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Adolf Hitler becomes the leader of the Nazi Party
He went from being unknown to Dictator of Germany. -
Benito Mussolini appointed Prime Minister of Italy
Created the Fascist Party of Italy, eventually becoming a dictator. -
Josef Stalin sole dictator of the Soviet Union
Ruled by the terror factor and millions of his citizens died during his reign. -
Japan's army seizes Manchuria, China
They were convinced that the Japanese military in Manchuria must fall upon Japan. -
Hitler is named Chancellor of Germany
Hindenburg and Papen wanted Hitler's Nazis on their side, so they offered to make Hitler Vice Chancellor, as a bargaining chip. Hitler refused and demanded he be Chancellor. -
Italian army invades Ethiopia in Africa
The League of Nations condemned this invasion. -
Neutrality acts passed by U.S. Congress
They prohibited exports of arms, ammunition, and implements of war. -
Hitler sends troops into Rhineland of Germany in violation of the Versailles Treaty
One of the terms on the Treaty was Germany would not be able to keep military forces of a stretch into Rhineland. -
Militarist take control of Japanese Government
Some believe the militarist were able to take control because the public had lost faith in the Japanese government. -
Japan's army pillages Nanjing, China; massacre a quarter million of people
This occupation lasted until the end of World War II. -
Munich Pact signed giving the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia to Germany
A settlement giving Germany's annexation portions of Czechoslovakia -
Nazis begin rounding up Jews for labor camps
Many Jews went into hiding, with help of others. Thousands of Jews were sent to camps. -
Nazi-Soviet Pact signed by Hitler and Stalin
Also known as the non-aggression pact, acted as a pact of neutrality between the two. -
Nazis invade Poland; Britain and France declare war on Germany
Due to the German-Soviet Pact, Germany invaded Poland without the fear that the Soviets would intervene. -
Nazis invade Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium - take control
After only one day of invasion in Belgium, the army ceased to Germany, clearly out-manned and out-gunned. -
Battle of Britain begins
Royal Air Force defeats German Air Force to prevent invasion of their island -
Germany invades France and forces it to surrender
"Battle of France" was often the term used to refer to this invasion. -
First time Peacetime draft in the U.S.
Those chose to serve in the draft had to serve at least one year in the draft. -
Hitler breaks Pact with Stalin's Russia and invades USSR
USSR now joins England in fighting the Germans -
Churchill and FDR issue the Atlantic Charter
They did this to put pressure on Britain but for after the war. -
Japanese invade French Indochina
This was to prevent the Republic of China from importing arms and fuel from the French indochina -
Pearl Harbor in Hawaii attacked by Japanese naval and air forces
U.S. declares war on Japan. Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S. -
Japanese Americans interned in isolated camps
Of the 120,000 Japanese Americans living on the Pacific Coast 68% were U.S. citizens. -
Philippines fall to Japan- Bataan Death March
During the Bataan Death March, several thousand people died along the way. Dying from thirst, hunger, and exhaustion. -
Russians stop Nazii advanceat Stalingrad save Moscow
Both armies were stopped dead in their tracks as they attempted to clear thousands of vehicles. -
Battle of Midway, turning point of war in the Pacific
This took place only six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. -
British and U.S. forces defeat German and Italian armies in North Africa
By this time had reaches, U.S. battleships were protecting British convoy in the Atlantic Ocean. -
Zoot Suit Riots- Los Angeles, CA
These were racial attacks between Mexican American youth and European American servicemen. -
Italy surrenders, Mussolini dismissed as Prime Min.
Italy signed armistice with allies, unwillingly. -
D-Day invasion of France at Normandy by Allies
Along a 50 mile stretch on the coast at France -
Paris retaken by Allies Forces
Known as the Liberation of Paris or the Battle of Paris -
Battle of the Bulge – last offensive of German Forces
Attempt to push the allied front line west from northern France to Northwestern Belgium. -
US forces return to recapture the Philippines
Attempted liberation, take back power from Japan. -
FDR dies, Harry S. Truman becomes President
People were afraid of the power Truman walked into, some feared he wouldn't be able to handle it. -
V-E Day, war ends in Europe
Victory in Europe, Victory over Japan, war is complete. -
First Atomic Bombs dropped
The first bomb dropped weighed five tons and was dropped on the city of Hiroshima in Japan. -
V-J Day, Japan surrenders to Allied Forces
The day Japan surrendered in the war, ending it all. -
War Crimes Trials held in Nuremberg, Germany; Manila, Philippines and Tokyo, Japan.
Two military leaders were executed at war crime trial hearings.
