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Spanish Civil War
There were two side in the Spanish Civil war: The Left Wing represented the Loyalists and Republicans and the Right Wing represented the Nationalists and the Fascists.The four main supporters of Francisco Franco were the Catholic Church, the old aristocracy, Hitler, and Mussolini. Franco and the Fascists ended up winning the Spanish Civil War and a Totalitarian government was implemented. -
The Munich Conference
HItler met with representatives from France, the UK, and Italy on September 29, 1938 at the Munich Conference. An agreement was reached that Hitler could annex the Sudetenland if he would not invade anywhere else. All four countries signed the agreement. -
Germany Invades Czechoslovakia
For Hitler, the Munich Agreement was just a piece of paper. Three weeks after signing the agreement, he informed his generals they should begin planning "the liquidation of the remainder of Czecholslovakia." German troops marched into Czechoslovakia on March 15, 1939 and took over Bohemia and established protectorate over Slovakia. -
The Nazi-Soviet pact
Previously, the Soviets and Germans were sworn enemies. In August of 1939, they agreed not to attack each other, leaving each other free to persue their own military agendas. They both planned to carve Poland up between them. -
Britain declares war on Germany
Germany invaded Poland, using its "blitzkreig" strategy. They had a highly mobile combination of tanks, infantry, and artillery with air support. The Soviets advanced from the east. -
Battle of the Atlantic
This is referred to as the 2nd Battle of Britain. The primary mission of this battle was to cut the trade and supply lines between Britain and its two biggest trade partners, the US and Canada. The Germans were trying to deprive the British of food, weapons and other valuable supplies. The Allies won the Battle of the Atlantic in May 1945. -
Winston Churchill became Prime Minister
Neville Chamberlain, the previous Prime Minister lost the confidence of the House of Commons. Winston Churchill, known for his military leadership ability, took his place and became British Prime Minister on May 10, 1940. He promised his country and the world that the British people would "never surrender" and they never did. -
Operation Sea-Lion postponed
Nazi Germany had planned to invade the UK with Operation Sea-Lion. The Operation required air and naval supremecy over the English Channel which the Germans never achieved during the Battle of Britain. The operation was postponed indefinately on September 17, 1940. -
Pearl Harbor
Hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii. More than 2,000 American soldiers and sailors were killed in the devastating attack and another 1,000 were wounded. Three days later, Japanese allies, Germany, and Italy declared war on the US and congress reciprocated. Two years later, America joined the war. -
D-Day
The operational codename was Operation Overlord and took two years to plan. The Germans wanted to reassert themselves in Europe by invading Normandy and gaining a foothold in France. The Germans built multiple defenses including medical facilities, bunkers, pill boxes, artillery positions, and observation posts. They also used obstacles on the beaches including dragons teeth, barbed wire, mines, and hedgehogs.
