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The Anschluss
Hitler wanted all German-speaking nations in Europe to be a part of Germany. To this end, he had designs on re-uniting Germany with his native homeland, Austria. Under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, however, Germany and Austria were forbidden to be unified.
German troops entered Austria and a day later Austria was incorporated in Germany. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z92hw6f/revision/3 -
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The invasion of Poland
The invasion of Poland marked the beginnings of WW2. Beginning on the 1st of September, 1939
To justify the action, Nazi propagandists falsely claimed that Poland had been planning, with its allies Great Britain and France, to encircle and dismember Germany and that Poles were persecuting ethnic Germans. The SS, in collusion with the German military, staged a phony Polish attack on a German radio station. Hitler then used this action to launch a “retaliatory” campaign against Poland. -
The entry of Australia
Prime Minister Robert Gordon Menzies announced the beginning of Australia's involvement in the Second World War on every national and commercial radio station in Australia.
The invasion by Germany of Poland led Great Britain and France to declare war on Germany. Australia moved quickly to support Great Britain and also declared war. -
The entry of Japan
Japan signed the Tripartite Pact with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, in which they agreed to assist one another should any of them be attacked by a country not already involved in the war. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/hirohito-1 -
The entry of the United States
Although the war began with Nazi Germany's attack on Poland in September 1939, the United States did not enter the war until after the Japanese bombed the American fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. -
The first bombing of Darwin
Approximately 240 Japanese aircraft attacked Darwin in two separate raids, representing the first ever enemy attack on Australian soil. More than 240 civilians and Australian and US service personnel were killed, and eight ships were sunk in Darwin Harbour. -
Japanese submarine attack on Sydney Harbour
The Japanese plan was to launch their 46-ton midgets off the coast, close enough for them to sneak into the harbor and strike Allied naval vessels or merchant ships moored there. The crews were confident they could get into the harbor and carry out their attack, though they were less sure they could get back afterward.
