timeline of events preceding world war ii

7/26/2019 Timeline of Events Preceding World War II

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Timeline of eventspreceding World War II

1918



October 29Start of the German Revolution

!ovember 11 The "rmistice #ith German$ mar%s the end of World War I German troopsevacuate occupied territories and "llied troops subse&uentl$ move in and occup$the German Rhineland

1919

'anuar$ ()1* The Spartacist uprising ta%es place and is crushed b$ the German government+mar%ing the end of the German Revolution

'anuar$ 18Opening of the ,aris ,eace -onference to negotiate peace treaties bet#een thebelligerents of World War I

.ebruar$ The ,olish/Soviet War begins #ith border clashes bet#een the t#o states

0arch 2.oundation of the Third International+ or -omintern in 0osco# -ominternsstated aim is to create a global Soviet republic

0arch 12 The "ustrian -onstituent !ational "ssembl$ demands "ustrias integration toGerman$

0a$ 1* The Tur%ish War of Independence begins as Gree% troops land in Sm$rna

'une 28German$ and the "llied po#ers sign the Treat$ of ersailles after si3 months ofnegotiations The German armed forces are limited in si4e to 155+555 personneland German$ is ordered to pa$ large reparations for #ar damages The 6nitedStates signed the treat$ but did not ratif$ it+ later ma%ing a separate peacetreat$ #ith German$

September 15

German "ustria signs the Treat$ of Saint)Germain The peace treat$ #ith the"llies regulates the borders of "ustria+ forbids union #ith German$ and German"ustria has to change its name to "ustria The 6nited States did not ratif$ thetreat$ and later ma%es a separate peace treat$ #ith "ustria

!ovember 27ulgaria signs the Treat$ of !euill$)sur)Seine The peace treat$ #ith the "lliesregulates the borders of ulgaria+ the ulgarian arm$ is reduced to 25+555 menand ulgaria is ordered to pa$ #ar reparations

1925



'anuar$ 15-reation of the .ree -it$ of an4ig #hich #as neither approved b$ German$ nor,oland

'anuar$ 21 The ,aris ,eace -onference comes to an end #ith the inaugural General"ssembl$ of the :eague of !ations "lthough one of the victors of World War I+the 6nited States never ;oins the :eague

0arch The failed <app ,utsch ta%es place against the German government

'une (=ungar$ signs the Treat$ of Trianon #ith the "llied po#ers The treat$ regulatedthe status of an independent =ungarian state and de>ned its borders The 6nitedStates did not ratif$ the treat$ and later ma%es a separate peace treat$ #ith

=ungar$

"ugust 15 Tur%e$ signs the Treat$ of S?vres #ith the "llied po#ers The treat$ partitions theOttoman @mpire and the Tur%ish armed forces are reduced in si4e Greece did notaccept the borders as dra#n up in the treat$ and did not sign it The Treat$ ofS?vres #as annulled in the course of the Tur%ish War of Independence and theparties signed and rati>ed the superseding Treat$ of :ausanne in 192A

OctoberBeligo#s%is 0utin$+ a ,olish force led b$ General :uc;an Beligo#s%i captureilnius+ oCciall$ #ithout support from the ,olish state

1921

0arch The ,olish/Soviet War ends #ith the ,eace of Riga

"ugust 2* The 6S/German ,eace Treat$ and the 6S/"ustrian ,eace Treat$ are signed+mar%ing the formal end of the state of #ar bet#een the t#o states and the6nited States instead of the Treat$ of ersailles and the Treat$ of Saint)Germainthat #ere not rati>ed b$ the 6nited States

"ugust 29 The 6S/=ungarian ,eace Treat$ is signed+ mar%ing the formal end of the stateof #ar bet#een the t#o states instead of the Treat$ of Trianon that #as notrati>ed b$ the 6nited States



1922

.ebruar$ D The Washington !aval -onference ends #ith the signing of the Washington !aval Treat$ b$ the 6nited <ingdom+ the 6nited States+ 'apan+ .rance+ and Ital$ Thesigning parties agree to limit the si4e of their naval forces

"pril 1DGerman$ and the Soviet 6nion sign the Treat$ of Rapallo+ re)establishingdiplomatic relations+ renouncing >nancial claims on each other and pledge futurecooperation

October The Russian -ivil War Eongoing since 7 !ovember 1917F ends in olshevi% victor$#ith the defeat of the last White forces in Siberia

October 29.ascist leader enito 0ussolini is appointed prime minister of Ital$ b$ <ing ictor@mmanuel III after the 0arch on Rome

!ovember 1 The Grand !ational "ssembl$ of Tur%e$ abolishes the Ottoman Sultanate

192A

'anuar$ 11.rance and elgium occup$ the Ruhr in an eort to compel German$ to step upits pa$ments of #ar reparations

'ul$ 2( The Treat$ of :ausanne+ settling the boundaries of modern Tur%e$+ is signed inS#it4erland b$ Tur%e$ and the @ntente po#ers It mar%s the end of the Tur%ishWar of Independence and replaces the earlier Treat$ of S?vres

"ugust A1 The -orfu incidentH Ital$ bombards and occupies the Gree% island of -orfusee%ing to pressure Greece to pa$ reparations for the murder of an Italiangeneral in Greece

September 27 The -orfu incident ends Italian troops #ithdra# after the -onference of"mbassadors rules in favor of Italian demands of reparations from Greece

October 29 Tur%e$ oCciall$ becomes a Republic follo#ing the dissolution of the Ottoman@mpire

!ovember 8 The eer =all ,utsch ta%es place+ in #hich "dolf =itler unsuccessfull$ leads the!a4is in an attempt to overthro# the German government It is crushed b$ police

the ne3t da$



192(

'anuar$ 21:eader of the Soviet 6nion ladimir :enin dies+ and 'oseph Stalin begins purgingrivals to clear the #a$ for his leadership

.ebruar$ 1 The 6nited <ingdom e3tends diplomatic recognition to the Soviet 6nion

"pril 1"dolf =itler is sentenced to * $ears in ;ail for his participation in the eer =all,utsch Ehe serves onl$ 8 monthsF

"pril D

.ascists #in elections in Ital$ #ith a 2JA ma;orit$

'une 15Italian .ascists %idnap and %ill socialist leader Giacomo 0atteotti in Rome

"ugust 1D The a#es ,lan is accepted It ends the "llied occupation of the Ruhr and sets astaggered pa$ment plan for German$s pa$ment of #ar reparations

"ugust 18.rance begins #ithdra#ing its troops from the Ruhr in German$

192*

'ul$ 18"dolf =itlers autobiographical manifesto 0ein <ampf is published

ecember 1 The :ocarno Treaties are signed in :ondon Ethe$ are rati>ed 1( September 192DF The treaties settle the borders of Western @urope and normali4e relationsbet#een German$ and the "llied po#ers of Western @urope



192D

'anuar$ A Theodoros ,angalos declares himself dictator of Greece

'anuar$ A1ritish and elgian troops leave -ologne+ German$

"pril (Gree% dictator Theodoros ,angalos is elected president

"pril 2( The Treat$ of erlin is signed b$ German$ and the Soviet 6nion+ #hich declaresneutralit$ if either countr$ is attac%ed #ithin the ne3t >ve $ears

0a$ 2*6%rainian nationalist leader S$mon ,etliura is assassinated b$ Russian 'e#

Sholom Sch#art4bard in ,aris

September 8German$ ;oins the :eague of !ations

ecember 2*@mperor TaishK dies and his son =irohito becomes the @mperor of 'apan

1927

"pril 12 The -hinese -ivil War begins bet#een nationalists and communists

0a$ 25Saudi "rabia becomes independent from the 6nited <ingdom b$ the Treat$ of

'eddah

'une 7,eter oi%ov+ Soviet ambassador to Warsa#+ is assassinated b$ a Whitemovement activist

!ovember 12:eon Trots%$ is e3pelled from the Soviet -ommunist ,art$+ leaving 'oseph Stalin

#ith undisputed control of the Soviet 6nionecember 1(Ira& gains independence from the 6nited <ingdom

1928



0a$ A The 'inan Incident begins+ a limited armed conLict bet#een the Republic of -hinaand 'apan

'une (=uanggutun IncidentH 'apanese agents assassinate the -hinese #arlord MhangMuolin

"ugust 2Ital$ and @thiopia sign the Italo)@thiopian Treat$+ pledging cooperation andfriendship

"ugust 27 The <ellogg)riand ,act is signed in ,aris b$ the ma;or po#ers of the #orld Thetreat$ outla#s aggressive #arfare

October 1 The Soviet 6nion launches the .irst .ive)Near ,lan+ an economic eort to increaseindustriali4ation

1929

.ebruar$ 9:itvinovs ,act is signed in 0osco# b$ the Soviet 6nion+ ,oland+ @stonia+ Romaniaand :atvia The ,act outla#s aggressive #arfare along the lines of the <ellog)riand ,act

.ebruar$ 11Ital$ and the =ol$ See sign the :ateran Treat$+ normali4ing relations bet#een theatican and Ital$

0arch 28 'apan #ithdra#s troops from -hina+ ending the 'inan Incident

"pril A,ersia signs :itvinovs ,act

'une 7 The :ateran Treat$ is rati>ed+ ma%ing the atican -it$ a sovereign state

'ul$ 2( The <ellogg)riand ,act goes into eect

"ugust A1 The Noung ,lan+ #hich sets the total World War I reparations o#ed b$ German$ at6S2D+A*5+555+555 to be paid over a period of *8P $ears+ is >nali4ed Itreplaces the earlier a#es ,lan

October 29 The Great epression begins #ith the Wall Street -rash



19A5

"pril 22 The 6nited <ingdom+ 6nited States+ .rance+ Ital$ and 'apan sign the :ondon!aval Treat$ regulating submarine #arfare and limiting naval shipbuilding

'une A5.rance #ithdra#s its remaining troops from the Rhineland ending the occupationof the Rhineland

19A1

September 180u%den IncidentH the 'apanese stage a false Lag bombing against a 'apanese)o#ned railroad in the -hinese region of 0anchuria+ blaming -hinese dissidents

for the attac%

September 196sing the 0u%den Incident as a prete3t+ the 'apanese invade 0anchuria

19A2 The Soviet famine of 19A2/AA begins+ caused in part b$ the collectivi4ation ofagriculture of the .irst .ive)Near ,lan

'anuar$ 7 The Stimson octrine is proclaimed b$ 6nited States Secretar$ of State =enr$ :Stimson in response to 'apan invading 0anchuria The octrine holds that the6nited States government #ill not recogni4e border changes that are made b$force

'anuar$ 28 'anuar$ 28 IncidentH using a Lare)up of anti)'apanese violence as a prete3t+ the 'apanese attac% Shanghai+ -hina .ighting ends on 0arch D+ and on 0a$ * acease>re agreement is signed #herein Shanghai is made a demilitari4ed 4one

.ebruar$ 27

.ighting bet#een -hina and 'apan in 0anchuria ends #ith 'apan in control of0anchuria

0arch 1 'apan creates the puppet state 0anchu%uo out of occupied 0anchuria

"pril 15,aul von =indenburg is reelected ,resident of German$+ defeating "dolf =itler ina run)o

0a$ A5-hancellor of German$ =einrich rQning resigns ,resident von =indenburg as%s.ran4 von ,apen to form a ne# government

"ugust A5=ermann Gring is elected chairman of the German Senate



!ovember 21,aul von =indenburg begins tal%ing to "dolf =itler about forming a ne#government

ecember Avon =indenburg names <urt von Schleicher -hancellor of German$

19AA

'anuar$ 1efense of the Great WallH 'apan attac%s the forti>ed eastern end of the GreatWall of -hina in Rehe ,rovince in Inner 0ongolia

'anuar$ A5!a4i leader "dolf =itler is appointed -hancellor of German$ b$ ,resident ,aul von=indenburg

.ebruar$ 27German$s parliament building the Reichstag is set on >re

.ebruar$ 28 The Reichstag .ire ecree is passed+ nullif$ing man$ German civil liberties

0arch (.ran%lin elano Roosevelt is inaugurated as ,resident of the 6nited States

0arch 25German$s >rst concentration camp+ achau+ is completed

0arch 2A The Reichstag passes the @nabling "ct+ ma%ing "dolf =itler dictator of German$

0arch 27 'apan leaves the :eague of !ations over the :eague of !ations :$tton Reportthat found that 0anchuria belongs to -hina and that 0anchu%uo #as not a trul$independent state

"pril 1Germans are told to bo$cott 'e#ish shops and businesses in response to the

'e#ish bo$cott of German goods organised the previous month"pril 2D

The Gestapo secret police is established in German$

0a$ 2=itler outla#s trade unions

0a$ A1 The Tanggu Truce is signed bet#een -hina and 'apan+ setting the cease>reconditions bet#een the t#o states after the 'apanese occupation of 0anchuria-hina accedes to all 'apanese demands+ creating a large demilitari4ed 4one

inside -hinese territor$



'une 21"ll non)!a4i parties are banned in German$

'ul$ 1( The !a4i part$ becomes the oCcial part$ of German$"ugust 2*=aavara "greementH The agreement #as designed to help facilitate theemigration of German 'e#s to ,alestine

September 12:e S4ilrd conceives the idea of the nuclear chain reaction

October 17Scientist "lbert @instein arrives in the 6nited States and settles as a refugee fromGerman$

October 19

German$ leaves the :eague of !ations

!ovember 2(=omeless+ alcoholic+ and unemplo$ed sent to !a4i concentration camps

19A(

'anuar$ 2DGerman$ and ,oland sign the 15 $ear German),olish !on)"ggression ,act

.ebruar$ 12)1D The "ustrian -ivil War is fought+ ending #ith "ustrofascist victor$

0arch 25"ll German police forces come under the command of =einrich =immler

'une A5!ight of the :ong <nives in German$ ,otential rivals to =itler #ithin the !a4i,art$+ including S" leader @rnst Rhm+ and prominent anti)!a4i conservatives are%illed b$ the SS and the Gestapo

'ul$ 25 The SS becomes an organi4ation independent of the !a4i ,art$+ reporting directl$

to "dolf =itler 'ul$ 2*"ustrian !a4is assassinate @ngelbert ollfuss during the failed 'ul$ ,utschagainst the "ustrian government

"ugust 26pon the death of ,resident ,aul von =indenburg+ "dolf =itler ma%es himself.Qhrer of German$+ becoming =ead of State as #ell as -hancellor

"ugust 80embers of the Wehrmacht begin s#earing a personal oath of lo$alt$ to =itler

instead of to the German constitution



September The Soviet 6nion ;oins the :eague of !ations

ecember * The "b$ssinia -risis begins #ith the Wal#al incident+ an armed clash bet#eenItalian and @thiopian troops on the border of @thiopia

ecember 29 'apan renounces the Washington !aval Treat$ and the :ondon !aval Treat$

19A*

'anuar$ 7 The :eague of !ations approves the results of the Saar plebiscite+ #hich allo#sSaar to be incorporated into German borders

'une 18 The "nglo)German !aval "greement is signed b$ German$ and the 6nited<ingdom The agreement allo#s German$ to build a Leet thats A*U the tonnageof the ritish Leet In this #a$+ the ritish hope to limit German naval re)armament

"ugust A1 The !eutralit$ "ct of 19A* is passed in the 6nited States imposing a generalembargo on trading in arms and #ar materials #ith all parties in a #ar and it alsodeclared that "merican citi4ens travelling on ships of #arring nations travelled attheir o#n ris%

September 1* The Reichstag passes the !uremberg :a#s+ introducing antisemitism in Germanlegislation

October 2Ital$ invades @thiopia+ beginning the Second Italo/"b$ssinian War

19ADIn 19AD+ "dolf =itler demanded to have a private meeting #ith "rnold ' To$nbee#ho #as visiting erlin the same $ear to address the !a4i :a# Societ$+ and

To$nbee accepted In the meeting+ =itler emphasi4ed his limited e3pansionistaim of building a greater German nation+ and his desire for ritish understandingand cooperation To$nbee #as convinced of =itlers sincerit$+ and endorsed=itlers message in a con>dential memorandum for the ritish prime ministerand foreign secretar$

.ebruar$ DGerman$ hosts the 19AD Winter Ol$mpics in Garmisch),arten%irchen

0arch 7In violation of the Treat$ of ersailles+ German$ remilitari4es the Rhineland

0arch 2*



The Second :ondon !aval Treat$ is signed b$ the 6nited <ingdom+ 6nited States+and .rance Ital$ and 'apan each declined to sign this treat$

0a$ *Italian troops march into the @thiopian capital+ "ddis "ddeba+ mar%ing the end ofthe Second Italo/"b$ssinian War

'ul$ 17 The failed Spanish coup of 'ul$ 19AD b$ !ationalist forces mar%s the beginning of the Spanish -ivil War

October 18=ermann Gring is made head of the German .our Near ,lan+ an eort to ma%eGerman$ self)suCcient and increase armaments

October

The Great ,urge commences in the Soviet 6nion #ith #idespread repression ofsuspected opponents of the regime The purge leads to the imprisonment anddeath of man$ militar$ oCcers+ #ea%ening the Soviet "rmed .orces ahead ofWorld War II

"ugust 1German$ hosts the 19AD Summer Ol$mpics in erlin

!ovember 1(Sui$uan -ampaign begins as 'apanese)bac%ed 0ongolian troops attac% the-hinese garrison at =ongort

!ovember 1* The aerial German -ondor :egion goes into action for the >rst time in theSpanish -ivil War in support of the !ationalist side

!ovember 2* The "nti)-omintern ,act is signed b$ 'apan and German$ The signing partiesagree to go to #ar #ith the Soviet 6nion if one of the signatories is attac%ed b$the Soviet 6nion

ecember 1=itler ma%es it mandator$ for all males bet#een the ages 15)18 to ;oin the =itler

Nouthecember 12

The t#o sides in the -hinese -ivil War temporaril$ suspend hostilities to >ght the 'apanese

ecember 2A The >rst A+555 men of the Italian e3peditionar$ force Elater named -orpo TruppeolontarieF lands in -adi4 in support of the !ationalist side in the Spanish -ivilWar

19A7

'ul$ 7



The 0arco ,olo ridge Incident occurs+ beginning the Second Sino)'apanese War

October *6S president .ran%lin Roosevelt gives the Vuarantine Speech outlining amove a#a$ from neutralit$ and to#ards &uarantining all aggressors

!ovember DItal$ ;oins the "nti)-omintern ,act

ecember 8 'apan established the puppet state of 0eng;iang in the Inner 0ongolia region ofthe Republic of -hina

ecember 11Ital$ leaves the :eague of !ations

ecember 12 The 6SS ,ana$ incident occurs+ #here 'apan attac%ed the "merican gunboat,ana$ #hile she #as anchored in the Nangt4e River

19A8

'anuar$ 2D The "llison incident occurs further straining relations bet#een 'apan and the6nited States

0arch D 'apanese troops reach the Nello# River in -hina

0arch 1A"ustria is anne3ed b$ !a4i German$

'ul$ 29 The Soviet/'apanese border conLicts begin #ith the attle of :a%e <hasan

"ugustSoviet 6nion #ins the attle of <hasan against 'apan

September 27

6S ,resident Roosevelt sends letter to German .Qhrer "dolf =itler see%ingpeace

September A5 The 0unich "greement is signed b$ German$+ .rance+ the 6nited <ingdom+ andItal$ The agreement allo#s German$ to anne3 the -4echoslova% Sudetenlandarea in e3change for peace in an attempt to appease =itler

!ovember 7@3iled German 'e# =erschel Gr$ns4pan assassinates German consular aide @rnstvom Rath in ,aris

!ovember 9



The <ristallnacht pogrom begins in German$ man$ 'e#ish shops ands$nagogues are smashed+ looted+ burned+ and destro$ed throughout the countr$

19A9

'anuar$ 2*" uranium atom is split for the >rst time at -olumbia 6niversit$ in the 6nitedStates

'anuar$ 27"dolf =itler orders ,lan M+ a *)$ear naval e3pansion programme intended toprovide for a huge German Leet capable of defeating the Ro$al !av$ b$ 19((

The <riegsmarine is given the >rst priorit$ on the allotment of German economicresources This is the >rst and onl$ time the <riegsmarine is given the >rstpriorit$ in the histor$ of the Third Reich

0arch 1( The pro)German Slova% Republic is created #ith 'o4ef Tiso as its >rst primeminister+ provo%ing the dissolution of -4echoslova%ia

0arch 1*German$ occupies the -4ech part in violation of the 0unich "greement The-4echs do not attempt to put up an$ organi4ed resistance having lost their maindefensive line #ith the anne3ation of the SudetenlandGerman$ establishes the ,rotectorate of ohemia and 0oravia The protectorateincludes those portions of -4echoslova%ia not incorporated into German$+,oland+ =ungar$+ or the ne# Slova% Republic

0arch 25German .oreign 0inister 'oachim von Ribbentrop delivers an oral ultimatum to:ithuania+ demanding that it cede the <laipXda Region EGerman name 0emelF toGerman$

0arch 21"dolf =itler demands the return of the .ree -it$ of an4ig to German$

0arch 2AGerman/Romanian Treat$ for the evelopment of @conomic Relations bet#eenthe T#o -ountries is signed

0arch A1 The 6nited <ingdom and .rance oer a guarantee of ,olish independence

"pril 1

The Spanish -ivil War ends in !ationalist victor$ Spain becomes a dictatorship#ith .rancisco .ranco as the head of the ne# government



"pril A"dolf =itler orders the German militar$ to start planning for .all Weiss+ thecodename for the attac% on ,oland+ planned to be launched on "ugust 2*+ 19A9

"pril 7)12Ital$ invades "lbania #ith little in the #a$ of militar$ resistance "lbania is latermade part of Ital$ through a personal union of the Italian and "lbanian cro#n

"pril 1(6S ,resident Roosevelt sends letter to German -hancellor =itler see%ing peace"pril 18

The Soviet 6nion proposes a tripartite alliance #ith the 6nited <ingdom and.rance It is re;ected

"pril 28In a speech before the Reichstag+ "dolf =itler renounces the "nglo)German !aval

"greement and the German/,olish !on)"ggression ,act

0a$ 11Soviet/'apanese border conLictsH The attle of <hal%hin Gol begins #ith 'apanand 0anchu%uo against the Soviet 6nion and 0ongolia The battle ends in Sovietvictor$ on September 1D+ inLuencing the 'apanese to not see% further conLict#ith the Soviets+ but to turn to#ards the ,aci>c holdings of the @uro)"mericanpo#ers instead

0a$ 17S#eden+ !or#a$+ and .inland re;ect German$s oer of non)aggression pacts

0a$ 22 The ,act of Steel+ %no#n formall$ as the ,act of .riendship and "lliance bet#eenGerman$ and Ital$+ is signed b$ .ascist Ital$ and !a4i German$ The ,actdeclares further cooperation bet#een the t#o po#ers+ but in a secretsupplement the ,act is detailed as a militar$ alliance

'une 1( The Tientsin Incident occurs+ in #hich the 'apanese bloc%ade the ritishconcession in the !orth -hina Treat$ ,ort of Tientsin

'ul$ 15

,rime 0inister !eville -hamberlain reaCrms support for ,oland and ma%es itclear that ritain did not vie# .ree -it$ of an4ig as being an internal German),olish aair and #ould intervene on behalf of ,oland if hostilities bro%e outbet#een the t#o countries

"ugust 2 The @instein)S4ilrd letter is sent to .ran%lin Roosevelt Written b$ :e S4ilrdand signed b$ "lbert @instein+ it #arned of the danger that German$ mightdevelop atomic bombs This letter prompted action b$ Roosevelt and eventuall$resulted in the 0anhattan ,ro;ect

"ugust 2A

The 0olotov)Ribbentrop ,act is signed bet#een !a4i German$ and the Soviet6nion+ #ith secret provisions for the division of @astern @urope ) ;oint occupation



of ,oland and Soviet occupation of the altic States+ .inland and essarabia Thisprotocol removes the threat of Soviet intervention during the German invasion of ,oland

"ugust 2*In response to a message from 0ussolini that Ital$ #ill not honor the ,act of Steelif German$ attac%s ,oland+ =itler dela$s the launch of the invasion b$ >ve da$sto provide more time to secure ritish and .rench neutralit$

"ugust A5German ultimatum to ,oland concerning the ,olish -orridor and the .ree -it$ ofan4ig

September 1Without response to its ultimatum+ German$ invades ,oland+ start of World WarII

timeline of events preceding world war ii

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