19361939

1936–1939 refers to a critical period in world history, spanning the late interwar years and the events that led to World War II. It saw the consolidation of fascist regimes in Germany and Italy, rising military aggression, and major conflicts that tested the post–World War I international order.

In 1936, Germany remilitarized the Rhine, violating the Versailles settlement. In October, Germany and Italy formed the Rome–Berlin Axis, and in November they signed the Anti-Comintern Pact with Japan, aligning against the Soviet Union. The Spanish Civil War began in July, drawing international involvement as Nationalist and Republican factions received support from foreign powers.

1937 saw further expansion of conflict and alliance-building. The Second Sino-Japanese War intensified after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident in July, as Japan sought control over China’s eastern coast. Meanwhile the Spanish Civil War continued to draw foreign volunteers and military aid, testing new weapons and tactics.

In 1938, several pivotal events occurred. Germany annexed Austria in March (the Anschluss). In September, the Munich Agreement permitted Germany to annex the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia, a major appeasement moment by Britain and France. The year also saw heightened antisemitic repression within Germany, culminating in Kristallnacht in November.

1939 began with further German expansion: in March, Germany occupied the remainder of Czechoslovakia, establishing the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. In August, Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, a non-aggression treaty that divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence. The period culminated in September with Germany’s invasion of Poland, prompting Britain and France to declare war and marking the start of World War II in Europe.