Important Events of World War 2

Hitler Becomes Chancellor

Jan 30, 1935

Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany, promising to help Germany back to its power

Mussolini Invades Ethiopia

Oct 3, 1935

Italy, under the leader of Prime Minister Benito Mussolini, invades Ethiopia. Gaining land before the war.

Neutrality Act

May 1, 1937

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the 1937 Neutrality Act, which bans travel on belligerent ships, forbids the arming of American merchant ships trading with belligerents, and issues an arms embargo with warring nations.

Japans Defeats China

Jul 7, 1937

The Japanese defeat Chinese forces in a clash near Peking, taking control of North China

Roosevelt Limits Ships to Asia

Sep 14, 1937

President Franklin D. Roosevelt forbids U.S. ships from carrying arms to China or Japan.

Roosevelt Quarentines War

Oct 5, 1937

In response to Japanese action in China, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivers a speech in which he calls for peace-loving nations to act together to "quarantine" aggressors to protect the world from the "disease" of war.

Attack of the Panay

Dec 12, 1937

Japanese warplanes dive-bomb the American gunboat Panay in the Yangtze River in China. Japan apologizes and pays reparations for the lives lost.

March of Time

Jan 21, 1938

Time Inc. releases an anti-Nazi propaganda newsreel entitled March of Time in Nazi Germany.

U.S Against Japan

Feb 15, 1938

In the United States, popular support for American action against Japan far exceeds support for action against Nazi Germany.

Hitler Supports Japan

Feb 20, 1938

German Chancellor Adolf Hitler announces support for Japan.

Anschluss

Mar 13, 1938

German Chancellor Adolf Hitler declares Austria part of the Third Reich.

Hermann Goering Warns Jews

Mar 26, 1938

Hermann Goering, marshal of the Third Reich and Hitler's second in charge, warns all Jews to leave Austria.

U.S Recognizes Austria

Apr 6, 1938

The United States grants recognition to the new Austrian government.

Mussolini Joins Hitler

May 14, 1938

In a speech in Rome, Benito Mussolini, fascist leader of Italy, promises to fight the democracies alongside Adolf Hitler's should war break out.

Naval Expansion Act

May 17, 1938

The U.S. Congress passes the Naval Expansion Act giving President Franklin D. Roosevelt one billion dollars to enlarge the navy.

Hitler Aims for Sudetenland

Sep 12, 1938

Adolf Hitler is poised to invade and conquer the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia.

Sudetenland and Appeasement

Sep 29, 1938

Leaders of France and Great Britain meet with representatives from Germany, including Adolf Hitler, to discuss Germany's demands, ultimately granting Hitler the Sudetenland in the hopes of gaining "peace with honor." The Czechs are not consulted.

Hitler Promises Peace

Sep 29, 1938

Adolf Hitler, in return for the Sudetenland, promises to leave the rest of Czechoslovakia alone.

Kristallnacht

Nov 10, 1938

During the German Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass), 7500 Jewish businesses are looted, 191 synagogues are set afire, nearly 100 Jews are killed, and tens of thousands are sent to concentration camps.

Hitler is Time Man of the Year

Jan 2, 1939

Time magazine prints its 1938 Man of the Year edition choosing Adolf Hitler for the title, but does not show the Nazi leader's face on the cover of the publication.