WWI & WWII Events Timeline

Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated

Jun 28, 1914

Ferdinand was assassinated so that Austria-Hungary's South Slav provinces would turn into Yugoslavia. However, his death led o the beginning of WWI and new formed alliances.

Russian Revolution

Mar 8, 1917

Vladimir Lenin took control over Russia and abolished the csarist way. Russians were happy about this change because they had the right o vote and got to eat.

Paris Peace Conference

Jan 18, 1919

The conference was to ensure sure that there would be a peaceful future and that a war could never happen again. The United States, United Kingdom, France, and Italy dominated the conference. This led to the Treaty of Versailles.

Mussolini’s March on Rome

Oct 27, 1922

Benito Mussolini wanted to establish his dominance over Italy with the Fascist Party.

Adolf Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch

Nov 8, 1923

Hitler and the Nazis attempted to overthrow the government in Bavaria. Their attempt failed and Hitler had to be talked out of suicide.

Stalin’s First Five Year Plan

Oct 1, 1928

Stalin wanted to better the industries and agriculture in Russia. He didn't care who was affected as long as Russia ws thriving industrially and agriculture wise. Around 13 million people died during his five year plan.

Second Italo-Ethiopian War

Oct 3, 1935

Italy invaded Ethiopia and won, however they illegally used mustard gas to win.

Spanish Civil War

Jul 17, 1936

Spain had social classes that were seperated greatly. There was tension with their government, religion, and land. After the war was over there was a division between Catholic traditions and liberallism.

Germany violates the Treaty of Versailles

Mar 7, 1937

Hitler sent German troops into a demilitarized zone in Rhineland.

Rape of Nanjing

Dec 13, 1937

The Japanese army murdered and sexually assaulted thousands of people in Nanking. The city took decades to recover after the brutal attack.

Germany’s blitzkrieg on Poland

Sep 1, 1939

Germany used tanks, troops, and dive bombers simultaneously to overwhelm Poland. Great Britain and France declare war on germany.

France surrenders to the Axis Powers

Jun 25, 1940

France didn't have the money to continue in the war anymore. They also were outnumbered by Italian and German soldiers.

Pearl Harbor Bombing

Dec 7, 1941

Japan surprise attacked the US naval base. Franklin Roosevelt asked Congress for a declaration of war against Japan and its allies.

Battle of El-Alamein

Jul 1, 1942

It was in Egypt near the mediterranean. The battle was over a small town. Germans retreated to the west and it was a win for Britain.

Battle of Guadalcanal

Aug 7, 1942

After the Allies learned the Japanese were building a large air base on Guadalcanal, U.S. Marines and Australian soldiers went to attack it. The Japanese abandoned the island after the attack.

Battle of Stalingrad

Aug 23, 1942

The Soviet Army surrounded the city and trapped the German army and cut off their supplies. Germans also struggled because of the climate. Hitler refused to back down and ended up losing 500,000 men.

D-Day

Jun 6, 1944

D-Day was the largest amphibious invasion in military history. Allies began to build an invasion force in Britain to attack German-occupied France. There was an attack in the air and seas.

Potsdam conference

Jul 17, 1945

Allies meet in the suburbs of Berlin to discuss what they want to do with Germany, the boundaries of Poland, occupation of Austria, and what they will do about the war in Japan.

Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Aug 6, 1945

An atomic bomb was used to end the war fast and save American soldiers lives. The radiation damaged a lot of people's health. The bomb killed between 129,000 and 226,000 people who were mostly civilians.

United Nations formed

Oct 24, 1945

An organization of 50 countries that work together to insure there isn't any violence.

MacArthur’s Plan for Japan

Jan 1, 1946

The allies helped rebuild Japan up, so they wouldn’t be communist. The allies wanted Japan to be an ally and make sure they would never go to war again.

Marshall Plan

Apr 3, 1948

Europe was given 15 billion dollars by the US to help them recover from WW2. Europe didn’t have to repay the money back; they started to trade with the US again. This helped stop the spread of communism.

NATO formed

Apr 4, 1949

After the Marshall Plan NATO was formed. The organization works together to protect themselves from the Soviet Union.

Warsaw Pact formed

May 14, 1955

The pact was made to defend the Soviet Union from any threats. However, it is believed it was made primarily to keep communism going.