3. 1933 – Hitler comes to power. Japan leaves the League of Nations. 1935 – Italy invades Ethiopia and leaves the League of Nations. 1936 – Fascist Francisco Franco takes over Spain. 1937 – Japan invades China – Rape of Nanking, bombing of Shanghai. Guernica, Spain bombed by the Nazis in support of Franco. 1938 – Germany annexes Austria. 1939 – Germany annexes Czechoslovakia. Germany invades Poland. WWII begins.