The Road to World War 2

Treaty of Versailles

Jun 28, 1919

This treaty ended "the war to end all wars". This peace agreement forced Germany to not only take full responsibility for causing World War 1, but pay reparations for all of the damage done by the war. The treaty forced Germany to demilitarize forever (though it didn't stop them in the future) and it also symbolized the start of the League of Nations (a group of representatives from each country that makes a set of rules for EACH nation to follow. They had no military to abolish militarism.

Hitler Takes Control of Germany

Jan 30, 1933

After the people were swayed by the "simple solutions" that Hitler came up with for their existential crisis (economic & political) the general public appointed Adolf Hitler Chancellor of Germany. As soon as he made it into office, he abolished the voting rights of people in Germany so he could remain in power forever. He then began his quest for bringing back militarism and nationalism to Germany. He started this off by building up a military (even if it was violating the Treaty of Versailles)

Invasion of Rhineland

Mar 7, 1936

Just four years after signing the Treaty of Versailles, Hitler violates it AND the Locarno Pact by sending German troops into the demilitarized zone of Rhineland.

Anschluss

Mar 12, 1938

This term refers to the annexation of Austria-Hungary into Germany. It was a time when Hitler felt like his army was strong enough to form a union with Austria. He let the Austrian people decide whether or not they wanted to be a part of Germany or not.

Munich Pact

Sep 29, 1938

Britain and France sacrifice Czechoslovakia and make Hitler sign the Munich pact. They are hoping that he'll follow the rules and stop the invasions, but (as we all know) it doesn't work.

Nazi-Soviet Pact

Aug 23, 1939

In 1939, Stalin and Hitler surprised the world when they signed the nonaggression pact with one another. However, they both had ulterior motives. Stalin needed time to build up his army, and Hitler only wanted to invade Poland unopposed.

Invasion of Poland

Sep 1, 1939

Triggering the start of World War 2, Hitler invades Poland in 1939. He knew that Poland's army is too weak to stop him, so he went full force. Due to past events, it was reassuring for him to know that the other leaders would not stop him in time.

Invasion of Czechoslovakia

Aug 20, 1968

Soviets invade Czechoslovakia. The people try to peacefully protest but are easily overpowered by Soviet Tanks. Nearly 200,000 troops entered Czechoslovakia in order to cease the undoing of all their communist work.