Timeline of Events Leading to WWII
Directions: Answer the following questions with your group.
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Which events are similar to those that took place in the Third Wave Experiment?
Explain why?
Choose your top 5 most significant/important events that led to Hitler coming to power
and ultimately the start of WWII. Justify your reasons and be ready to share with the
class.
Feel free to research any of the following events more using your phone or iPad. Here’s
the website with links to more info.
http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/ww2time.htm
1. November 11, 1918 - World War I ends with German defeat.
2. June 28, 1919 - Signing of the Treaty of Versailles. Germany accepts blame for war and is
punished with loss of territory, paying large amounts of money to England and France, and
forced decrease of military. As a result of the war, by 1919 Germany was no longer the second
most economically advanced nation in the world
3. July 29, 1921 - Adolf Hitler becomes leader of National Socialist (Nazi) Party.
4. October 29, 1929 - Stock Market on Wall Street crashes. Impact felt worldwide. Great
depression begins shortly thereafter. High unemployment and poverty in Germany as a result.
5. September 14, 1930 - Germans elect
Nazis making them the 2nd largest
political party in Germany.
6. January 30, 1933 - Adolf Hitler becomes
Chancellor of Germany.
7. March 12, 1933 - First concentration
camp opened at Oranienburg outside
Berlin.
8. March 23, 1933 - Enabling Act gives Hitler dictatorial power.
9. July 14, 1933 - Nazi Party declared Germany's only political party. No political competition.
10. August 19, 1934 - Adolf Hitler becomes Führer (absolute leader) of Germany.
11. February 10, 1936 - The German Gestapo
(Nazi Secret Police) is placed above the law.
12. August 12, 1938 - German military mobilizes.
13. March 15/16, 1939 - Nazis take
Czechoslovakia.
14. May 22, 1939 - Nazis sign 'Pact of Steel' with
Italy.
15. August 23, 1939 - Nazis and Soviets sign Pact.
16. September 1, 1939 - Nazis invade Poland. Official start to WWII.
17. September 3, 1939 - Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand declare war on Germany.
18. September 5, 1939 - United States proclaims its neutrality.
19. November 8, 1939 - Assassination attempt on Hitler fails.