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Mussolini organizes Fascist party in Italy
Benito Mussolini rejected socialism and established the Fascist Party. He included veterans and other discontented Italians into the Fascist party. Mussolini advocated Italian nationalism, had combat squads that wore black shirts for uniforms (known as the Black Shirts), and launched a program of terrorism and intimidation against his opponents. -
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Hyperinflation in Germany
In 1921, Germany fell behind on reparations payments. Germany had to pay the reparations in gold or in foreign currency, so Germany began to use marks to buy foreign currency at any price, while France occupied the Ruhr Valley, taking over its iron, coal, and steel industries. To pay the workers, the German government had to print great quantities of paper money. Soon, inflation spiraled out of control, making the German mark's value decrease and become almost worthless. -
Mussolini named Prime Minister of Italy
Mussolini organized the Fascist party in 1919. When he spoke, he promised to replace the turmoil with order and restore the ancient Roman greatness. His ability to speak roused the audiences and added to his power. Mussolini also used terror to gain power. In 1922, the Fascist party demanded that the government make changes with the March on Rome. His attempt was successful and he ended up in power.
Mussolini Takes Power -
Hitler writes Mein Kampf
While in prison, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf, meaning, "My Struggle". The Nazi would then use the book for a guide of goals and ideology. Mein Kampf reflected Hitler’s obsessions—extreme nationalism, racism, and anti-Semitism. Hitler believed that Germans belonged to a superior “master race” of Aryans, or light-skinned Europeans, whose greatest enemies were the Jews. Mein Kampf Volume 1 was published in 1925 and Volume 2 in 1926. -
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Joseph Stalin becomes leader of Soviet Union
After Lenin died in 1924, Stalin was the successor, but he shared his power with several other leaders. After years of work, Stalin became the dictator in 1929 and ruled until 1953. He used brutality to transform the Union Soviet from a peasant society into an industrial and military superpower.
To learn more about how Stalin rose to power, click here! -
Hitler appointed Chancellor of Germany
On this day, in hope of creating a stable government, President Paul von Hindenburg names Adolf Hitler, as chancellor of Germany. -
Hitler sends troops into Rhineland
Hitler ordered German troops to march into Rhineland. This action was directly against the Treaty of Versailles which forbade Germany (defeated in World War I) to station armed forces in a demilitarized zone in the Rhineland. Great Britain and France disapproved of Hitler's actions, but neither intervened.
Watch the invasion -
Anschluss
On this day, Adolf Hitler announces an “Anschluss” (union) between Germany and Austria, adding the smaller nation into a Germany. Hitler wanted to unite all German-speaking people in one country.
Read more about Anschluss -
Munich Conference
During the Munich Conference, the leaders of Great Britain, France, and Italy agreed to allow Germany to annex parts of Czechoslovakia. When Hitler first brought the topic up, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain tried to talk him out of it, resulting in Hitler extending his requests. Because of the tall orders, Chamberlain gave in and decided to try "appeasement" to prevent Hitler from requesting more. This backfired.
Real Footage! -
Germany annexes Sudetenland
As a result of the appeasement, Sudetenland was appointed to Hitler and he intended to use it as a stepping stone to take over all of Czechoslovakia. The map above shows the area of Czechoslovakia (Sudetenland) that was annexed. -
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht, or the "Night of Broken Glass," was a night full of terror for Jews throughout Germany, annexed Austria, and in areas of the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia recently occupied by German troops. It is named after the shards of glass left behind by all of the destroyed synagogues, Jewish owned businesses, and Jewish homes. It was a night of anti-Jewish activity and havoc.
Click to see archival footage of Kristallnacht in Buehl -
Germany takes the rest of Czechoslovakia
On this day, Hitler ordered German troops to invade and occupy Czechoslovakia–a nation that the Munich Agreement guaranteed independence. Germany took over Bohemia and established a protectorate over Slovakia. Hitler's invasion of Czechoslovakia was the end of appeasement.
Watch the invasion of Czechoslovakia -
Hitler and Stalin sign the Nonagression Pact
Nazi-Gernany and the Soviet Union signed the Nonagression Pact which agreed to refrain from fighting for the next ten years. -
Germany invades Poland
Hitler sent troops into Poland with the intent to regain lost territory and ultimately rule all of Poland. -
Tripartite Pact
In September of 1940, the Axis powers were formed when Germany, Italy, and Japan signed the Tripartite Pact in Berlin. By signing this Pact, each country promised to assist each other in times of war and to not turn on each other. This was believed to have been signed as a warning to the United States as a way of saying "don't mess with us."
