Europe 1933-1945

Europe 1933-1945

Period: Jan 1, 1933 to Sep 2, 1945

Time line of important facts in Europe between 1933 and 1945.

Adolf Hitler appointed Chancellor of Germany

Jan 30, 1933

Adolf Hitler appointed Chancellor of Germany.

Dachau concentration camp opens

Mar 22, 1933

Dachau concentration camp opens

New laws for Jews

Apr 7, 1933

Laws for Reestablishment of the Civil Service barred Jews from holding civil service, university, and state positions.

The Gestapo

Apr 26, 1933

Gestapo established.

The Führer

Aug 2, 1934

Hitler proclaims himself Führer und Reichskanzler (Leader and Reich Chancellor). Armed forces must now swear allegiance to him.

Nuremberg Laws

Sep 15, 1935

"Nuremberg Laws": anti-Jewish racial laws enacted; Jews no longer considered German citizens; Jews could not marry Aryans; nor could they fly the German flag

The Rhineland invation

Mar 7, 1936

Germans march into the Rhineland, previously demilitarized by the Versailles Treat

Rome-Berlin Axis

Oct 25, 1936

Hitler and Mussolini form Rome-Berlin Axis

Buchenwald concentration camps

Jul 15, 1937

Buchenwald concentration camp opens.

Anchluss

Mar 13, 1938

Anschluss (incorporation of Austria): all antisemitic decrees immediately applied in Austria.

Munich Conference

Sep 30, 1938

Munich Conference: Great Britain and France agree to German occupation of the Sudetenland, previously western Czechoslovakia

Occupation of Czechoslovakia

Mar 15, 1939

Germans occupy Czechoslovakia.

Motolov-Ribbentrop Pact

Aug 23, 1939

Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact signed: non-aggression pact between Soviet Union and Germany.

Break out of the Second World War (invasion of Poland)

Sep 1, 1939

Beginning of World War II: Germany invades Poland.

Denmark occupation

Apr 9, 1940

Germans occupy Denmark and southern Norway.

Germany invasions

May 10, 1940

Germany invades the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France

France defeated

Jun 22, 1940

France surrenders

Britain joins the fight

Aug 8, 1940

Battle of Britain begins.

Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis

Sep 27, 1940

Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis firmed.

Germany invasions

Apr 6, 1941

Germany attacks Yugoslavia and Greece; occupation follows

Germany invasion over the Soviet Union

Jun 22, 1941

June 22 Germany invades the Soviet Union

Japanede attack of the Pearl Harbor

Dec 7, 1941

Japanese attack Pearl Harbor

United States joins the war

Dec 11, 1941

United States declares war on Japan and Germany

Wannsee Conference

Jan 20, 1942

Wannsee Conference in Berlin: Heydrich outlines plan to murder Europe's Jews

Stalingrad victory

Jan 1, 1943

German 6th Army surrenders at Stalingrad

Hungary occupation

Mar 19, 1944

Germany occupies Hungary

Invasion an Normandy

Jun 6, 1944

D-Day: Allied invasion at Normandy

Attempt to assassinate Hitler

Jul 20, 1944

Group of German officers attempt to assassinate Hitler

Hitler commits suicide

Apr 30, 1945

Hitler commits suicide

End of the Third Reich

May 8, 1945

V-E Day: Germany surrenders; end of Third Reich

Bombing of Hiroshima

Aug 6, 1945

Bombing of Hiroshima

Bombing of Nagasaki

Aug 9, 1945

Bombing of Nagasaki

Victory over Japan proclaimed

Aug 15, 1945

V-J Day: Victory over Japan proclaimed

End of World War II

Sep 2, 1945

Japan surrenders; end of World War II