World War II By Spyncer Sep 2, 1931 Japan launches and attack on Manchuria Period: Sep 2, 1931 to Dec 3, 1945 World War II Dec 3, 1935 Itlalian forces invade Ethiopia Dec 2, 1936 Hitler moves troops to Rhineland Dec 3, 1937 Japan attacks Northern China Mar 3, 1938 Leaders of Germany Italy France and Great Britain meet in Munich, Germany to avoid going to war. Dec 3, 1938 Congress votes to enlarge and strengthen the navy Mar 3, 1939 Hitler's army siezes all of Czechoslovakia Aug 3, 1939 Hitler and Stalin sign Non-Agression Pact Sep 3, 1939 Great Britain and France declare war on Germany Dec 3, 1939 Italy attacks Albania Apr 3, 1940 Adolf Hitler attacks Denmark and Norway May 10, 1940 Hitler's army uses Blitzkrieg to attack Poland May 10, 1940 The Netherlands and Belgium ask the Allies for help when Hitler invades them Jun 3, 1940 More than 800 British ships rescue more than 300,000 British and French soldiers trapped at Dunkirk Jun 22, 1940 German troops march victoriously into Paris Jul 2, 1940 Hitler calls off the invasion of Great Britain Sep 16, 1940 Franklin Roosevelt signs the Selective Training and Service act Sep 16, 1940 The Finns surrender to the Soviet Union after a heroic battle Sep 27, 1940 Germany, Italy, and Japan sign and alliance and become know as the Axis powers. Dec 3, 1940 The Germans bomb and destroy entire London neighborhoods in an attempt to weaken British morale Mar 11, 1941 The Lend-Lease Act allows the U.S. to sell, lend, or lease weapons or other war supplies to any nation considered vital to American defense. Sep 8, 1941 Germans begin a 900-day seige of Lenningrad Nov 13, 1941 Congress passes Neutrality Acts to ban selling weapons to nations at war. Dec 7, 1941 Japanese warplanes attack the American Military base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Dec 8, 1941 Roosevelt asks Congress for a declaration of war Dec 11, 1941 Germany and Italy declare war on the United States Jan 3, 1942 Allied surrender Bataan Feb 3, 1942 German troops surrender in Stalingrad Apr 18, 1942 American bombers attack Tokyo Jun 3, 1942 The Japanese face their first major defeat in the Battle of Midway Nov 3, 1942 Hitler launches and attack on the Soviet-Union Nov 10, 1942 The inexperienced American are defeated in Tunisia Dec 2, 1942 The British turn Erwin Romnel back in Egypt, preventing the Germans from capturing the Suez Canal May 4, 1943 Germany signs an unconditional surrender Aug 9, 1943 The allies drive the Germans out of north Africa Dec 3, 1943 Allied advance falters in Monte Cassino, Italy Feb 3, 1944 Allies bombard German factories and cities day and night Jun 6, 1944 D-Day: Allied ships land on the coast of Germany Aug 4, 1944 American forces capture Guam Sep 3, 1944 The Allies break through German lines and advance toward Rome Dec 3, 1944 French and American soldiers liberate Paris Dec 16, 1944 Germans launch Battle of the Bulge Mar 26, 1945 American forces seize Iwo Jima Jun 3, 1945 American forces seize Okinawa Jul 16, 1945 The Atomic Bomb is tested in New Mexico Aug 6, 1945 Hiroshima is hit with the Atomic Bomb Aug 9, 1945 Nagaski is hit with the second Atomic Bomb Aug 15, 1945 V-J day is proclaimed for Victory over Japan Aug 15, 1945 The Japanese sign a formal surrender and WWII is ended