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German tanks crossed the Polish border and aircrafts began to bomb Poland's capital, Warsaw. After Poland fell, Hitler annexed the western half of it. This invasion was the first test of Germany's newest military strategy, the blitzkrieg, or "lightning war."
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France and Great Britain declared war on Germany and mobilized their armies. Their troops were stationed along the Maginot Line, France's border with Germany.
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In the winter, Stalin sent his troops to invade Finland. Finland was outnumbered and outgunned, but defended their country strongly. Eventually, they surrendered themselves and the Soviets won due to their larger army.
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Hitler sprung an attack on Denmark and Norway. Denmark lost quickly and Norway surrendered 2 months later.
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This is also known as the "sitting war". The Germans and French sat a few miles from each other, bored and waiting for the other to attack.
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Great Britain rescued the Allies at Dunkirk after the Germans had trapped them at Lille, a northern French city. Great Britain sent a fleet of 850 ships and carried about 338,000 soldiers to safety.
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French leaders surrendered after the Germans took Paris. This led to German control of the northern part of the country.
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The Germans attacked the British, and eventually Hitler called his forces back in due to the resistance the British had.
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Hitler wanted to build bases in southeastern Europe for the attack on the Soviet Union. He persuaded Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary to join the Axis powers. Yugoslavia and Greece resisted, so he invaded these countries.
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This declaration made by Roosevelt and Churchill allowed free trade and government of the people's choice.
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The Germans pushed 500 miles inside the Soviet Union. To get the Russians to surrender, Hitler starved Leningrad by bombing warehouses where food was stored. This caused the death of 1 million people. Overall, Hitler's advance on the Soviet Union gained nothing, but cost the Germans 500,000 lives.
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The Japanese attacked the US at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. They sunk 19 ships; killed 2,300 Americans; and injured 1,100 Americans.
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This was the effect of the "Day of Infamy", when the Japanese attacked the Americans at Pearl Harbor. President Roosevelt addressed Congress and requested that war be declared on Japan and its allies.
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Mussolini ordered his army to attack British-controlled Egypt. He thought that Egypt's Suez Canal would help him reach the oil fields of the Middle East. Italian troops pushed 60 miles inside Egypt within a week.
