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Mussolini takes power in Italy
In 1922 he became the youngest prime minister and he began to use secret police forces to destroy all of his political opposition. Eventually, he was able to turn the nation into a one-party dictatorship. -
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U.S. Stock Market Crashes
The Stock Market Crash of 1929 was caused by paniced stockholders who rapidly sold their stocks as a result of seeing the values of their stock dramaticly decrease. This event trigger the start of the Great Depression. -
Japan seizes Manchuria
The Kwantung army of Japan invaded Manchuria after the Mukden incident and occupied it until the end of WWII. Despite doing this against the orders of Tokyo, the army was sent an additional three more infantry divisions from Japan. -
Hitler is named Chancellor of Germany
President Paul von Hindenburg named Adolf Hitler the Chancellor of Germany on this day. Hindenburg initially refused to consider Hitler, but after a growth in the communist party, right-winged forces decided to give their support to the Nazi Party. -
FDR is elected president
After FDR was elected president over Herbert Hoover, he put his plan in action called the New Deal. This plan finally gave relief directly to Americans affected by the Great Depression. -
Hitler defies the Treaty of Versailles
Hitler conquered land from France, boosted military production, expanded his army, and stopped paying reparations. -
U.S. Neutrality Act
This act banned American ships from entering war zones, arming their ships, and traveling on warships. It's goal was to keep the U.S. out of WWII. -
Italy invades Ethiopia
Mussolini adopts Hitlers plans to expand to all territories he believes are his, so he invades Ethiopia to expand and boost Italian pride. Ethiopia was a good target because it was one of the only two remaining independent African countries. -
France militarizes the Rhineland
This event occured because German military forces had entered the Rhineland, and this action violated the Treaty of Versailles. -
Civil War erupts in Spain
The Spanish Civil War was started as a revolt led by the right-wing military officers in Morocco. Eventually it spread to mainland Spain and started a rebellion. -
Japan invades China
Japan entered a military alliance with Germany and Italy forming the Axis powers. As a result of Japan invading China, America put economic sanctions on Japan. -
Anschluss
Anschluss was when Hitler joined Germany and Austria together. -
Munich Conference
Leaders of Great Britain, France, and Italy attended this conference and decided to allow Germany to annex certain parts of Czechoslovakia. -
Kristallnacht
Also known as the Night of Broken Glass, this event occured when Jews living in Nazi Germany and Austria were attacked by SA paramilitary forces and non-jews and put into concentration camps. Many houses, buildings, and stores were destroyed. -
Nazi-Soviet Pact
Representatives from Germany and the Soviet Union met and signed a pact agreeing that they would not attack each other. -
Phony War
This was named after a phase in WWII where the Western allies would not take any significant action against Germany. -
Germany invades Poland
When Germany invaded Poland for living space, Hitler claimed it was a defensive action, but France and Britian did not agree so they declared war on Germany. -
Churchill is elected Prime Minister in England
Churchill formed an all-party coalition and won support of most citizens. He was elected after Prime Minister Chamberlain lost the trust of the House of Commons. -
Miracle at Dunkirk
This was the evacation of Allied soldiers from the harbor of Dunkirk. It lasted from May 27 to June 4. -
France surrenders
On this day the French government signs an armistice with Germany to stop the fighting, -
Battle of Britain
This was the fight between Germany and Britian that consisted primarily of using airforce. The Germains were trying to gain superiority over the Royal Air Force. -
Japan seizes French Indo-China
The Japanese invade the French Indochina in order to prevent the Republic of China from importing arms and fuel. -
Lend-Lease Act
This act allowed the United States to supply Allied nations with food, oil, and materials. -
Atlantic Charter
This was written by Britain and America and it outlines their goals for WWII and was later agreed upon by all the Allied nations. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise attack by the Japanese and led to U.S. involvement in WWII.
