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Munich Conference
This was a conference between the leaders of Britain, France, and Germany. Hitler gained Sudetenland on the condition that he stop expansion. -
Non-Aggression Pact
Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression pact so that Germany could invade Poland without interferance. It also gave the Soviet Union part of Poland if Germany was successful. -
Blitzkrieg
Germany began its "lightning war" attack on Poland. -
Britain and France declare war
Britain and France declares war on Germany in response to its invasion of Poland, a violation of the Munich Agreement. -
France's Surrender
France surrenders to Germany and the Vichy Regime takes over the French government. Marshal Philipe Petain, the new President of the Council of the regime, worked with the Nazis to capture Jews and others that didn't fit with the Aryan race. -
Battle of Britain begins
After France's surrender, Germany's Luftwafe begins their air offensive on Britain. The goal was to destroy the air force, but it was not successful. -
Pearl Harbor
Japan bombs U.S. naval base Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Their intent was to destroy the entire American Pacific fleet. Immediately, the U.S. declares war on the Axis Powers. -
Invasion of the Soviet Union
Germany invades the Soviet Union, breaking the non-aggression pact. They underestimate Soviet numbers and the Russian winter and are not successful. -
Battle of the Coral Sea
Allied forces have victory over the Japanese. This turns the tide of the war and stops Japan's success in the Pacific. The battle lasted until May 8th. -
Tehran Conference
Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill meet to discuss their final attack on Germany. They also agree to partition Germany after the war. -
D-Day
Allied forces storm the beaches of Normandy, France with Dwight D. Eisenhower commanding the troops. Germany begins its retreat. -
Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima
President Tuman orders the atomic bomb that has been created through the Manhatten Project to be dropped on Hiroshima. The bomb formed a mushroom cloud and the sky flashed like the sun had exploded. Over 75,000 civilians died, but Japan still didn't surrender. -
Atomic Bomb on Nagasaki
Another atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki. Truman justifies this with the loss of money and American lives a battle would take. -
V-J Day
Japan surrenders. The war is finally over. Over 15 million soldiers died in all. -
Nuremburg Trials Begin
The trials lasted intil October 1, 1946. These trials were held to try German, Italian, and Japanese war criminals for the atrocities they committed. 11 were sentenced to death and many others to a life in prison.