TIMELINE OF EVENTS LEADING TO WWII

1919 - 1941

1919

Treaty of Versailles, June 28

1921

Adolf Hitler becomes leader of the National Socialist Party, July 29

1929

Stock Market Crash, October 28

1930

Smoot/Hawley Tariff Act, June 17

1931

Mukden Incident, September 18

1933

Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany, January 30

Benito Mussolini becomes leader of Italy, March 4

Japan withdraws from League of Nations, March 27

Germany withdraws from League of Nations, October 14

1934

Adolf Hitler becomes Fuhrer of Germany, August 19

1935

Italy invades Ethiopia, October 3

1936

Germany occupies Rhineland, March 7

Spanish Civil War, July 18

1937

Marco Polo Bridge Incident (Japan invades China), July

1938

German Anschluss (Union) with Austria, March 12-13

Munich Conference, September 30

Kristallnacht, November 9-10

1939

Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, August 23

Germany invades Poland, September 1

1940

Germany invades France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, May 10

Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister of Great Britain, May 10

Battle of Britain, July 10

Tri-Partite (Axis) signed, September 27

Anglo-American Destroyers for Bases Deal, October 23

1941

Lend Lease Act, March 11

Operation Barbarossa, June 22

Greer Incident, September 4

US embargo of Japan, October

Pearl Harbor, December 7