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Hitler ordered troops to occupy the Rhineland breaking the treaty of Versailles. The French did not make a military stand against him. The Nazis would have retreated if there was any military stand against them.
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The Rome-Berlin Axis is announced. The three partners in the alliance were Germany, Italy and Japan. The treaty was announced after signing a treaty of friendship.
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Japan Invades China, making World War 2 in the Pacific. 1937 was the violent attack on China. This clash happened near Peiping in North China.
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Germany, Italy, Great Britain, and France sign the Munich agreement. Forces Czechoslovak Republic to cede the Sudetenland to Germany. World War II began about one year after its signing.
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Facist Italy invades and annexes Albania. Mussolini decided to go on with his own annexation of Albania after Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia without notifying him. Victor Emanuel III took the Albanian crown.
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Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union sign the nonagression agreement. They promised not to attack each other. Germany would also exchange manufactured goods for Soviet raw materials.
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Germany invades Poland, initiating war in Europe.
Hitler signed the nonagression pact with Poland to make it easier to attack. The Polish army was defeated within weeks of the invasion. -
Germany invades Denmark and Norway from April 9 to June 9. Denmark surrenders on the day of the attack. Norway held out until June 9. The fighting allowed Germany to cross the Danish border.
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The German attack went through the Ardennes Forest in southeastern Belgium and northern Luxembourg. Luxembourg is occuped May 10th. The Netherlands surrendedered May 14. Belgium surrenders May 28th.
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Hundreds of Japan fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor. They managed to destory nearly 20 American naval vessels. More than 2,000 American soldiers and sailors died in the attack.
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Nazi Germany and its Axis partners declare war on the United States. This brings America into the war. United States congress declared war on Germany in response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
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Codename Operation Overlord, the battle began on June 6 1944. 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches along a 50 mile stretch. The allies attacked and gained a victory that became the turning point for World War II in Europe.
