-
Mussolini’s March on Rome
The March on Rome was an insurrection in Italy by fascist squads called the Blackshirts and led by leaders such as Mussolini. This event led to Benito Mussolini coming to power in Italy after the government relinquished control. -
Stalin Becomes Dictator of USSR
Joseph Stalin, a communist, gained control of the Soviet Union after the death of Vladimir Lenin. -
Hitler writes Mein Kampf
Mein Kampf was a book written by Hitler outlining his future plans for Germany. This included a detailed account of what made someone an Aryan and how non-Aryans were inferior. Mein Kampf also outlined expansion plans for Germany through the conquest of Europe and Russia. -
Japan Invades Manchuria
Seeking to gain new land and more influence, Japan started to expand after World War I. Japan invaded Manchuria to gain new space and because Manchuria was rich in resources such as oil. -
Holodomor
Holodomor was a famine in Ukraine created by Joseph Stalin. After farmlands were seized from citizens due to communist policies, many in Ukraine resisted. To prevent uprisings, Stalin prevented many cities and towns in Ukraine from accessing food and created a man-made famine. -
1st Five Year Plan in the USSR
The first five-year plan was instated by Joseph Stalin after he gained control of the Soviet Union. The purpose of this plan was to turn the Soviet Union into a military and industrial power. -
Hitler Appointed Chancellor of Germany
After gaining significant influence in Germany, Hitler is named Chancellor, or prime minister. This position of power will allow Hitler to rise to become a dictator. -
Night of the Long Knives
The "Night of the Long Knives" describes the night that several German Nazi Party leaders were killed by the order of Hitler. Hitler did this because he feared had become too powerful and would soon threaten his dictatorship. -
Nuremburg Laws Enacted
In 1935, Hitler issued the Nuremburg laws. These laws were anti-Semitic and required all Jewish people to wear yellow stars. They also forbade the intermarriage of Jewish people with other cultures and stripped Jews of many of their rights. -
Italian Invasion of Ethiopia
In an attempt to expand and start building an empire, Mussolini lead Italy in an invasion of Ethiopia. This invasion was significant because it highlighted the League of Nations' inability to prevent war. -
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War was an uprising of nationalists against the Republican government in Spain. Often seen as a prelude to World War II, this war resulted in the takeover of Nationalists and the end of democracy in Spain. -
The Rape of Nanking
During the massacre of Nanking, The Japanese army slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Chinese citizens. This was done to break Chinese resistance and further Japan's plans of expansion. -
The Great Purge and Gulags
The Great Purge, otherwise known as the Great Terror, was an event in which hundreds of thousands of people were executed by the order of Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union. Stalin executed anyone he perceived as a political threat. Those not executed were sent to Gulags- harsh and deadly work camps. -
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht, also known as the Night of Broken Glass, was an attack on Jewish businesses and synagogues. Thousands of Jewish business windows were smashed and hundreds were injured and killed. -
Nazi Germany invades Poland
After signing the Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression pact, Hitler felt confident that he could invade Poland without sparking aggression with the USSR. This invasion caused Britain and France to declare war on the Axis powers. -
Japan Bombs Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor was a surprise attack by the Japanese on the American Naval Base in Hawaii. This bombing caused America to finally end its neutrality and declare war.