Chronology part 1
I will start things off with a rundown of the main events that led to WW2.
Starting in 1933 when in January, Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany,
In February, Japan occupied part of China, north of the great wall.
In March, the Enabling Act granted Adolf Hitler dictatorial power until April 1937.
In October, Germany withdrew from the League of nations (the forerunner to the UN).
In January 1934, Germany and Poland sign a pact, to prevent aggression!
In June, the Nazi party have a purge, and the leader of the SA (Sturmabteilung) Ernst Rohm is “liquidated”.
In July, there is an attempted coup in Austria, and the anti-Nazi leader, Engelbert Dollfus is killed.
August the 2nd, President Von Hindenburg died, and this gave the chancellor the opportunity to take that office too,
as well as being sworn in as supreme commander of all German armed forces.
August 19th, Hitler is given full power by the plebiscite government, and named “Fuhrer”.
In October, Hitler orders the creation of an air force, as well as an expansion of the army and navy.
In November, Churchill gave a speech in parliament, warning of the growing air menace in Germany.
In December, Japan throws out naval agreements signed in 1922 and 1930, leaving that country open to expand its fleet.
January 1935 saw the signing of the Franco Italian agreement.
In September Anti-Jewish Nuremberg laws were passed, and the swastika became the official flag.
In October, Italy realized its conquest ideals and invaded Abyssinia, (modern Ethiopia)
In December in the east, Chiang Kai-shek is elected to head the Chinese executive.
Also in December, the US passed the neutrality act.
1936, things start to get worrying for the world, in January, Japan walks out of the London naval conference,
Edward the 8th takes the British throne, Japanese military faction appoints Hirota as premiere of Japan,
German troops enter the Rhineland unopposed, Italy, Austria and Hungary sign the Rome Pact
In March elections, national socialists win 99% of the vote in Germany.
At the end of that same month, the British civil defense opens the first “Anti Gas School”.
In May, Abyssinia is formally annexed to Italy.
July see`s the start of the Spanish civil war, Germany supplies, arms and technicians to General Franco.
France and Britain discuss nonintervention, in the Spanish civil war.
In August, Germany introduces compulsory military service of 2 years.
In November, Germany and Italy recognize the Franco government, completing the fascist triangle.
December 12th, Chiang Kai-shek declares war on Japan after being kidnapped in Sian.
This marked the end of a year of fear for the world, but things were only going to get worse, and much more volatile.
1937 The storm clouds of war are gathering!
On January 15th, Austrian Nazis involved in the attempted coup were given amnesty, no doubt after some pressure from Berlin.
February the 8th, Italians assist Spanish rebels in taking Malaga.
February 27th, The French create their “Ministry of Defense” and start planning to extend the Maginot line defenses.
April 27th, the city of Guernica is destroyed by aircraft supplied by Germany and Italy.
May 1st, the US President, FD Roosevelt signs the neutrality act, America was avoiding getting involved in another European war,
as obviously, they could see it coming, even if some in European governments could not!
May 28th sees Neville Chamberlain elected prime minister.
May 31st, The German fleet get a little gunnery practice by bombarding Almeria.
June 12th sees Russia make one of the biggest prewar blunders by any nation, The Red Army is purged of most of its experienced generals,
a mistake that would come back to haunt them a few years later!
July 7th sees the first clashes between the Japanese and Chinese, at “Marco Polo Bridge” near Peking (Modern day Beijing) The Sino/Japanese war had begun!
Also in July, a royal commission recommends the establishment of Arab and Jewish states in Palestine.
November 17th -21st Lord Halifax visits Berlin to try and find a peaceful settlement to the Sudeten land problem (an area illegally annexed by Germany),
and this marks the beginning of the disastrous appeasement policy, adopted by the British government, a policy that allowed Hitler to do as he pleased,
knowing Britain and France would not intervene, Some in the British government were appalled by this stance by the government, it was thought weak and defeatist by many,
it seemed that Britain was afraid of conflict, even though it had an incredibly powerful navy, a large well-trained army, and an experienced air force, although be it with obsolete aircraft.
Some in Britain were doing all they could to prepare for the coming conflict, because to many it was obvious, even at this early stage,
war was coming again, others chose to bury their heads in the sand and pretend all was rosy, and Herr Hitler was never going to inflict war on Europe again!
How short sighted, and naively trusting some people were at that time.
I will start things off with a rundown of the main events that led to WW2.
Starting in 1933 when in January, Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany,
In February, Japan occupied part of China, north of the great wall.
In March, the Enabling Act granted Adolf Hitler dictatorial power until April 1937.
In October, Germany withdrew from the League of nations (the forerunner to the UN).
In January 1934, Germany and Poland sign a pact, to prevent aggression!
In June, the Nazi party have a purge, and the leader of the SA (Sturmabteilung) Ernst Rohm is “liquidated”.
In July, there is an attempted coup in Austria, and the anti-Nazi leader, Engelbert Dollfus is killed.
August the 2nd, President Von Hindenburg died, and this gave the chancellor the opportunity to take that office too,
as well as being sworn in as supreme commander of all German armed forces.
August 19th, Hitler is given full power by the plebiscite government, and named “Fuhrer”.
In October, Hitler orders the creation of an air force, as well as an expansion of the army and navy.
In November, Churchill gave a speech in parliament, warning of the growing air menace in Germany.
In December, Japan throws out naval agreements signed in 1922 and 1930, leaving that country open to expand its fleet.
January 1935 saw the signing of the Franco Italian agreement.
In September Anti-Jewish Nuremberg laws were passed, and the swastika became the official flag.
In October, Italy realized its conquest ideals and invaded Abyssinia, (modern Ethiopia)
In December in the east, Chiang Kai-shek is elected to head the Chinese executive.
Also in December, the US passed the neutrality act.
1936, things start to get worrying for the world, in January, Japan walks out of the London naval conference,
Edward the 8th takes the British throne, Japanese military faction appoints Hirota as premiere of Japan,
German troops enter the Rhineland unopposed, Italy, Austria and Hungary sign the Rome Pact
In March elections, national socialists win 99% of the vote in Germany.
At the end of that same month, the British civil defense opens the first “Anti Gas School”.
In May, Abyssinia is formally annexed to Italy.
July see`s the start of the Spanish civil war, Germany supplies, arms and technicians to General Franco.
France and Britain discuss nonintervention, in the Spanish civil war.
In August, Germany introduces compulsory military service of 2 years.
In November, Germany and Italy recognize the Franco government, completing the fascist triangle.
December 12th, Chiang Kai-shek declares war on Japan after being kidnapped in Sian.
This marked the end of a year of fear for the world, but things were only going to get worse, and much more volatile.
1937 The storm clouds of war are gathering!
On January 15th, Austrian Nazis involved in the attempted coup were given amnesty, no doubt after some pressure from Berlin.
February the 8th, Italians assist Spanish rebels in taking Malaga.
February 27th, The French create their “Ministry of Defense” and start planning to extend the Maginot line defenses.
April 27th, the city of Guernica is destroyed by aircraft supplied by Germany and Italy.
May 1st, the US President, FD Roosevelt signs the neutrality act, America was avoiding getting involved in another European war,
as obviously, they could see it coming, even if some in European governments could not!
May 28th sees Neville Chamberlain elected prime minister.
May 31st, The German fleet get a little gunnery practice by bombarding Almeria.
June 12th sees Russia make one of the biggest prewar blunders by any nation, The Red Army is purged of most of its experienced generals,
a mistake that would come back to haunt them a few years later!
July 7th sees the first clashes between the Japanese and Chinese, at “Marco Polo Bridge” near Peking (Modern day Beijing) The Sino/Japanese war had begun!
Also in July, a royal commission recommends the establishment of Arab and Jewish states in Palestine.
November 17th -21st Lord Halifax visits Berlin to try and find a peaceful settlement to the Sudeten land problem (an area illegally annexed by Germany),
and this marks the beginning of the disastrous appeasement policy, adopted by the British government, a policy that allowed Hitler to do as he pleased,
knowing Britain and France would not intervene, Some in the British government were appalled by this stance by the government, it was thought weak and defeatist by many,
it seemed that Britain was afraid of conflict, even though it had an incredibly powerful navy, a large well-trained army, and an experienced air force, although be it with obsolete aircraft.
Some in Britain were doing all they could to prepare for the coming conflict, because to many it was obvious, even at this early stage,
war was coming again, others chose to bury their heads in the sand and pretend all was rosy, and Herr Hitler was never going to inflict war on Europe again!
How short sighted, and naively trusting some people were at that time.
