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The US Congress passes the Fair Labor Standards Act, the first national effort to legislate a minimum hourly wage (25 cents) and a ceiling on the number of working hours (44 per week).
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March 14
After annexing the Sudetenland, Germany invades the rest of Czechoslovakia, while Italy launches an invasion of Albania -
The Spanish Civil War ends, as Madrid falls to the forces of Francisco Franco.
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Adolph Hitler provides the final orders for the invasion of Poland.
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German troops and aircraft attack Poland. Soviet troops will invade Poland from the east on September 17, and Poland will surrender to the Germans on September 27.
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Although President Roosevelt has declared American neutrality in the war in Europe, a Neutrality Act is signed that allows the US to send arms and other aid to Britain and France.
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Soviet troops invade Finland.
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November 30
Soviet troops invade Finland. -
Mussolini and Hitler announce Italy's formal alliance with Germany against England and France.
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Mussolini and Hitler announce Italy's formal alliance with Germany against England and France.
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Italy declares war on Britain and France, and U.S. President Roosevelt announces a shift from neutrality to "non-belligerency," meaning more active support for the Allies against the Axis.
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Germany, Italy and Japan enter into a 10-year military and economic alliance that comes to be known as the "Axis". Hungary and Romania will join the Axis in November.
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Greece and Yugoslavia are invaded by German troops.
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Japanese troops capture Manila.
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The Philippines fall to Japanese troops.
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British forces capture Tripoli.