WWII How did it start?
1933 Hitler is given the role of Reich Chancellor and begins his fascist movement.
1934 Hitler arrests and executes 70 men who appear to be planning a revolt. This is a show of his power, and also of his ability to use this power for his own benefit (even at the cost of the lives of others). This event is called ‘Night of the Long Knives’.
1936 Germany and Japan sign the Anti-Comintern Pact, in which these two countries agreed to a mutual dislike of Communism, and in signing the Anti-Comintern Pact Germany and Japan agreed to “safeguard their common interests” in not supporting Communism, and they agreed to not sign any political treaties with the Soviet Union.
1937 Italy joins the Anti-Comintern Pact, and Japan attacks American ships off the coast of China.
1938 Hitler takes over Austria. Fearing another war, France and England do not challenge Hitler in this action. Japan takes over the eastern third of China in an attempt to dominate the country.
1938 (cont.) The German-speaking part of Czechoslovakia (Sudentenland) asks for a union with Hitler’s Germany. After a meeting between Britain, France and Italy, Britain decides that Germany has a right to this union, and these countries sign a pact of appeasement (to avoid war) giving it to Hitler.
1938 (cont.) On the 9 th November 1938 Jews living in Germany were attacked at night by German soldiers synagogues were set on fire, over 7000 Jewish businesses were looted, 100 Jews were killed or injured and 30,000 were sent to concentration camps. Jewish communities were ordered to pay 1,000,000,000 dollars in compensation for non- Jews affected by the violence. This night was called ‘Night of Broken Glass’.
1939 Under Benito Mussolini, Italy takes over Albania in a plot to seize Greece. Germany and Russia sign a pact called the ‘German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact’, allowing Hitler access to Poland. Eight days later Hitler invades Poland. In response, England and France declare war on Germany. Australia follows in a few short hours.
WAR HAD BEGUN