We explain what the period delivered, what were the most important events and its chronological order from 1919 to 1939.
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What was the interwar period?
The interwar period was the period of twenty years that he understood between the end of World War I (1914-1918) and the beginning of World War II (1939-1945) . It was an era initiated with peace negotiations and war repairs (such as the Versailles Treaty) and the reconstruction efforts in European countries devastated by war.
The international position of The United States was strengthened thanks to its industrial capacity and its role as creditor of European nations while the economy in Europe recovered only since 1925. The rise of mass consumption in The 1920s, which was called “Locos”, culminated in 1929 with the crack of the New York Stock Exchange that gave rise to the great depression a global crisis that covered most of the 1930s.
Due to the atrocities of the First World War, the resentments derived from the post -war treaties and repairs, and the subsequent crisis of the thirties, Adhesion to communism grew in Europe (Inspired by the triumph of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917) and the nationalist movements that gave rise to the fascism in Italy (who came to power in 1922) and Nazism in Germany (who came to power in 1933).
In the interwar period Alliances were woven and rearme policies were implemented that traced the way to World War II. The outbreak of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), which faced the Republicans (who received the military support of the Soviet Union) and the nationalists (who received the military support of Nazi Germany and fascist Italy), served the forces of the Roma-Berlin axis to test the tactics and armaments that they later used in the world contest.
Frequent questions
What was the interwar period?
It was a period of almost 21 years that took place between the two largest wars of the twentieth century: World War I and World War II.
When did you start and end the delivery period?
It passed between the end of World War I (1914-1918) and the beginning of World War II (1939-1945).
What were the most important events of the interwar period?
The most important events were:
- Treaty of Versailles (1919). It was an agreement that meant the end of World War I, and laid the foundations of World War II due to the harsh conditions imposed on Germany.
- Emergence of socialist and fascist movements. Socialist and fascist socialist movements and parties expanded in different parts of the world (such as Benito Mussolini in Italy and Adolf Hitler in Germany). They acquired power, especially, given the economic crises and policies of liberal democracies.
- Great Depression (1929). It was a great financial crisis initiated in the United States, which had worldwide reach and lasts throughout the 1930s.
Chronology of the interwar period
From the Treaty of Versailles to the crack of the New York Stock Exchange (1919-1929)
1919
- June . After the armistice that marks the end of the First World War (November 11, 1918), the Versailles treaty between the Allies and Germany (June 28, 1919), which enters into force in January 1920 is signed. The treaty imposes war repairs to Germany and founds the society of nations. Subsequently, the allies sign treated with Austria (Treaty of Saint Germain, 1919), Bulgaria (Treaty of Neuilly, 1919), Hungary (Treaty of Trianón, 1920) and Turkey (Treaty of Sèvres, 1920; Treaty of Lausana, 1923).
1920
- January . Dry law begins in the United States (in force until 1933), which prohibits the production and marketing of alcoholic beverages.
- March . The United States Senate rejects the signing of the Treaty of Versailles and the adhesion of the United States to the Nations Society.
- April . The Russian-Polish war begins, with the Polish offensive on the territories of Ukraine under Soviet control. The war concludes with the Riga Treaty in March 1921, with an agreement on territorial limits.
1921
- February . An alliance between France and Poland is signed, in the face of possible future threats of Germany or the Bolshevik Russia.
- March . The Bolshevik government adopts the NEP (new economic policy), aimed at a private-state mixed economy.
1922
- February . The Washington Conference leads to the signing of three treaties on the Pacific and East Asia, with the intention of limiting the naval weapons in the area: the treaty of the 4 powers (United States, United Kingdom, France, Japan), the treaty of the 5 powers (Italy) and the treaty of the 9 powers are added (Belgium, China, Netherlands and Portugal are incorporated). In addition, the United Kingdom grants political independence to Egypt (which ceases to be a British protectorate).
- April . The Rapallo treaty between Germany and the Soviet Union, which establishes diplomatic and economic relations between the two states, is signed.
- August . The small entente between Czechoslovakia, the kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenos (then Yugoslavia) and Romania, as a defensive alliance against possible threats of the kingdom of Hungary.
- October . The march on Rome gives power to Benito Mussolini (founder of the National Fascist Party) in Italy.
- November . The tomb of Tutankhamun is discovered in Egypt, which unleashes world interest in ancient Egypt and legends about the curse of the pharaoh.
1923
- January. French and Belgian troops occupy the Ruhr region, in Germany, due to the inability of the Weimar Republic (German government) to pay economic compensation for World War II. A passive resistance campaign of the German population begins.
- September. The German passive resistance ends in the Ruhr.
- October . With the premiere of the musical Runnin 'Wild on Broadway, the Charleston dance begins to be popular, dancing that characterizes the “crazy years.” In Türkiye the Republic is proclaimed, chaired by nationalist leader Kemal Atatürk.
- November . Hyperinflation in Germany reaches its maximum point, prior to an economic recovery with the introduction of a new currency (the recentm). The German National Workers' Party led by Adolf Hitler gives a failed coup d'etat in Munich (the “Putsch of Munich”).
1924
- January . With Lenin's death, Iosif Stalin becomes the maximum leader of the Soviet Union.
- April . The Dawes Plan is approved, supervised by the United States government, to reduce the burden of compensation to Germany and guarantee their payments to the winning nations.
1925
- March. The Scottish inventor John Logie Baird makes the first demonstration of image broadcasting through a television screen.
- August . France and Belgium withdraw their Ruhr troops.
- October . The treaties of Locarno are signed, for which Germany, France and Belgium agree not to attack militarily, and Germany accepts its western borders established in the Versailles treaty.
1926
- September. Germany enters the Nations Society.
1927
- May. The American aviator Charles Lindbergh performs the first solo and non -scales transatlantic flight.
- October . The singer of Jazz, the first sound film that marks the end of the mute cinema is released in the United States.
1928
- August. Fifteen countries sign the Briand-Kellogg pact, which are committed to not using war to solve their disputes (then more countries adhere).
- September . The Scottish doctor Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin.
- October . Stalin begins the implementation of the first five -year plan in the Soviet Union, an accelerated industrialization process based on forced agricultural collectivization.
1929
- February. Lateran's pacts between Italy and the Papacy are signed, which recognize the independence of the Vatican as a sovereign state. In Chicago (United States), Valentine's killing occurs, a massacre allegedly ordered by Gánster al Capone.
- September . Aristide Briand, president of France, proposes a European Federal Union.
- October. The fall of the New York Stock Exchange occurs and this triggers the great depression, which affects most of the world during the thirties.
Of the great depression to the outbreak of World War II (1930-1939)
1930
- November and December. A bank run affects numerous US banks, which sharpens the financial crisis.
1931
- April. The Second Spanish Republic is proclaimed. The deposed king, Alfonso XIII, flees from Spain.
- September . Manchuria Japanese invasion occurs.
1932
- October . Iraq achieves independence from the United Kingdom.
1933
- January . Adolf Hitler is appointed German chancellor.
- March . It assumes the presidency of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt, who implements a measures plan (“New Deal”) to promote economic recovery and overcome the great depression. On the other hand, Japan leaves the Nations Society.
- October . Germany leaves the society of nations and reinforces its rearma policy.
1934
- February. Romania, Greece, Türkiye and Yugoslavia sign the Balkan Pact to guarantee their borders.
- September . The Soviet Union enters the Nations Society.
1935
- March. Hitler restores mandatory military service in Germany
- April . Stresa's conference between the United Kingdom, France and Italy agrees to reaffirm the principles of the Versailles treaty and the Treaty to Locarno against the German Rearme.
- June . The United Kingdom and Germany sign the Anglo-German naval agreement that accepts the German naval rearme but with restrictions, which violates the principles of the Versailles Treaty.
- October . The Italian invasion of Ethiopia (Abisinia) occurs, which is convicted by the United Kingdom and France and leads to the rupture of the Stresa Conference Agreement.
1936
- March. Hitler remilitates Renania, border area with France and Belgium, which violates one of the points of the Versailles treaty.
- July . The Spanish civil war explodes after military insurrection against the Second Republic. General Francisco Franco becomes head of the State in the regions controlled by the rebels.
- August . Almost thirty European governments subscribe the non -intervention pact, consisting of not supporting any of the two sides faced in the Spanish Civil War. In practice, the nationalist side receives military support from Germany, Italy and Portugal, and the Republican side receives military support from the Soviet Union.
- November . The Roma-Berlin axis is formed (after the friendship pact signed in October between Mussolini's Italy and Hitler's Germany), and the anti-komintern pact between Germany and the Empire of Japan is signed.
1937
- April. The planes of the German Condor Legion and the Italian Legionary Aviation participate in the bombing of the city of Guernica, as part of their support for Francisco Franco's nationalist side in the Spanish Civil War.
- July . The Chinese-Japanese war begins, with the Japanese regions of China.
- November . A Hitler meeting is produced with his main counselors, known by the Hossbach Memorandum, in which Hitler's intentions of expanding east are manifested. In addition, Italy adheres to the anti-komintern pact.
- December . Italy leaves the Society of Nations.
1938
- March. Germany annexes Austria (“Anschluss”).
- September . The Munich Pact between Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Italy, which approves the German occupation of the Sudetes (which were part of Czechoslovakia) is signed.
- November . The “Broken Crystals” (acts of violence perpetrated by the Nazis against the Jews of Germany) occurs.
1939
- March . Germany occupies Czechoslovakia. France and the United Kingdom guarantee Poland their support in case of German attack.
- April . The Spanish civil war ends with the triumph of the nationalists. Franco's Spain joins the anti-komintern pact. On the other hand, Italy invades Albania and annexes it.
- May . Germany and Italy sign the steel pact, which ensures the political and military alliance.
- August . The Pact of German-Soviet aggression is signed, which subsequently allows Poland's distribution between the invasive forces of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.
- September 1 . Germany invades Poland.
- September 3. France and the United Kingdom declare war on Germany.
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References
- Britannica, Encyclopaedia (2022). Nazism. Britannica Encyclopedia. https://www.britannica.com/
- Britannica, Encyclopaedia (2020). Stalinism. Britannica Encyclopedia. https://www.britannica.com/
- Britannica, Encyclopaedia (2022). Weimar Republic. Britannica Encyclopedia. https://www.britannica.com/
- Cabrera, M., Juliá, S. & Martín Aceña, P. (comps.) (1991). Europe in crisis. 1919-1939. Editorial Pablo Iglesias.
- Sevillano Calero, F. (2020). The Europe of award. The disrupted order. Synthesis.
