Important Events Leading to the Start of WWII

In some ways, the start of WW II began at the end of WW I, with Hitler being angry at the loss of German territories which occurred due to the war. His rise to power and his will to claim back previous territories, as well as annex new ones, provided the fuel that ignited WW II.These actions of Hitler, as well other significant events that occurred in 1938 and 1939, contributed to the start of the war.

On February 4th, 1938, Hitler was appointed Chief Commander of the German army. Soon after, on March 12th , Poland was invaded and occupied by Germany. By September 1938, Hitler had his eyes on Czechoslovakia, demanding autonomy for Germans in the Sudeten territory of Czechoslovakia. This lead to uprisings and marshal law being declared in frontier districts of Czechoslovakia on September 13th . Then at the Munich conference in Italy on September 29th , Great Britain, France and Italy gave Germany the Sudeten territory. On September 30th, the Czechoslovakian President resigns.

Other important markers on the time line leading up to the start of the war included the September 7th shooting of the German diplomat, Von Roth, in France. To avenge his death, the Germans conducted widespread looting and destruction of Jewish owned shops. December 1938 saw the Italian Chamber of Deputies dissolve and the French- Italian agreement of 1935 renounced.

At the start of March 1939, the Japanese announced they were beginning a six-year plan to build up their navy. The end of March saw the United States not recognizing German occupation of Czechoslovakia, and Britain and France announcing they will provide assistance to Poland if it is invaded by Germany. On April 7th , Albania is invaded by Italy. April 27th saw the British government start conscripting men to increase the ranks of its military. Furthermore, in April 1939, President Roosevelt tried to plan a Peace Conference, which Hitler refused.

President Roosevelt tried again in mid July to prevent war by asking congress to revise the U.S. Neutrality Law, which it did not. On August 29th , Roosevelt said their failure to do so encourages the Germans to continue their invasion plans. On this same date, Great Britain places its self on war alert as Hitler plans to invade Poland, which he does on September 1st . Therefore, on September 3rd , 1939, Great Britain, France and India declare war on Germany. Other countries soon join suit, with Australia and New Zealand declare war against Germany on September 4th, followed by South Africa on the 6th and Canada on September10th. World War Two had now begun.