withdraws From the Geneva Disarmament Conference
Hitler made Germany withdraw from the Disarmament Agreement in October of 1933. He did this because Germany had failed to meet the requirements by the July adjournment and he disagreed with the agreement. The effects this had on WWII were causing a lot of international issues and encouraging Mussolini to form his Fascist party. -
Germany Withdraws From the League of Nations
In October of 1923 Hitler made the decision to remove Germany from the League of Nations. He did this because he didn’t agree with the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, especially those limiting Germany’s military, and he didn’t want to abide by them any longer. The effects this had were allowing Germany to grow their military and violate many terms of the Disarmament Agreement, League of Nations and several other international agreements. -
Hitler merges offices chancellor and president
Hitler merges offices of Chancellor and President to gain more power over Germany. This created high tension leading up to WWII. -
Mussolini Invades Ethiopia
On October 3rd, 1935 Italy invaded Ethiopia. They were given the opportunity to do so when there was a border dispute between Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland. Italy had previously tried to conquer Ethiopia but failed. This created international tensions because other countries didn’t agree with Italy’s manner of conquering Ethiopia or that fact that they did it to begin with. -
Hitler Militarizes the Rhineland
In March, 1936 Hitler reoccupied the Rhineland after it was taken from Germany and demilitarized as part of the Disarmament Agreement. He did this after withdrawing from the Disarmament Agreement because he wanted Germany’s land back. The effects this had on WWII were showing Hitler’s determination to violate the Disarmament Agreement in particular. It also showed that while the rest of the world’s countries didn’t agree with Hitler’s actions, they weren’t doing anything to stop him. -
Japanese invasion of China WWII
known as the second Sino-Japanese war, occured from 1937-1945. This war was mainly caused when a small Japanese forces and Chinese forces collided on the Marco-Polo bridge, where shots were fired and Japan invaded the Chinese mainland. -
Italy withdraws from the League of Nations
Mussolini withdraws from the Leauge of Nations in 1937 after Italys Abyssinian War. The Leauge of Nations threatened to put sanctions on Italy due to this conflict, upsetting Musonlini and causing him to leave. -
Hitler and Nazi Germany annex Austria
German troops March into Austria to annex the nation with help of Austrian Nazis. Austrian Chancellor Kurt Von Schuschnigg, was bullied by Hitler into appointing Nazis to his cabinet and resigning from his position. Kurt was thrown into Jail and Austrians accepted the Nazis enthusiastically. -
Hitler signs an alliance with Mussolini
Pact of Steel, an alliance signed by Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. It gave a legal formal status to the 1936 Rome-Berlin Axis agreement. This linked the countries politically and militarily. -
Hitler and Nazi Germany gain Sudetenland
Hitler threatened war if he didn’t get Sudetenland. British, French, Italian, and German leaders met in Munich and decided to give Germany Sudetenland in exchange for a pledge of peace. Agreement known as Munich Pact. -
Hiter occupies Czechoslovakia
Hitler invades and occupies Czechoslovakia in an attempt to prevent Germany’s imperial aims. This created high tension leading up to WWII. -
Hitler and Stalin sign Non-Aggression Pact
Hitler and Stalin signed an agreement to take no military action against each other for the next 10 years. Stalin viewed the pact as a way to keep his nation on peaceful terms with Germany, while giving him time to build up the Soviet military. This lessened tensions leading up to WWII. -
Germany invades Poland
Germany invades Poland to regain lost territory and ultimately rule their neighbor to the east. This created high tensions between Poland and Germany. -
Britain and France declare war on Nazi Germany
Britain and France declare war on Nazi Germany in response to Hitler’s invasion of Poland. This created high tensions between France, Britain, and Germany.
