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Hitler Becomes Chancellor
Conservatice leaders mistakenly believed that they could control Hitler and use him for their purposes. In January 1033, they advised President Paul von Hindenburg to name Hitler chancellor. As a result, Hitler legally came to power. There misthinking abled Hitler to become the leader of Germany who causes many wars and cruel events. -
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Major Events Leading Up to World War II
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Fire Destroyed the Reichstag Building
Hitler called for new elections, hoping to win a parlimentary majority. Six days before the election, a fire destroyed the Reichstag building, where the parliament met. The Nazis blamed the Communists. This was Hitler’s excuse to expand his power and win the vote. He declared the burning of the Reichstag a state of emergency. Soon after he became the dictator of Germany. This event is seen as a key in the establishment of Nazi Germany receiving peoples support. -
Hitler declares himself Führer (absolute leader of Germany)
Hitler's success as an organizer and speaker led him to be chosen der Führer, or the leader of the Nazi party, Forming a fascist regime committed to refusing the Treaty of Versailles, persecuting and removing Jews and other minorities from German society, expanding Germany's territory, and opposing the spread of communism. This was important because people in Germany were desperate to listen to anyone. Other countries in Europe had to listen and accept all the Hitler's demands. -
Elite, Black Uniformed SS(Schutzstaffel)
SS were only loyal to Hitler. In 1934, the SS arrested and murdered hundreds of Hitler's enemies. This violent and brutal actions applied by the Gestapo, the Nazi secret police shocked most Germans into total obedience. Therefore, there were no opponents against Hilter. -
Hitler Denies the Treaty of Versailles.
The Treaty of Versailles limited the size of Germany's army. In Mrach 1935, Hitler announced that Germany would not obey these restictions. League of Nations couldn't prevent Hitler from advancing and conquering other nations. His power grew stronger and stronger. This pictures is showing Hitler in Reichstag tearing up the agreement paper of Treaty of Versailles. This now abled Hilter to do anything without any restrictions conquering as much land and advancing his military power. -
Mussolini Attacks Ethiopia
During 1890s, Ethiopia successfully resisted Italians attacks and attempt to conquest. Mussolini was furious and declared a massive attack against Ethiopia in 1935 and conquered it. Although Ethiopia asked the League of Nations for help, they refused it. Britain and France both wanted to keep peace in Europe. Due to the Mussoloni's success of conquering other nation, other dictators were also inspired that they can also conquer other nation. This clearly showed the weakness of League of Nations. -
Germany Conquers Rineland
The League's failure to stop Germany from rearming abled Hitler to take risks and conquer the industrial area, Rhineland. French unwilling to risk war, had to just give the land to the Germany. France and Britain both seeked for peace. Therefore, their weak response encouraged Hitler to speed up his expansion. Hitler even said that if Britain and France reacted to his reaction, he would have backed down. -
Japan Invades China
In 1931, Japanese troops took over Manchuria. In 1937, Japanese armies swept into heartland of China. The Japanese thought of a quick victory but the Chinese resistance caused the war to drag on. This placed a strain on Japanese economy. To increase their resources, Japanese leaders looked toward the rich European colonies of Southeast Asia. As a result, invading China made Japanese look toward rich European countries resulting to attack Pearl Harvor, which becomes a serioud turning point. -
Absorbing Austria
On November 5, 1937, Hitler announced to his advisers that he will absorb Austria into the Third Reich, or German empire. The Treaty of Versailles prevented a union between Germany and Austria. However, Austria wanted unity with Germany. Therefore, in March 1938, Hitler sent troops into Austria and annexed it. Hitler's uncontrollable and superior power lead many countries wanting to ally with German which made German grow bigger and stronger. -
Britain and France Again Choose Appeasement
Britain and France were preparing for war when Mussolini propsed a meeting of Germany, Britain, France, and Italy in Munich. The Munich Conference were held in 1928. British prime minister Nerville Chamberlain believed that he could preserve peace by giving the land of Sudentland. In return, Hitler promised to respect Czechoslovakia's borders. Soon after, this promise was broken. The Allies weak response is abling Hitler's power to expand and abled him to take Czechoslovakia. -
Night of the Broken Glass
Anti-Semitism was a key part of Nazi ideology. The Nazis used the Jews as scapegoats for all Germany's troubles since the war. As said about the totalitarianism states, the totalitarian leaders create "enemies of the state" to blame for things that go wrong. In 1938, Nazi mobs attacked Jews in their homes and on the streets and destroyed thousands of Jewish-owned buildings. This rampages, called Kristallnacht signaled the real start of the Holocaust, which was a awaful incident. -
Nazis and Soviets Sign Nonaggression Pact.
Fascist Germany and Communist Russia now publicly promised never to attack one another. On August 23, 1939, they signed a nonaggression pact. As the Axis Powers moved unchecked at the end of the decade, war appeared inevitable. After being excluded from the Munich Conference, Stalin was not eager to join with the West. The negotiation might have allowed the Nazis and the Soviets to divide Europe between them and to actually defeat the Anglo-French-American alliance. -
France and Great Britain Declares War on Germany
Hitler quickly moved ahead with plans to conquer Poland. His surprise attack took place at dawn on September 1, 1939. Then, France and Britain declared war on Germany on Spetember 3. However, Poland was conquered by Germans before France and Britain make any military respond. Germans used a new military strategy conquering Poland. It is called blitzkrieg, or "lightening war." It involved using fast airplanes and tanks to overwhelm the enemies and conquer the nations before people even knew. -
The United States Aids Its Allies
Under the Lend-Lease-Act, passed in March 1941, the president could lend or lease arms and other supplies to any country vital to the United States. By the summer of 1941, the U.S. Navy was escorting British ships carrying U.S. arms. In counterattack, Hilter ordered his navy to sink these cargo ships. Although the United States had not yet entered the war, Roosevelt and Churchill met seceretly and issued a joint declaraction called the Antlantic Character. -
The Fall of France
In May of 1940, Hitler and his troops began to dramatically sweep through France. After reaching the French coast, the German forces swung north again and joined with German troops in Belgium. By the end of May 1940, the Hitler's force trapped the Allied forces around the northern French cities. Britain, Royal Navy ships helped to recue the Allied force. By June 14, the Germans had taken over Paris. French leaders had to surrender since they had no way to escape. This was Hitler's huge victory. -
Mussolini joins World War II
Although Italy was allianced with Germany, they didn't join the war until Germany conquered France. Mussolini took his step in North Frica in September 1940. While the Batlle of Britain was raging, he ordered his army to attack British controlled Egypt. Britain struck back. British had swept 500 miles across North Frica and had taken 130,000 Italian prisoners. Hitler sent German tank force to Afrika Korps under the command of Gerneral Erwin Rommel to help Italy. Divided Hitler's force. -
The Battle of Britain
Germany targeted British airfields and aircarft factorie to bomb. Despite the destruction and loss of life, the Birtish did not waver. The Britain hit back hard although they were not outnumbered. Two technologies abled them to overcome the danger. Electronic tracking system was one which was known as a radar. Moreover, there were German code-making machine named Enigma. This Battle of Britain continued until May 10, 1941. Stunned by British resistance, Hitler decided to call off his attacks. -
The War in the Balkans
In early April 1941, Hitler invaded both Yugoslavia, which fell in 11 days and Greece surrendered in 17. In Athens, the Nazis celebrated their victory by raising swastikas on the Acripolis. To prepare for his invasion, Hilter expanded his influence in the Balkans. Without using too much stregth or energy, Hitler easly conquered many nations. Soon, the firm control of the Balkans abled Hitler to attack the Soviet Union. -
Hitler Invades the Soviet Union
With the Balkans firmly in control, he planned to invade the Soviet Union. Although they had the largest army in the world, its troops were neither well equipped nor well trained. German forces seige Leningrad and the city was completely cut off from the rest of the Soviet Union. Due to the Germany bombing the city and destroying all the foods, people starved to death. However, the city refused to fall. Hitler started to attack Moscow. Unexpected cold killed Hitler's soldiers failing conquer. -
Japan threatens America
America was abled to see one of the Japanese secret message and realized that the Japanese will attack and conquer European countries which also threatens the American-controlled Philippine Islands and Guam. To stop the Japan advancement, America sent people to help Chinese resistance. However, Japanese conquer few countries and Roosevelt cut off oil shipments to Japan. Later on, Japanese admiral, Isoroku Yamamoto called an attack on the U.S. This resulted Japan with a terrible and cruel loss. -
Japan Invades Pearl Harbor
December 7, 1941 Japanese fighter pilots attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Japan attacked without declaring and provoked the United States to end its neutral stance on World War II and join the Allies because the Axis have diffen't ideology. Axis were fascist and U.S. had good trade relationships with France and Britain. The U.S. Congress declared war on Japan on December 8, 1941. Japan's allies, Germany and Italy, declared war on the United States and became a bigger war. -
United States and Britain Declares War on Japan
At the same time of the Pearl Harbor attack, the Japanese also attacked and bombed British colonies of Hong Kong and American-controlled Guam and Wake Island. To revenge, the Allies attacks back to Japan including the Americans which completely destoryed Japanese life facing two atomic bombs. The chemicals from the bomb still causes disease in Japan. -
Holocaust
Holocaust was a systematic mass slaughter of Jews and other groups judged inferior by the Nazis. The Nazis herded the Jews into overcrowded ghettos or separate Jews areas. The Nazis hoped that these Jews will starve to death or die from diease. The Jewish resisted and Hitler grew impatient beginning a plan called Final Solution. This was a program of genocide a system of killing an entire people. This was a huge terrible incident in the history killing uncountable amount of Jews. -
Propaganda Campaigns on Home Fronts
Government propaganda also had a negative effect. After Peral Harbor, a wave of prejudice arose in the United States against Japanese Americans. Most lived in Hawaii and on the West Coast. The bombing of Pearl Harbor frightened Americans. This fear, encouraged by government propaganda was turned against Japanese Americans. They were suddenly seen as "the enemy." On 1942, President Roosevelt issued an executive order to the Japanese Americans because they were considered a threat to the country. -
The Final Stage
Hitler's plan came to the end. He made a huge gas chambers that would kill 6,000 people in one day. The Nazis told the Jews that they are ordered to take shower and were then led into a chamber with fake showerheads. There, cyanide gas or carbon dioxide poured out. Six million European Jews died in these death camps and in Nazi massacres. Thus, only some were survived and they were psychologically damaged. -
H. Doolittle Bombed Tokyo
Bombing Tokyo and few other cities had a very litle damage. However, this raid was very successful to the United States. Americans morale surged up realizing that Japan was vulnerable to attack. On the other hand, this shook confidence of some in Japan. Some Japanese worried that defending and controlling a vast empire had caused them to spread their resources too thin. Later on, the Allies started to turn the tide of the war. -
The Battle of Midway
Battle of Midway was over in June 7, 1942. Japan targeted Midway Island, west of Hawaii, the location of key American airfield. However, Admiral Yamamoto's code was breaked by the Allies which gave time for the United States to set tactics. Therefore, the United States destroyed 332 Japanese planes bringing a huge victory which turned the tide of war in the Pacific. With morale high after their victory at Midway, the Allies had the courageness to take the offensitves. -
Battle of Guadalcanal
Douglas MacArthur, the commander of the Allied land forces in the Pacific targeted Japanese island called Guadalcanal. Japan in this island was building a huge air base. The battle for control of the island turned into a savage struggles as both sides poured in fresh troops. Later on, this island was named "hell" because 24,000 out of 26,000 died. Therefore, Japan abandoned the island. Again losing a significant battle to the Aliied force, Japan was suffering from the decline in power. -
Battle of Stalingrad
Battle of Stalingrad began on 1942, the Luftwaffe went on nightly bombing raids that set much of the city ablaze and reduced the rest to rubble. The situation looked desperate. Nonetheless Stalin had already told his commanders to defend the city named after him to the death. Later, Russian winter set in and soviet trapped the Germans inside and cut off supplies. Hitler didn't retreat Stalingrad. On February 2, 1943m hald starved German troops surrendered to the Soviets. -
Battle of El Alanmein
By the time Montagomery from Britain arrived, the Germans had advanced to an Egyptian village called El Alamein west of Alexandria. The Battle of El Alamein began on the night of October 23. The roar of about 1,000 British guns took the Axis soldiers totally by surprise. They fought hard but Rommel's army had been beaten. -
Operation Torch
After the the surprising attack by the British army, Rommel's army had been beaten, He and his forces fell back. Rommel retreated west, the allies launched Operation Torch. On November 8, an Alled force of more than 100,000 troops mostly Americans landed in Morocco and Algeria. American generals caught Rommel and crushed him which brought a high morale to the soldiers. -
Invasion of Italy
As the Batlle of Stalingrad raged, Stalin continued to urge the British and Americans to invade France. However, Roosevelt and Churchill decided to attack Italy first. Alled forces landed on Sicily and captured it from Italian and German troops about a month later. The conquest of Sicily made Mussolini's power fall. On September 3, Italy surrendered. -
The D-Day Invasion
While Allies were dealing with some issues on the homefront, in Great Britain they set a plan to launch an attack on German held France across the English Channel. They planned to attack Normandy which was the largest land and sea attack. They started to invade in June 3, 1944. A month later through harsh battles, they liberated France, Belgium, and Luxemburg, -
The Battle of Leyte Gulf
Douglas MacArthur waded ashore at Leyte. Take over would not be easy because Japanese had a bold plan to stop the Aliied advacne. They would destroy American fleet, thus preventing the Allies from resupplying their ground troops. However, this plan required almost all the Japanese fleets. They took this gamble at the Leyte. The Japanese navy had lost badly. In March 1945, American Marines took Jima a Japanese island. Japanese started to suffer from the loss in the battle. -
The Battle of Bulge
Allied forces moved toward Germany from the west and the Soviets moved twoard Germany from the east. Hitler had to deal with two battle fronts which Hitler hated to do. Thus, he decided to counterattack in the west. On December 16, German tanks broke through weak American defenses along a 75 miles front in the Ardennes. The Allies pushed the Germans back and Germans had no chioice but to retreat. After the Battle of Bulge, the war in Europe rapidly drew to a close. Hitler prepared for end. -
The Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa came late in the war, when Japan was down to its last defenses. Its fleet in the Pacific had been discourage by several strategic losses and had lost almost all the territory it had gained at the war's beginning. Because of the passion of the Japanese defenders, Okinawa was fought hard and bloody engagement that resulted in huge casualties. When it was finally over in June 1945, more than 107,000 Japanese and Okinawan soldiers and civilians had been killed. -
Boming of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and Japan surrenders.
President Truman warned Janpan that if they don't surrender they could expect a "rain of ruin from the air." The Japanese ignored. On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima killing 80,000 people. Three days later, another atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki and more than 70,000 people died. The Japanese finally surrendered to General Douglas MacArthur on September 2. With Japan's surrender, the war ended.
