A false flag attack is an operation designed to frame a particular group or country for an action they did not commit. These operations are frequently used in an attempt to precipitate a war. This is a list of false flag attacks that occurred before (and during) the Second World War:

 

Mukden incident: September 18, 1931. The Japanese detonate a bomb on their own railway and blame the attack on the Chinese, using this as a pre-text to invade Manchuria.

 

Reichstag fire: February 27, 1933. Allegedly, the Nazis set fire to the Reichstag. They pinned the blame on the communists and declared a state of emergency. Adolf Hitler issued the Enabling act and seized total control of Germany.

 

Walwal incident: December 5, 1934. Italian troops intentionally started a fight on the border with Abyssinia, in an attempt to escalate tensions with them.

 

Gleiwitz incident: August 31, 1939. German troops attacked their own radio station while disguised as Poles, thus providing a casus belle for war.

 

Shelling of Mainila: November 26, 1939. The Soviets shell one of their own villages and blame the attack on Finland. This provides Joseph Stalin with a pre-text to declare war on Finland and invade them.

 

Sinking of the Elli: August 15, 1940. An Italian submarine launchs an unprovoked attack on the Greek cruiser Elli, sinking it at port. They claim that the British were responsible.

 

Bombing of Kassa: June 26, 1941. German aircraft bombed the Hungarian city of Kassa. They pinned the blame on the Soviets, which ultimately resulted in Hungary declaring war against them.

 

Bombing of the Vatican: November 5, 1943. Italian aircraft bombed a radio station in the Vatican, claiming that the Americans were responsible.