The Road to War

  • Hitler joins the Nationalist Socialist German Workers Party (social)

    Hitler joins the Nationalist Socialist German Workers Party (social)
    Adolf Hitler was not one of the original members of the Nationalist Socialist German Workers Party (Nazis). When he first joined, there was less then ten people in the party. After he joined he was able to bring in hundreds to support their cause. He was not officially announced the leader until 1921
  • Treaty of Versailles is signed (political)

    Treaty of Versailles is signed (political)
    This treaty ended World War One on June 28,1919. The Treaty of Versailles consisted of 15 parts and 440 articles, all dedicated to keeping the peace among the formerly feuding countries.
  • Mussolini forms the Fascist Party in Italy (political)

    Mussolini forms the Fascist Party in Italy (political)
    Fascist Italy was formed by Benito Mussolini who was the head of this new government. As Italy was falling into political chaos, Mussolini felt that only he could restore order and bring back the peace.
  • Washington Naval Conference (social)

    Washington Naval Conference (social)
    This conference was formed to discuss different ways to relieve the growing tensions in East Asia. Senator William E. Borah, Republican of Idaho took the lead at the conference and suggested that the former Allies gather to slow the Arms race.
  • Mussolini threatens to March on Rome (political)

    Mussolini threatens to March on Rome (political)
    In 1922, Mussolini wanted control over Rome's government. He then demanded that the government would allow the new Fascist government be allowed to take over otherwise they would take over by the use of force.
  • Hitler attempts to overthrow the Weimar Government (political)

    Hitler attempts to overthrow the Weimar Government (political)
    On November 8, 1923 Hitler and his followers staged the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich. They actions failed to overthrow the government and Hitler was put in prison for five years but only stayed there for nine months.
  • Hitler goes to prison and writes Mein Kampf (social)

    Hitler goes to prison and writes Mein Kampf (social)
    While Hitler was in prison for nine months, he wrote a book called Mein Kampf. This books was dedicated to his early mentor Dietrich Eckart and it was a political autobiography.
  • Hitler and Nazi Germany annex Austria (political)

    Hitler and Nazi Germany annex Austria (political)
    Germany wanted to seize the Austrian government and annex the German speaking nation for the third Reich. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Shuschnigg heard about Hitlers ambitions he met with him to stop it but instead he ended up appointing Nazi officials to his cabinet. Eventually the Chancellor gave in to Hitler and resigned from his position, telling his people not to resist as Germany took over.
  • Kellogg Briand Pact (political)

    Kellogg Briand Pact (political)
    This pact is sometimes also known as the Pact of Paris because that was the city it was signed in. The pact was created to stop another World War I from happening again. It however did not work and the pact was ended.
  • Great Depression ends in Germany (economic)

    Great Depression ends in Germany (economic)
    Germany decided to cut spending down rather than increasing it which caused the Great Depression to worsen. However Hitler decided to go against the Paris Peace Conference's ruling and allowed re-armament. This helped boost the economy as well as other things such as having no independent wage unions to keep wages low and prices stable.
  • Japan occupies Manchuria, China (economic)

    Japan occupies Manchuria, China (economic)
    In 1931, Japan attacked Manchuria due to the fact that they wanted more land since their population was rapidly increasing. Japan also wanted Manchuria because it had rich minerals and agricultural land for growing crops.
  • Geneva Disarmament Conference (political)

    Geneva Disarmament Conference (political)
    For this conference, sixty different countries had delegates come to represent them in hopes of lowering everyone's armaments. Germany felt that since the Treaty of Versailles ended with them having to decrease their army that everyone else's should be lowered down to their level. If this was not agreed upon, then Germany stated that they should be allowed to increase their army back up to what it was.
  • Hitler places second in German national elections for president (political)

    Hitler places second in German national elections for president (political)
    Adolf Hitler and President von Hindenburg faced off in the 1932 elections, Even though Hitler was able to create a large fan base of dedicated followers, it was not enough to take out President von Hindenburg.
  • Hitler merges offices chancellor and president (political)

    Hitler merges offices chancellor and president (political)
    Hitler wanted to gain the most amount of power and all in the quickest amount of time. He was already Chancellor of Germany and was soon to become President of Germany. One of his first acts of his Presidency was to combine the offices of President and Chancellor so no one could be as powerful as him.
  • Germany withdraws from the League of Nations (political)

    Germany withdraws from the League of Nations (political)
    Around nine months after Adolf Hitler had been appointed Chancellor of Germany, he announced that Germany would be pulling out of the league of nations. This is due to the refusal of western powers to allow Germany to grow its military power.
  • President Von Hindenburg dies (social)

    President Von Hindenburg dies (social)
    On August 2, 1934, President von Hindenburg died during his presidency. This gave Hitler the opportunity to move into office because of his gaining support among the citizens. Especially after the President died, many turned to Hitler in hopes of finding safety there.
  • Mussolini invades Ethiopia (political)

    Mussolini invades Ethiopia (political)
    Mussolini took Adolf Hitlers ideas about expanding German territories by getting all the territories they considered German. Mussolini invaded Ethiopia to get the territory that they had lost in the Battle of Adowa.
  • Hitler militarizes Rhineland (political)

    Hitler militarizes Rhineland (political)
    In January of 1936, Hitler began his plans to re-occupy Rhineland. He said that this needed to be done as a defense strategy. One early morning 32,000 armed German forces entered Rhineland in hopes the French armies would not be there. If they were than the German forces would have to pull back because they were not strong enough.
  • Hitler signs alliance with Mussolini (social)

    Hitler signs alliance with Mussolini (social)
    This was an alliance formed between the two fascist countries of Germany and Italy. It promised that the two countries would defend each other when needed. They both knew that a war was coming so when it did their militarizes would have to team up and fight their enemy. This alliance was eventually formalized by the Pact of Steel in 1939.
  • Japanese invasion of China (political)

    Japanese invasion of China (political)
    This feud began in 1937 at the Marco Polo Bridge incident, where Japanese and Chinese troops got together and battled. Later on Japan's troops and China's troops clashed together near Peiping, China.
  • Italy withdraws from the League of Nations (economic)

    Italy withdraws from the League of Nations (economic)
    The League of Nations imposed economic sanctions on Italy for their invasion of Ethiopia. This was the final straw that caused Mussolini to pull out of the League of Nations.
  • Hitler and Nazi Germany gain Sudetenland (political)

    Hitler and Nazi Germany gain Sudetenland (political)
    As part of the Treaty of Versailles, parts of Germany were given to other countries which included Sudetenland. This angered Germany and they wanted all the land that was given away, back. Hitler and the Prime Minister of Britain, Neville Chamberlain created the Munich agreement that would allow for Germany to get back Sudetenland but nothing else from Czechoslovakia.
  • Hitler occupies Czechoslovakia (political)

    Hitler occupies Czechoslovakia (political)
    Adolf Hitler threatened Emile Hatch, the Czech President that if he did not allow the German army free passage into Czechoslovakia than he would bomb Prague, the capital of Czechoslovakia. In fear for his people, Hatch allowed Hitler through and his forces marched into the country.
  • Hitler and Stalin sing Non-Agression Pact (social)

    Hitler and Stalin sing Non-Agression Pact (social)
    This pact was signed by Germany and the Soviet union. It stated that they both agreed to not take military action on each other for ten years. The Soviets felt it was a perfect time to build their army and Germany used this time to invade Poland unopposed.
  • Germany invades Poland (political)

    Germany invades Poland (political)
    As part of the Treaty of Versailles, some of Germany's land was given to Poland. This angered Germany and they wanted what once was their land back in their possession. German forces bombarded Poland from land and air using their extensive bombing skills.
  • Britain and France declare war on Nazi Germany

    Britain and France declare war on Nazi Germany
    At the time of Germany's invasion into Poland, both Britain and France were allied with Poland. Since there ally was being attacked, France and Britain teamed up and declared war on Germany.
  • France surrenders and is occupied by Nazi Germany (social)

    France surrenders and is occupied by Nazi Germany (social)
    On June 17, 1940 France wanted to seek an armistice with Germany. It was finally signed on June 22, 1940 by German General Wilhelm Keitel and French General Charles Huntziger in a railway car. In the armistice it said that France would have to end the hostilities and pay for the German invasion.
  • Japan, Italy, and Germany sign the Tripartite Pact (political)

    Japan, Italy, and Germany sign the Tripartite Pact (political)
    When Japan, Italy, and Germany signed the Tripartite Pact on September 27,1940 they all became part of the military alliance known as the Axis. Signed in Berlin, Germany, by Joachim von Ribbentrop, Galeazzo Ciano and Saburō Kurusu.