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Japan Overruns Manchuria
In order to have an empire equal to the Western Powers, Japan seized Manchuria. Japan withdrew from The League of Nations due to its act of aggression. This leads to Japanese strength in militarism and army. Leads to attack on Pearl Harbor which brings America into war. -
Period: to
World War 2
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Italy Invades Ethiopia
Italy invaded Ethopia because of its defeat back in 1896. The League of Nations voted sanctions, "penalties" agaisnt Italy for this act. This sparks violations internationally by law. -
Germany Releases Air Raid
In Guernica, german air raids kill over 5000 people. Neraly 1000 innocent people were killed. To the rest of the world, it was a warning of destrucitve power of war. -
Hitler Breaks Promise
Hitlre broke his promise to the Treaty of Versailles by taking over the rest of Czechoslovakia. This increases tension between Germany and all who signed the Treaty of Versailles. This increases protection in Poland from Hitler. -
Invasion of Poland
A week after Hitler and Stalin formed alliances, German forces invade Poland. Hitler uses the blitzkrieg to show improved tank in air power technology. Two days later Britain and France declare war on Germany this is how WW2 begins. Poland was eradicated due to the Russian and German armies. -
Hitler Attacks Multiple Countries.
Hitler launches a blitzkrieg agaisnt Norway and Denmark, which were soon taken as well. He then sent his forces into The Neatherlands and Belgium. This is important because it is seen as a defiance of the Treaty of Versailles. It is an act of war to invade to invade other countries. -
The Ardennes Forest
Germany unexpectedly leads its troops through the Ardennes Forest. This area was once seen as invasion proof, this act was to attack France. This leads to the British releasing all its availible naval vessels. Despite German air attacks, the armada ferried more than 300,000 troops to safety in Britain. This increases morals for Britain. -
France Falls
Italy declares war on France and attacks from the south. France surrenders due to overwhelming army. Hitler forces France to sign surrender docuements. This leads to Britain being the only western power in Europe. Germany attacks britain but with air technology, both sides fought valiantly. This leads to Germany trying to bomb cities like london. -
Germany Invades Russia
Hitler nullified the Nazi--Soviet Pact by invading Russia. 3 million German solidiers invaded. The Soviets, unprepared, have lost 2 and a half million solidiers. As Soviet troops were getting pushed back, they destroyed factories, farm equipment, and crops, so it would not get into German hands. Although the Soviets took a hard hit, the Germans wre not prepared for the harsh winter. This would lead to there downfall. Thousands of Germans froze to death. -
Japan Attacks the United States
Germant and Japan ally together, General Tojo orders a surprise attack on America. Japanese airplanes bomb the American fleet at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The attack took the lives of over 2,400. President Roosevelt asks Congress to declare war on Japan. On Dec. 11, Germany and Italy, as Japan's allies declare war on the U.S. -
The Big Three
Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin agreed to focus on finishing the war in Europe. Although they were allies, Roosevelt and Churchill were afraid that Stalin wanted to take over and dominate Europe. This leads to huge armies and air power agaisnt Germany. -
Japanese Nationalism
Although japans naval fleet and air technology was destroyed, they still had around 2 million army men. Young men chose to be kamikazes and were willing to end their life for their country. These kamikazes were the main air fleet to destroy all American naval fleet in pearl harbor. The ferociousness of Japanese soldiers (Nationalism), lead to scientists figuring out a way to end the war with a bang. The atomic Bomb later known as Fat boy. -
Japans Empire
Japan had control over many pacific islands and parts of Soiutheast Asia. They had killed over 10,000 Filipinos during the Bataan Death March. The us troops came and started to fight for islands that the Japanese took over. This was called Island Hopping. While the us was taking back islands, the british were pushing back japanese troops into the jungle of Malaya and Burma. This shows how much power Japan really had before the allies came in to fight back. This leads to the nuclear bomb. -
Italy Under Fire
British and American armies invade Italy, Italian forces were defeated in about month. Although the three powers won that fight, Germans sent there troops to resuue the Italians. This helps the allies because it weakens Hitlers army because he was forced to fight on new fronts. -
The Battle of Bulge
Allied forces advance into Belgium, and the Germans release a counter attack. The battle lasted for more than a month. Both of the sides took fatal losses. The battle only kept the allies away for 6 weeks. Germany is falling, there are less and less support for Hitler in Germany itself. Russia also invades Berlin. Nazi defeat was now undeniable. -
Allies Raid on Dresden
The allies had pushed down on military bases factories railroads, oil deposits, and citites with bombs. This was to cripple Germany's industries and the strenghth of their army. This cripples the Nazis resluting to their downfall with the help of other events. -
Yalta Conference
Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill meet again to further discuss how they would control Germany once again. Stalin insists on control for Eastern Europe while the other two insists self determined countries. They needed Stalin's help so they agreed on certain terms. This leads to Germany being divided into 4 seperate peices which are all occupied by different countries. Stalin helps America with the Japnese situation but all three of them split later on due to distrust. -
The United Nations
50 nations assembled in San Francisco to form the United Nations. With the United Nations, each member had its own vote in the General Assembly, they had the right to veto any council decision. The goal was peace. This is important because it was a starting point for world peace. It was an effort to try to recover the whole world from the war. -
Nazis defeated
The allies had reached Germany by crossing the Rhine. All the allied soldiers met together and shook hands. Axis armies began to surrender because Berlin was taken over. Hitler commits suicide and the Nazis surrender. The war of europe had ended. After 12 years, Hitlers thousand year reich was demolished into ruins. This is the end of the war. This is known as the V-E day ( victory in europe). This is significant becuase all fighting has stopped and the Nazis, who started the war, surrendered. -
Manhattan Project
US scientists had made the first atomic bomb. Harry Truman takes over because Roosevelt had unexpectedly died. He had reconized its true power and realized just how bad this bomb is. It was labeled as " The Destroyer of Worlds". The US tried to reason with Japan to surrender, only to be ignnored. The bomb was used. This leads to Japanese collapse. So many innocent lives were lost. Japan later surrenders becuase of the bomb and its devestation. It is the first and only nuclear bomb ever used. -
The Two Atomic Bombs
American planes drop the bomb over Hiroshima. The bomb instanlty flattened 4 square miles and had killed over 70,000 people. As time progressed after, more would die of radiation poisoning. A second bomb is dropped on Nagasaki, which kills over 40,000 people. The japanese emporer intervenes and forces the government to surrender. September 2, 1945, Japan signs a peace treaty. -
Truman Doctrine
Truman takes charge and makes a new policy called the Truman Doctrine. It had the idea of containment, and controling commuism in Soviet areas. This leads to standards for many countries today, also helping stop the expansion of Soviet areas in the world. -
Stalin's Cut Off
Stalin cuts off every railroad and highway to the Wester sections of the city. The western powers react by round-the-clock airlift. This is important because the West had help agaisnt the conflict of Stalin's dictatorship and and Soviet control. -
NATO
Tensions rise so the U.S, Canada, and ten other countries make new military alliance called North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They were to help each other if any were under attack. This is important because it leads to major defense for the countries, that the Soviets would have trouble dealing with. -
Warsaw Pact
Soviet Union made its own military alliance in response to NATO. It was different from it though because it was often disruled in order to keep there satelites in order. This is important because it split Europe into Eatern and Western divisions, the with dictatorship, and the west with democracies.
