In 1939, a series of significant geopolitical events unfolded that set the stage for World War II. The Soviet Union's proposal for a tripartite alliance with the United Kingdom and France was turned down.
Germany invades Poland, start of World War II (the Soviet Union invades Poland on September 17
The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact is signed between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, with secret provisions for the division of Eastern Europe – joint occupation of Poland and Soviet occupation of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Finland and Bessarabia. This protocol removes the threat of Soviet intervention during the German invasion of Poland.
Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain reaffirms support for Poland and makes it clear that Britain did not view Free City of Danzig as being an internal German-Polish affair and would intervene on behalf of Poland if hostilities broke out between the two countries.
Sweden, Norway, and Finland reject Germany's offer of non-aggression pacts.
The Soviet Union proposes a tripartite alliance with the United Kingdom and France. It is rejected.
Hitler orders the German military to start planning for Fall Weiss, the codename for the attack on Poland
The Spanish Civil War ends in Nationalist victory. Spain becomes a dictatorship with Francisco Franco as the head of the new government serving until his death in 1975
The United Kingdom and France offer a guarantee of Polish independence.
The pro-German Slovak Republic is created.
Hitler orders Plan Z, a 5-year naval expansion programme intended to provide for a huge German fleet capable of defeating the British Royal Navy by 1944.
A uranium atom is split for the first time at Columbia University in the United States.
1938
Japanese troops reach the Yellow River in China.
The Anschluss: Germany annexes Austria.
The Soviet–Japanese border conflicts begin with the Battle of Lake Khasan.
The Munich Agreement is signed by Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy. The agreement allows Germany to annex the Czechoslovak Sudetenland area in exchange for peace in an attempt to appease Hitler.
1937
Second Sino-Japanese War: start of the Rape of Nanjing following Japanese victory in the Battle of Nanjing.
Italy leaves the League of Nations.
Second Sino-Japanese War: Battle of Nanjing commences as Japanese forces attack the city.
Second Sino-Japanese War: Battle of Shanghai ends in Japanese victory as Chinese forces evacuate the city.
Italy joins the Anti-Comintern Pact.
Second Sino-Japanese War: Battle of Shanghai commences.
Japanese forces occupies the city of Beijing.
The Marco Polo Bridge Incident occurs, beginning the Second Sino-Japanese War. Some scholars consider this to be the start of World War II.
Neville Chamberlain becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
President Roosevelt begins his second term.
1936
George V, King of the United Kingdom dies.The Prince of Wales succeeds him as King Edward VIII.
Germany hosts the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria.
In violation of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany remilitarizes the Rhineland.
After the Rhineland move Hitler met separately with French journalist Bertrand de Jouvenel and British analyst Arnold J. Toynbee emphasizing his limited expansionist aim of building a greater German nation, and his desire for British understanding and cooperation.
Italian troops march into the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, marking the end of the Second Italo–Abyssinian War.
The Spanish coup of July 1936 by Nationalist forces marks the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. The coup initially begins in Spanish Morocco when a garrison of Spanish Foreign Legion soldiers rebel. This rebellion later spreads across the whole country.
Germany hosts the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.
Franklin D. Roosevelt wins reelection defeating Alf Landon.
Hitler makes it mandatory for all males between the ages 10-18 to join the Hitler Youth.
The Second United Front is formed between the Chinese Communist party and the Kuomintang, temporarily suspending the Chinese Civil War for the sake of fighting the Japanese.
1935
Final British General election until 1945. Stanley Baldwin replaces Ramsay MacDonald as Prime Minister.
Italy invades Ethiopia, beginning the Second Italo–Abyssinian War. The League of Nations denounces Italy and calls for an oil embargo that fails.
The Reichstag passes the Nuremberg Laws, institutionalizing discrimination against Jews and providing the legal framework for the systematic persecution of Jews in Germany.
1934
The Austrian Civil War is fought, ending with Austrofascist victory.
All German police forces come under the command of Heinrich Himmler.
Upon the death of President Hindenburg, Hitler makes himself Führer of Germany, becoming Head of State as well as Chancellor.
Left-wing parties in the Second Spanish Republic start the Revolution of 1934 against the right-wing government.
Beginning of the Long March where the Chinese Red Army retreats to evade the pursuit of Kuomintang forces.
The Abyssinia Crisis begins with the Walwal incident, an armed clash between Italian and Ethiopian troops on the border of Ethiopia.
1933
Homeless, alcoholic, and unemployed sent to Nazi concentration camps.
The United States extends diplomatic recognition to the Soviet Union.
The Nazi party becomes the official party of Germany.
Official formation of the Luftwaffe, the German air force built in secret in violation of the Treaty of Versailles.
Hitler outlaws trade unions.
The Gestapo secret police is established in Germany.
Germans are told to boycott Jewish shops and businesses.
The Reichstag passes the Enabling Act, making Adolf Hitler dictator of Germany.
Germany's first concentration camp, Dachau, is completed.
Using the Reichstag fire as a pretext, the Reichstag Fire Decree is issued by President Paul von Hindenburg, nullifying many German civil liberties and paving the way for the Nazi seizure of power.
Germany's parliament building the Reichstag is set on fire.
Hitler is appointed Chancellor of Germany by President Hindenburg.
1932
January 28 incident: using a flare-up of anti-Japanese violence as a pretext, the Japanese attack Shanghai, China. Fighting ends on March 6, and on May 5 a ceasefire agreement is signed wherein Shanghai is made a demilitarized zone.
Japan creates the puppet state Manchukuo out of occupied Manchuria.
Paul von Hindenburg is relected President of Germany, defeating Adolf Hitler.
Chancellor of Germany Heinrich Brüning resigns. President Hindenburg asks Franz von Papen to form a new government.
Hermann Göring is elected chairman of the German Reichstag.
Franklin D. Roosevelt defeats Herbert Hoover in the 1932 presidential election.
President Hindenburg begins talking to Hitler about forming a new government.
1931
Using the Mukden Incident as a pretext, the Japanese invade Manchuria
Mukden Incident: the Japanese military stage a false flag bombing against a Japanese-controlled railroad in the Chinese region of Manchuria, blaming Chinese dissidents for the attack.
1930
German election results in the Nazis becoming the second-largest party in the Reichstag.
1929
The Great Depression begins with the Wall Street Crash.
The Lateran Treaty is ratified, making the Vatican City a sovereign state.
1928
Foundation of the Chinese Red Army.
Italy and Ethiopia sign the Italo-Ethiopian Treaty, pledging cooperation and friendship.
Herbert Hoover wins the 1928 US president election defeating Al Smith.
1927
the Chinese Civil War starts
1926
Greece becomes a dictatorship
Germany joins the League of Nations.
Emperor Taishō dies, and is succeeded by his son Hirohito as the Emperor of Japan.
