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Mussolini organizes Fascist party in Italy
Mussolini's new Fascist government advocated Italian nationalism. This right-winged party launched terrorism and intimikdation toward Italy's left-winged party. -
Mussolini named Prime Minister of Italy
Although this date was really when the USSR was established, Mussolini was appointed Prime Minister of the Soviet Union in 1922, and he began to make Italy a Fascist goverment instead of a Communist one. -
Hyperinflation in Germany
In late 1922, Germany's national bank (Reichsbank) began printing money at a feverish rate; by late 1923, 300 mills were working at top speed, 1500 printing companies were working 2000 presses day and night. Employees were paid as many as three times a day and their wages were very low, a family's life savings could hardly buy a loaf of bread. The German government issued money to the army expecting to win the war and force the Allies to pay it back as vengeance for the Treaty of Versailles. -
Joseph Stalin becomes leader of Soviet Union
Although Stalin was already gaining power before Vladimir Lenin's death, Lenin's death boosted and cleared everything for Stalin's new "regime". -
Hitler writes Mein Kampf
Adolf Hitler's plans for a Third Reich were dictated to Rudolph Hess in his prison cell and later published as 'Mein Kampf'. The book sold 9,473 copies within the first year. -
Hitler appointed Chancellor of Germany
Adolf Hitler grew in popularity by creating "plans" to revive the wartorn Germany. His populary intimidated President Paul von Hindenburg into naming Hitler as Chacellor of Germany. -
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Hitler becomes President of Germany
President Paul von Hindenburg (who appointed Adolf Hitler as Chacellor) died on August 2, 1934. A few weeks later, Hitler won the German Presidency with an overwhelming 90%; however, this was mostly caused by fear of communism and intimidation. -
Hitler sends troops into Rhineland
The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, made it so Germany could not have an army; however, Germans thought this was extremely unfair and promised vengeance against the Allies for it. Sending troops into the Rhineland was where Hitler began to illegally rebuild Germany's army. -
Anschluss
Hitler bullied Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schussnigg into "Anschluss", or a union between Germany and Austria. -
Germany annexes the Sudetenland
The Munich Pact, signed by Adolf Hitler, (Italian) Benito Mussolini, (French) Edouard Daladier, and (British) Neville Chamberlain, allowed Germany to take over the Sudetenland as a way to relax Hitler's want for more German territory. -
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Kristallnacht
The "Night of Broken Glass" was a huge foreshadowing chaos for what was to come during World War II. Nazis killed 100 Jews, damaged 7,500 Jewish businesses, vandalized hundreds of synagogues, homes, schools, and graveyards, and arrested approximately 30,000 Jewish men. -
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Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht was "The NIght of Broken Glass" and foreshadowed the horror that would come to Jews during World War II. -
Germany takes the rest of Czechoslovakia
Adolf Hitler went against another agreement (The Munich Pact) to gain even more territory. He threatened their leader with a bombing raid to convince him to hand his country over to Germany. -
Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis formed
"The Pact of Steel" was when all three leaders from Italy, Germany, and Japan, decided to form a political and military alliance. -
Hitler and Stalin sign non-aggression pact
Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin played their cards to progress their political needs. While this wasn't quite an alliance, it meant neither country could go to war with the other. -
Germany invades Poland
This German invasion included extensive bombing to destroy Poland's air capacity, railroads, communication lines, and munitions dumps, and a massive land invasion with troops, tanks, and artillery. Poland's downfall was their many early miscalculations which led to a perfect opening for Hitler to set up the SS "Death's Head" regiments.
