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Mein Kampf
Hitler wrote Mein Kampf while his brief time in jail. He articulated a vicious anti-Semitism and a political psychology for manipulating the masses. Hitler was fascinated by the specifics of Mussolini's success. He dicsussed how the great masses' intellegince is very limited and small. Therefore propaganda must be limited to a few points and have slogans that they will understand. -
Stock Market Crash
The United States stock market crahsed and economic developments around the world triggered the Great Depression. In the 1920's millions of Americans had invested all thier money in the stock market which seemed to provide endless profts. When the crash occured it brought down everyone since the US was a leading international creditor which had financed the economic growth for the last five years. This forced American's to sell their stocks in an attempt to pay back their loans from the banks -
Great Depression
The stock market crash was the start of the Great Depression. Millions were unemployed and homeless. This brought tension on social ties, since men were out of jobs but some women could find work. The governments attempted to fix it by instituting budged cuts and high tariffs but they discouraged spending and international trade. This also led to millions of farms closing since they could not afford the pesticides to protect their plants. [1929-1941] -
Japanese Expansion
Japan which ad borrowed from European institutions to become moderna dn powerful, now decided to chase Europeans from Asia. The Japanese allied with Germany and Italy which was the groundwork for a very powerful global alliance. Japan began with the invasion into Manchuria (1931) and their last expansion was of small Pacific Islands when they prepared for war with the United States, after bombing Pearl Harbor. [1931-1942] -
Invasion of Manchuria
Japanese officers blew up a railroad train in the Chinese province of Manchuria, where Japanese businessses had invested heavily. This made it look like the Chinese was to blame. The army use the explosion aas an exuse to take over the territory and then further push into China. The attacks on China angered the US. Which was a sign to the war between the US and Japan. -
Hitler Comes to Power
When the Great Depression hit, the Nazi party began to outstrip its rivals in elections, thanks in part to financial support from big bussinesses. His party attracted young poeople and he used modern propaganda in order to influence them. This was very influential to the war since he was a main power against the allies. -
Enabling Act
The Enabling Act suspended the German constitution for four years and allowed Nazi laws to take effect without parliamentrary approval. Therefore this allowed Hitler to become a dictator and gave him a free leash to do whatever he pleased. -
Nuremberg Laws
The Nazi government enacteed the Nuremberg Laws, which deprived Jews of citizenship and prohibited marriage between Jews and other Germans. Abortions became readily available for outcast groups (Jews, Gypsies, Slavs, and mentally impaired). This was the start of anti-Semitic activity by the Nazi Party which eventually led to the Holocaust. -
Ethiopian War
Mussolini, of Italy, invaded Ethiopia, one of the few african states not overwhelmed by Euorpean imperialism. He wanted to demonstrate his regime's youth and vigor in order to raise Italy's standing in the world. The Ethiopians resistesd but their capital fell within the spring of 1936. The fall of Ethiopia and Italy's boastful assertions of African reacial inferiority stregnthened the resolve of African nationalists. [1935-1936] -
Rhineland Remilitarization
Hitler defiantly sent his toops into what was supposed to be a permanently demilitarized zone in the Rhineland bordering France. The inhabitants greeted the Germans with enthusiasm, however the French protested to the League of Nations since it endanged their security. However they simply accepted the German move, and therefore Hitler's and Mussolini's expansion was not stopped. -
Spanish Civil War
In 1936 a group of army officiers led by Gneral Franciso Franco staged an uprsing against the republican government in Madrid. Hitler and Mussolinin sent military personnel in support of Franco which gave them the oppurtunity to test new wepaons and to practice the terror bombing civilians. France and Britian refused to provide aid while Hitler and Mussolini went on a rampage. [1936-1939] -
Appeasment
Appeasement is a diplomatic policy that is made in order to keep out of war. In WWII Neville Chamberlain created many policies with Nazi Germany to keep peace from 1937-1939. However this allowed Hitler to think that no one would appose his policies and that he could rule over all of Europe. This also allowed Hitler to increase his army, navy, and airforce since he renounced the Treaty of Versailles., [1937-1939] -
Rape of Nanjing
The League of Nations had condemned the invasion of Manchuria but it imposed no economic sancions to back up its condemnations. However the public public condemnation outraged Japanses citizens and taunted them to ally with Hiitler and Mussolini. This is when Japan attacked China, for the second time, and said it was to liberate the region from Western imperialism. Thousands of Chinese were massacred which led President Roosevlet to created an embargo fo US exports to Japan. -
Anschluss
The Anschluss was the occupation and annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany. The people of Austria had mixed feelings, some believed it would lead them to greatness under Hitler's rule but some also disliked it. This broke part of the Treaty of Versailles which was that Germany and the Austrian Territories could never unionize. This angered the allias since Germany was out of control and was expanding Germany's bordar immensly. -
Munich Pact
The Munich Pact was between Germany, Great Britain, France, and Italy. This was supposed to be an appeasment in which prevented war. Therefore Chmberlain, of Great Britain, believed he had secured "peace in our time". However this really bought Hitler time to build his army and seemed to encourage him to further his agression. There was no opposition to many of his actions.
