Axis Powers in World War 2

Hitler invades the Rhineland

Mar 18, 1936

In the Treaty of Versailles, Germany agreed to demilitarize Rhineland and to reduce Germany's military. He broke both the Munich pact and this pact when he militariazed the Rhineland.

Mussolini invades Ethiopia

May 3, 1936

This was a colonial war that lasted one year. It is remembered as the war that showed how weak the UN really was. Both Italy and Ethiopia were members of the Leauge of Nations, and they did nothing to stop the conflict.

Hitler annexes Austria

Mar 13, 1938

German troops marched into Austria, and with the help of the Austrian Nazi party, forced the Austrian Chancellor to step down from his position

Hitler invades Czechoslovakia

Mar 15, 1939

In spetember, Germany, Italy, France, and Great Britain signed the Munich pact, which gave Czechoslovakia away to Germany. But Hitler was not happy, so he invaded Czechoslovakia with little bloodshed.

Mussolini ivades Albania

Apr 12, 1939

A 5 day campaign staged by Italy against Albania, with the purpose of using its ports and island to launch boats from.

Hitler and Stalin sign non-aggression pact

Aug 23, 1939

Representatives from both countries signed a pact that stated that both countries would not attack or interfere with each other. Germany later broke this pact on June 22, 1941 when they attacked the Solviet Union from the east.

Hitler Blitzkriegs and annexes W. Poland

Oct 6, 1939

The Germans attacked from the north, south, and east, and forced the Polish forces into the western corner. Then the USSR attacked, as they had a secret pact with Germany. Poland fell, and Germany added them to the nations under their control.

Hitler invades the Sudetenland

Oct 10, 1939

One political party of Czechoslovakia pretty much signed away the country to Hitler, and when he came in with his large army, no one could stop him.

Hitler invades Denmark and Norway

Apr 9, 1940

Hitler invaded Norway by sea, and took over Denmark by land. Britain sent soldiers and firepower, but when Germany threatened them, they retreated back to their own country.

Hitler Blitzkriegs The Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg

May 28, 1940

All 3 countries were attacked on the same day and they all fell relativley quickly. All of their armies were tiny compared to the fast and strong German army. Every civilian and military ship was sent to the British, so they gained extra power.

France falls to Germany

Jun 22, 1940

First, the Germans cut off the Allies and surrounded them. Then, with a strong airforce, they bombed their way through France and took it over.

Japan, Germany, and Italy form the Axis powers

Sep 27, 1940

Germany and Japan first signed the pact in 1936, and Italy later signed in 1937. They all signed a formal pact called the Tripartite Pact. Later the following countries joined, Hungary (20 November 1940), Romania (23 November 1940), Slovakia (24 November 1940), and Bulgaria (1 March 1941). The Axis were the attackers during the war, and ultimatly lost it.

Hitler gets Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania to join the Axis powers.

Mar 1, 1941

Bulgaria was promised land and riches, and in the short term, they received them. But they chose the loosing team. Both Hungary and Romania were bullied into the Axis powers.

Hitler Blitzkriegs Greece & Yugoslavia

Apr 30, 1941

This invasion was part of the Balkans campaign. Greece was vastly outnumbered because of both Germany and Italy attacking them. Before the attack, the Greeks received a small amount of British troops, but none came after that.

Operation Barbossa

Jun 22, 1941

This was the German invasion of the Solviet Union that was ultimatly unsucessful. It caused 95% of all German casualties from 1941-1944 and 65% of all Allied military casualties in the entire war. Barbarossa was the largest military operation in history in both manpower and casualties.