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Rise of Mussolini and Fascism in Italy
Mussolini appealed to Italy’s former Western allies for new treaties. He joined Hitler in his support of Francisco Franco’s Nationalist forces in the Spanish Civil War. The failure of the Italian war effort and the invasion of the Italian mainland by the Allies led to a rebellion within the Fascist Party. Mussolini was captured by Italian partisans and on April 29 was executed by firing squad. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mussolini-founds-the-fascist-party -
Manchuria
The Japanese claimed that the Chinese soldiers sabotaged the Manchurian railway and attacked them. The Chinese army did not fight back. The Japanese wanted Manchuria to themselves. They did not get it. https://www.britannica.com/place/Manchuria -
Germany's Rearmament
Adolf Hitler announced that he would rearm Germany in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. He began to rebuild Germany's military. Britain, France, Italy, and the League of Nations disagreed with his decision. Germany then invaded Poland. https://www.cfr.org/explainer-video/lessons-learned-hitlers-rearmament-germany -
Ethiopia
Italy invaded Ethiopia. Benito Mussolini had adopted Adolf Hitler's plans to expand German territories by acquiring all territories it considered German. The purpose of invading Ethiopia was to boost Italian national prestige. Ethiopia was defeated. https://www.britannica.com/event/Italo-Ethiopian-War-1935-1936 -
Spanish Civil War
Manuel Azaña was serving as the president of Spain when a group of generals from the part of the Spanish army based in Morocco carried out a coup d'etat led by General Francisco Franco. The war was one of the hardest Spain has ever faced. Spain was in terrible conditions after suffering the Civil War. https://www.donquijote.org/spanish-culture/history/spanish-civil-war/ -
Anschluss or Union
Hitler felt strong enough to plan a union or Anschluss with Austria. He was trying to unite all German speaking people in one country. It was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler began by ordering the Austrian Nazi Party to make as much trouble as it could. He later succeeded in gaining Austria. https://www.britannica.com/event/Anschluss -
Invasion of Poland
German forces bombard Poland on land and from the air as Hitler tries to regain lost territory. The German invasion of Poland was a primer on how Hitler intended to wage war–what would become the “blitzkrieg” strategy. Concentration camps for slave laborers and the extermination of civilians went hand in hand with German rule of a conquered nation. Great Britain responded with bombing raids over Germany three days later. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-invade-poland -
Czechoslovakia
Hitler’s forces invade and occupy Czechoslovakia which was a pointless attempt to prevent Germany’s imperial aims. Czechoslovakia is filled with Germans. Hitler is still trying to get all the Germans to be in one country. Hitler threatened a bombing raid against Prague, the Czech capital, unless he obtained from Hacha free passage for German troops into Czech borders. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nazis-take-czechoslovakia
