History KEY DATES

Treaty of Versailles

Signed on June 28, 1919, ending WWI.

Paris Peace Conference

Held from January to June 1919, establishing peace terms.

League of Nations

Established on January 10, 1920, for international cooperation.

French occupation of Ruhr

1923 response to Germany's failure to pay reparations.

Germany withdraws from League

In 1933, Germany leaves the League of Nations.

First League meeting

Took place in 1920 to discuss international issues.

Aaland Islands dispute

Resolved in 1921 between Finland and Sweden.

Corfu Incident

1923 territorial dispute between Greece and Italy.

Manchurian Crisis

Begins in 1931 with Japan's invasion of Manchuria.

Abyssinian Crisis

Starts in 1935 with Italy's invasion of Ethiopia.

Hitler becomes Chancellor

Adolf Hitler appointed Chancellor of Germany in 1933.

Reintroduction of conscription

Germany reintroduces conscription and rearmament in 1935.

Remilitarization of Rhineland

March 1936, Germany reoccupies the Rhineland region.

Spanish Civil War

1936-1939 conflict, testing ground for Axis powers.

Anschluss

March 1938, Germany annexes Austria.

Munich Agreement

September 30, 1938, Sudetenland ceded to Germany.

Occupation of Czechoslovakia

March 1939, Germany occupies the rest of Czechoslovakia.

Nazi-Soviet Pact

August 23, 1939, non-aggression pact between Germany and USSR.

Invasion of Poland

September 1, 1939, Germany invades Poland, starting WWII.

Yalta Conference

February 1945 meeting of Big Three on post-war Europe.

Potsdam Conference

July 1945, finalizing post-war decisions among Allies.

Truman Doctrine

Announced in 1947 to contain communism globally.

Berlin Blockade and Airlift

1948-1949 crisis over access to West Berlin.

Formation of NATO

Established in 1949, military alliance against communism.

Korean War

Conflict from 1950 to 1953 between North and South Korea.

Death of Stalin

Stalin dies in 1953, impacting global politics.

Eisenhower becomes President

Dwight D. Eisenhower assumes presidency in 1953.