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Period: to
Rise of Dictators
Benito Mussolini-- Formed the Facist Party in 1919; party was invited to join the coalition goverment in 1921; became dictator of Italy in 1925.
Joseph Stalin-- Became secretary general of the Central Committee of Communist Party in 1922; became dictator of the Soviet Union in 1929.
These were the first two major dictators to rise to power in the period and helped to delegate may of the events of WWII. -
Period: to
Rise of Dictators
Hitler, Mussolini, and FrancoAdolf Hitler-- elected to chancellor in 1933 and made himself absolute ruler of Germany soon after.
Francisco Franco-- rose to power during Spanish Civil War in 1939; with help of Nazi Germany and Facist Italy, his Nationalist forces overthrew democratically elected Secod Republic in Spain.
These dictators rose immediately after Mussolini and Stalin and they all help each other maintain/achieve power for a while. -
Anschluss with Austria and Germany
Anschluss with Austria 1938
Union generated between Austria and Germany. League of Nations not particularly pleased with union and Hitlers promises not to do it again, but he does... twice when he takes the Sudetenlad Region, Czechoslovakia, and Poland. Starts Hitler's seige of most of Europe . -
Non Agression Pact
Hitler and Stalin sigh Non Agression Pact
"To the chancellor of the German Reich, Herr A. Hitler.
I thank you for your letter. I hope that the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact will mark a decisive turn for the better in the political relations between our two countries.
J. Stalin"
Pact reduced aggression between countries but allowed Soviet Union to claim 1/2 of Poland after Hitler sieged it. -
Neutrality Act of 1939
Repealed Arms Embargo of 1937 and allowed for trading with nations at war as long as they were able to pay in cash for items. This law was inherently unneutral and, despite its problems, did aid the European nations against the dictators for sometime. “If we repeal it, we are helping England and France. If we fail to repeal it, we will be helping Hitler and his allies. Absolute neutrality is an impossibility.”
Senator George W. Norris on the repeal of the
Neutrality Acts, 1939 -
Battle of Britain
BBC reporter Charles Gardner Giving Eye-whitness Review Germany bombed Britain as preparatory to an invasion scheduled in September. Claimed in his speech before hand, "The aim of this operation is to eliminate Great Britain as a base from which the war against Germany can be fought, and, if necessary, the island will be completely occupied." This battle is still considered one of the most detrimental events in Brittish history and caused major detriment at the time. -
Atlantic Charter
Atlantic CharterRoosevelt and Winston Churchill established a joint declaration on a post war world that was later affirmed by 26 nations.
The declaration states that the two leaders, "deem it right to make known certain common principles in the national policies of their respective countries on which they base their hopes for a better future for the world.”This is considered one of the first major steps towards creating the United Nations. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor Attack on USS Arizona
Japanese bombers struck Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and the attack came as a complete surprise to world. This attack "thrust" WWII upon the United States. Roosevelt states that December 7, 1941 was a date "which will live in infamy." -
US Enters WWII
President FDR asks Congress to declare war on Japan for the attack on Pearl Harbor. The United States finally entered the war after the Pearl Harbor attack "broke the cammel's back." US Enters War -
Japanese Internment Camps
Internment in America VideoJapanese Internment Camps Poster
In 1942 thousands of Japanese Americans were relocated into war internment camps. The consitutionality of these actions was tried several times, even going as far as the Supreme Court twice, but was upheld each time. -
Tehran Conference
Report on Tehran ConferenceStalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill met to discuss war strategy. It was stated, "We the President of the United States, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, and the Premier of the Soviet Union, have met these four days past, in this, the Capital of our Ally, Iran, and have shaped and confirmed our common policy." -
D-Day
D-Day
A few thousand Allied troops spread and invaded France along the beach to fight the Nazi Germans in Normandy, France. This attack was called for by General Eisenhower who stated, "we will accept nothing less than full victory.” The end of this crusade was a huge victory for the Allied troops. -
Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
Battle where Germany tried to separate Allied forces. Despite being caught off guard, Lieutenant General George S. Patton’s effectively uphelp the Allied defense and neutralied the German threat. -
Germany Surrenders
Germany Surrenders
Germany surrenders and provides end to Nazi troops and rule. Marks end to all German military action. -
Postdam Conference
Postdam Conference
Stalin, Churchill, and Truman met to discuss Germany's surrender, determine borders in Europe, and establish a series of guidlines and unity that will continue through years of peace. -
Hiroshima Atomic Bomb
Hiroshima Scientific Results
The Hiroshima Bomb was detinated in Hiroshima, Japan. 70,000 to 80,000 people were killed immediately, and 70,000 people were injured and died horribly. Truman called for this attack, unwilling to risk the number of lives of the Allied troops. -
Japan Surrender
NY Times Article
Japan's formal surrender markes the end of WWII. Once the news is released, celebrations rage across the United States.
