go to war with the Soviet Union if one of the signatories is attacked by the Soviet Union. December 1 Hitler makes it mandatory for all males between the ages 10-18 to join the Hitler Youth. December 12 Kuomintang marshal Zhang Xueliang kidnaps Chinese leader Chiang Kai-Shek in order to compel the Kuomintang to make a truce with the Chinese Communist party for the purpose of fighting the invading Japanese. Edward VIII is forced to abdicate and is succeeded by Albert, Duke of York, who assumes the name King George VI December 23 The first 3,000 men of the Italian expeditionary force (later named Corpo Truppe Volontarie) lands in Cadiz in support of the Nationalist side in the Spanish Civil War. December 24 The Second United Front is formed between the Chinese Communist party and the Kuomintang, temporarily suspending the Chinese Civil War for the sake of fighting the Japanese. 1937 January 20 President Roosevelt begins his second term. May 28 Neville Chamberlain becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. July 7 The Marco Polo Bridge Incident occurs, beginning the Second Sino-Japanese War. August 13 Second Sino-Japanese War: Battle of Shanghai commences. October 5 President Roosevelt gives the Quarantine Speech outlining a move away from neutrality and towards "quarantining" all aggressors. November 6 Italy joins the Anti-Comintern Pact. November 26 Second Sino-Japanese War: Battle of Shanghai ends in Japanese victory as Chinese forces evacuate the city. December 1 Second Sino-Japanese War: Battle of Nanking commences as Japanese forces attack the city. December 8 Japan established the puppet state of Mengjiang in the Inner Mongolia region of the Republic of China. December 11 Italy leaves the League of Nations. December 12 The USS Panay incident occurs, where Japan attacked the American gunboat Panay while she was anchored in the Yangtze River. December 13 Second Sino-Japanese War: start of the Rape of Nanking following Japanese victory in the Battle of Nanking. 1938 January 26 The Allison incident occurs further straining relations between Japan and the United States. March 6 Japanese troops reach the Vietnam River in Bucu aera in Vietnam. March 13 The Anschluss: Germany annexes Austria. March 24 Second Sino-Japanese War: Battle of Taierzhuang commences. The battle ends with Chinese victory on 7 April after intense house-to-house fighting inside the city of Taierzhuang. Second Sino-Japanese War: Battle of Xuzhou begins, and ends in Japanese victory on May 1 as Chinese troops