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The Treaty of Versailles was signed
The Treaty of Versailles, ending World War I, was written by the Allies with very little participation from the Germans. The Treaty of Versailles contained 15 parts and 440 articles which updated German borders and forced Germany to pay for reparations from the first World War. This was strictly enforced for 5 years, and then the French agreed to allow modifications. Germany agreed to continue paying under the Dawes Plan and Young Plan, but they were cancelled in 1932. This was a social event. -
Hitler joins the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazis)
Under Adolf Hitler, the National Socialist German Workers Party became a mass movement and led Germany from 1933 to 1945. When it was founded, emphasized German pride and anti-semitism, and their dissatisfaction with the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. Being a member of the party since it was founded, Hitler later became the leader of the party in 1921. This was recognized as a social event. -
Washington Naval Conference
The Washington Naval Conference was a gathering of the world's largest naval powers to discuss naval disarmament and find ways to calm tensions in East Asia. Senator William E. Borah was the leader of a congressional effort that forced the United States to engage Japan and the United Kingdom in negotiations for disarmament. Britain, France, Italy, Japan, and the United States attended this conference&others attended. The Soviet Union and Central Powers weren't invited. This was a social event. -
Mussolini threatens to march on Rome
The March on Rome occurred to mark the beginning of the fascist rule and declare the party as the most important in Italy. As Mussolini continued to gain power, the fascist party leaders planned a march on Rome, by the fascist armed squads, known as Blackshirts. On the march, the troops would take over local land throughout Italy. Mussolini did not refer to the march on Rome as a conquest for power, but as a transfer of power within the framework of the constitution. This was a political event. -
Mussolini forms the Fascist Party in Italy
On this day, Benito Mussolini used his charm to create a powerful fascist state in Italy. As the National Fascist Party grew in Italy, Mussolini was appointed as head of government of the Kingdom of Italy. Mussolini then clarified that he could only restore order as Italy suffered from political chaos. Then, he became prime minister. As he slowly broke apart democratic institutions, he declared himself dictator, with the official title of "Il Duce". This event was both political and social. -
Hitler attempts to overthrow the Weimar Government (Beer Hall Putsch)
From November 8, 1923 to November 9, 1923, Adolf Hitler and his supporters staged the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich. Hitler created a plan in which he would kidnap the state commissioner of Bavaria, but failed. Then, Hitler was convicted of treason and sentenced 5 years in prison after the failed putsch, but only served 9 months. When he exited prison, he spent his time rebuilding the Nazi Party and gaining power through political methods. The Beer Hall Putsch was a political event. -
Hitler goes to prison and writes Mein Kampf
After the failed putsch, Adolf Hitler was sentenced to 5 years in prison but only served 9 months in Landsberg prison.Hitler's defense speeches were printed in newspapers,which made him more popular. In prison,he was seen by visitors and received mail from his admirers. While behind bars, he wrote a part of his political autobiography, called "Mein Kampf", which translates to "my stuggle". This was dedicated to his earlier mentor,Dietrich Eckart and published in 1925.This was a political event. -
Kellogg Briand Pact
The Kellogg Briand Pact was an agreement signed to outlaw war. Sometimes referred to as the Pact of Paris, this agreement was one of the international efforts created with the intentions to prevent the second world war. However, in the end, it only had a little effect in stopping a world war. The Kellogg Briand Pact was a social event. -
Japan occupies Manchuria
Shortly after launching the attack on Manchuria, Japan already occupied numerous places in South Manchuria. The population of Japan was quickly rising and became overcrowded. The Japanese didn't favor the Chinese and believed that Manchuria had large amounts of minerals, forestry, and farming land. Overall, Japan viewed Manchuria as a solution to their conflicts. But, the 1929 depression hit Japan hard, so they thought there were no solutions and occupied Manchuria. This event was economic. -
Geneva Disarmament Conference (February)
Attending the Geneva Disarmament Conference were delegates from sixty different countries. They discussed reducing armaments, with emphasis certain weapons. Germany pressured other states to disarm to German levels. If they refused to disarm to German levels, then Germany should have the right to rebuild its armed forces. Sometime later, Germany announced their withdrawal from the Disarmament Conference and the League of Nations. This gathering was a social event. -
Hitler places second in German National elections for president
In this election, Adolf Hitler ran against former president von Hindenburg. Hitler used the following slogan to gain supporters during the election: "Freedom and Bread". Then, a propaganda campaign was waged on Hitler by Joseph Goebbels. This led Nazi posters begin displayed everywhere and thousands of rallies held by the Nazis every day across Germany. In the end, Hindenburg received majority votes, meaning he was elected for another 7 year term. This was a political event. -
Germany withdraws from League of Nations
Hitler withdrew from the League of Nations in 1933 because he wanted to expand Germany. In order to expand, he needed to get rid of the restrictions set in place by the Treaty of Versailles that were holding him back from gaining more territory from Poland, the Ukraine and the Soviet Union. This is a social and political event. -
President Von Hindenburg dies
President of Germany, Paul von Hidenburg died on August 2, 1934 of old age. Due to his death, Germany began to increase its support for Adolf Hitler. With Hitler already having the title as chancellor, reactionary forces urged Hitler to consolidate his power, which he could do by merging his presidency and chancellorship. When a plebiscite vote was held on August 19th, his increase in admirers and fear of the communists brought Hitler to a 90 percent of majority vote. This was a political event. -
Hitler merges offices chancellor and president
Being appointed chancellor was not enough for Adolf Hitler, as he wanted more power. So, after the death of President von Hindenburg, a vote was held, deciding if Hitler would become the new president of Germany. When Hitler won with 90% majority vote, he merged his titles of chancellor and president, which was recommended by the army and other reactionary forces. With this being said, Hitler was officially the dictator of Germany. This action was a political event. -
Great Depression ends in Germany (January)
In 1935, unemployment was falling in Germany. Compulsory labor service was introduced, essentially causing unemployment to reduce even more. To persuade women to return to their domestic life and have more children, tax incentives were introduced. Rearmament helped boost Germany's economy. Hitler's productivity in economy remained low and Germans were heavily taxed.Lastly, Hitler convinced citizens that the Jews were responsible for the events of the Great Depression. This was an economic event. -
Mussolini invades Ethiopia
Prior to invading Ethiopia, Mussolini inherited Adolf Hitler's plan to widen German territories by obtaining all of the territories that were considered German. Mussolini commented that his expansion policies did not differ from those of other colonial powers in Africa. Mainly, Mussolini wanted to invade Ethiopia to gain Italian national prestige, which was hurt by Ethiopia's defeat of Italian forces at the Battle of Adowa, saving Ethiopia from Italian colonization. This was a social event. -
Hitler militarizes the Rhineland
Adolf Hitler violated the terms of the Treaty of Versailles by sending German military troops into the Rhineland. Hitler began planning in January of 1936, arguing this action was to be done as a defense strategy. While entering the Rhineland, Hitler stated that the march into the Rhineland was very nerve racking because if the French caught them, he would have to withdraw. The League of Nations condemned his actions but did not enact economic or military sanctions. This was a social event. -
Hitler signs alliance with Mussolini (Rome Berlin Axis of 1936)
The Rome Berlin Axis of 1936 was a coalition formed between Italy and Germany in 1936. This agreement was created by Italy's foreign minister Galeazzo Ciano and promised support between the two nations. Additionally, Japan eventually joined the Axis Powers. The alliance was later formalized by the Pact of Steel in 1939. The signing of the aliiance was a social event. -
Japanese Invasion of China
The Japanese invasion of China in 1937 happened because China began resisting the Japanese expansion. The Chinese armies were driven out of their territories by the Japanese and the nationalist capital, Nanking, fell. The Japanese obtained the possession of most of the ports and the majority of the chief cities. This was a political event. -
Italy withdraws from League of Nations
Italy withdrew from the League of Nations in 1937 because after they invaded Ethiopia, the Allies did nothing to punish them, so they felt that it was useless. Italy felt that the League of Nations was not going to prevent war from happening again and that there was no point in having it if the rules were not going to be enforced. This is a political event. -
Hitler and Nazi Germany Annex
German troops marched into Austria to annex the German speaking nation for the Third Reich. Germany wanted to take the Austrian government and unite their nation with Nazi Germany. Then, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg received the news and met with Adolf Hitler, hoping he would reassert his country's independence. Instead, Austrian Nazis became part of his cabinet. Under pressure, the Austrian chancellor gave into the pressure and resigned on March 11. This was a political event. -
Hitler occupies Czechoslovakia (A social event)
Adolf Hitler and others signed the Munich Pact, which sealed the fate of Czechoslovakia, handing it over to Germany in the name of peace. Even though this was meant for Hitler to get a hold of only Sudentenland, it gave many crucial resources to the Nazi's, leaving them to expect German domination. Next March, Hitler threatened to bomb Prague if he did not obtain free passage for German troops into Czech borders. According to Neville Chamberlain, the pact was negotiating a sly move by Hitler. -
Hitler and Nazi Germany gain Sudetenland
Nearing the end of World War 1, Sudetenland was taken away from Germany and Austria-Hungary and given to Czechoslovakia. After Adolf Hitler gained power, he wanted to destroy the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and give Germany back all of the land that was taken from them. Later on, the Munich Agreement gave Germany Sudetenland as long as Hitler promised not to invade the rest of Czechoslovakia. He didn't keep his promise and invaded Czechoslovakia in March 1939. This was a social event. -
Hitler and Stalin sign Non-Aggression Pact (A social event)
The Non-Aggression Pact was signed between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. In this pact, both countries agreed to take no military action against each other for the following 10 years. Joseph Stalin viewed the pact as a way to keep his nation on peaceful terms with Germany. Hitler used it to make sure that Germany could invade Poland w/o worrying about Soviet intervention. The pact explained how the Eastern Europe would be split. The Nazi forces broke this when they invaded Russia in 1941. -
Germany invades Poland
The German Invasion of Poland happened in 1939 because Hitler wanted more land and expansion. He hoped that the invasion would be tolerated. The Non- Aggression pact came to be useful so that Germany could make sure that the Soviet Union would not get in the way of the invasion on Poland. This was a political and social event. -
Britain and France declare war on Nazi Germany
Britain and France declared war on Nazi Germany in 1939 in response to Hitler invading Poland. Britain and France were both allies with Poland. Germany began by sinking Britain's ships and Britain responded by dropping anti-Nazi propaganda leaflets over Germany. Britain worked on Germany's navy while France focused on an offensive attack on Germany's western border. This was a political and social event. -
France surrenders and is occupied by Nazi Germany
With the German conquest of France coming to an end in 1940, Marshal Henri Petain replaced Paul Reynaud as prime minister and announced his intention to sign an armistice with the Nazis. One reason for France surrendering was because they did not want a repeat of the first World War. This was a political event. -
Japan Italy and Germany sign the Tripartite Pact
Through the signing of the Tripartite Pact, Germany, Italy, and Japan became allies. By signing this act, the countries were committed to be of assistance if either of the other countries that signed were attacked by any other nation that was not already enrolled in the war. This pact was mainly aimed at America, who was considered neutral, to carefully decide which side they would definitely take. Finally, it recognized the spheres of influence. This event is considered a social event.
