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Nazi Party
Adolf Hitler was an extreme nationalist who told Germans that they were a "master race". This extreme nationalism made him a great candidate for the leadership role of this fascist party. On January 30, 1921 Hitler became the leader of the Nazi Party. -
Prime Minister of Italy
Benito Mussolini promised to restore order in Italy through strong leadership. In order to do this he and his followers threatened to overthrow the government. In response to this threat the King appointed Mussolini to Prime Minister of Italy. -
Soviet Union (USSR)
After Josef Stalin became the sole dictator, he turned the Soviet Union into a totalitarian state. He did this through the modernization and control of industry and agriculture. Stalin also did this by ordering peasants to do his bidding. Those who resisted were executed. -
Japan's Army seizes Manchuria, China
Military leaders of Japan pressured the civilian government to expand their borders as they felt their island nation needed more space. Japan's elected government ignored its military leaders, so in response they seized Manchuria without the government's approval. -
Hitler is named Chancellor of Germany
Hitler repeatedly told Germans that they did not lose World War 1, they were simply betrayed by Jews. This accusation appealed to Germans as it gave them someone to blame for their suffering. Germans named Hitler chancellor as he made them feel as if they truly were a "master race". -
Neutrality Act is passed by US Congress
The Neutrality Act was one of many laws designed to keep the United States at peace. It was meant to keep peace by forbidding the President from selling arms, making loans, or giving any form of assistance to a nation involved in war. -
Italian Army invades Ethiopia in Africa
The Ethiopian armies were unprepared for a war with Italy. Their cavalry and rifles were outdated and no match for Italy's modern tanks and airplanes. Ethiopia was quickly taken over by Italy. -
Japanese Government
The militarists constant pressure on the civilian government eventually led them to taking over. Once they did they preached racism. With the Japanese being superior to all other races, Asian and non-Asian alike. -
Invasion of Rhineland, Germany
Hitler sends troops into Rhineland in direct violation of the Versailles Treaty. According to the treaty Rhineland was to be unoccupied by the German Army. Instead French troops were to occupy this land as a first warning. The League of Nations did nothing. -
Nanijing, China
After taking Manchuria, Japanese forces moved onto pillaging the city of Nanjing. More than a quarter of a million civilians and prisoners of war were massacred during the assault. -
Munich Pact
In the Munich Pact, Britain and France gave Germany Sudetenland. Sudetenland was a portion of Czechoslovakia where people spoke German. In return Hitler was to not seek further territory. -
Labor Camps
Under Hitler's orders, Nazi soldiers began rounding up Jews for labor camps. -
Nazi-Soviet Pact
The Nazi-Soviet Pact was a nonaggression agreement signed between the USSR and Germany. These two sworn enemies agreed to not attack each other, but instead divide up Poland. -
Invasion of Poland
After the Munich Agreement Britain and France both promised to take military action against Germany if they invaded Poland. Despite this threat, Hitler invaded Poland. This invasion forced both Britain and France to declare war on Germany. World War 2 Begins Video -
Nazis Invade
In an explosion of manpower, the Nazis invade Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium, quickly taking over control as these are small nations. -
Germany Invades France
Knowing that France is still weak after World War 1, Hitler sends troops in. Great Britain hears of the invasion and quickly sends all of its manpower to help. It's not enough though, and on July 22 Hitler accepts France's surrender. -
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain begins. This battle relies heavily on air force. The Royal Air Force defeats the German Air Force, preventing the invasion of their island. -
Peacetime Draft
For the first time in U.S. history, Congress passed a law setting up a peacetime draft. This was considered a peacetime draft because the United States was not yet involved in the war at the time that the draft was set up. -
Hitler betrays USSR
Hitler invades the USSR, very plainly ignoring the nonaggression agreement he previously signed with them. Hitler does not succeed in taking over the USSR, he simply pushes them to join England in fighting the Germans. -
Atlantic Charter
The Atlantic Charter outlined Roosevelt and Churchill's goals for the postwar world. These included the agreement that neither nation would seek territorial gain, and that they would allow all people to choose their government. Roosevelt and Churchill also called for a new international organization. One that might succeed. -
French Indochina
Japan invaded the French colony of Indochina (present-day Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia). Roosevelt reacted to this act of war by banning American exports of iron and steel scrap to Japan. He also restricted the sale of oil to Japan. Japanese war leaders saw this as a threat and plans of an attack cam underway. -
Pearl Harbor
The Japanese launched a surprise attack on American civilians and military personnel at Pearl Harbor, on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Roughly 2,400 Americans were killed. Later that same day, Congress declared war on Japan. Two days later, on December 9, Germany and Italy declare war on the United States. -
The Philippines
The Philippines, an island chained governed by the U.S. was attacked just hours after Pearl Harbor. The Japanese air force destroyed most of the islands defenses, leaving only the ground forces. Those too, were eventually defeated by the Japanese. Nearly 70,000 American and Filipino imprisoned soldiers were forced to walk 65 miles to a prison camp. During this Bataan Death March, many prisoners died of starvation, disease, or violence. -
Japanese Americans
After the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, many Japanese Americans were sent to isolated internment camps as the U.S. government feared espionage. Government officials felt that the Japanese Americans must still be loyal to their home country, they must be telling the Japanese information that will lead to our defeat. -
Battle of Midway
The island of Midway was home to a key American military base that the Japanese sought to take. The Japanese were not successful though, as the Americans were able to sink 4 Japanese aircraft carriers, destroy 322 Japanese aircraft, and reduce Japan's supply of highly trained pilots. After the Americans were through with them, the Japanese no longer controlled the Pacific Ocean. -
City of Stalingrad
During the German's advance on Moscow, Soviet Troops were able to halt them near the city of Stalingrad. After months of fighting in and near the city, the Soviets were the clear winners. After this victory, the Soviets began to drive the Germans back Westward. -
North Africa
In 1943, both Italian and German forces occupied North Africa in their hunger for land. This was until British and U.S. forces came in and defeated their armies, driving them out of North Africa while severely damaging their military forces. -
Zoot Suit Riots
In Los Angeles, California bands of sailors on shore leave attacked young Mexican Americans. They beat and clubbed the mexican youth who wore the zoot suits, on the streets. These riots were the result of longstanding discrimination against the Mexicans, and the pressures of the war. -
Italy Surrenders
Roosevelt and Churchill decided to remove Italy from the war. They sent their troops into Italy, where they swiftly took control of the Italian island of Sicily. After this, the King of Italy removed Mussolini from the office of Prime Minister, and surrendered to the Allies. -
D-Day
More than 155,000 American, British, and Canadian troops crossed the English Channel and landed on five beaches Normandy in western France. This was the Allies attempt to retake France. At four of the five beaches the troops quickly succeeded, overcoming the German opposition. -
Paris, France
Over the next month after the Allied Forces took all five beaches, nearly a million more troops came ashore. Once all of these men gathered, the Allies entered Paris. The Allied Forces were greeted with joy as they liberated the French. -
Battle of the Bulge
In this last offensive of the German Forces, Hitler poured his remaining reserves into the attack. This, combined with the terrible weather that kept American airplanes landed, allowed the German Forces to create a "bulge" in the American line. As the coldest winter in 40 years continued, so did the battle, until the American forces won. -
The Philippines
Army units landed on Luzon, in the Philippines, and then advanced on Manila. After a month of urban warfare, the Americans secured the city, retaking the Philippines. -
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
President Roosevelt died suddenly of a stroke, shattering Americans. Many struggled to remember anyone else as their leader. This left the inexperienced Vice President Harry S Truman in charge at this crucial time. -
V-E Day
After Germany collapsed and Hitler committed suicide, representatives of German's armed forces unconditionally surrendered on what is now celebrated as V-E Day, the day of Victory in Europe. -
First Atomic Bombs
As Japanese Warriors were willing to die for their cause, they were taking out many Americans. This made Truman weary of a full scale invasion. Instead, he decided to drop atomic bombs on Japan until they surrendered. After the dropping of two bombs, one on Hiroshima, and the other on Nagasaki, Truman's plan worked, -
V-J Day
After two atomic bombs, the emperor of Japan announced that the nation would surrender to the Allied Forces. That day became known as V-J Day, as in the day of Victory in Japan. -
War Crimes Trials
After the world learned the true extent of Nazi brutality, they felt that more needed to be done. This lead to the first case of victors prosecuting leaders of the losing side for war crimes. In the German city of Nuremberg, Allied judges tried prominent Nazis. Similar trials occurred in the city of Manila, Philippines and Tokyo, Japan. Many leaders of the war machines were hung for their crimes.
