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Attack on Manchuria (13)
Japanese businesses depended greatly on Manchuria, a resource-rich area of China. Japan invaded and sent workers to build mines and factories. A puppet government was set up. This was the beginning of World War II in Asia. -
Nuremburg Laws (12)
The Nazis, along with many other Germans, persecuted Jews. Two years after forbidding them from holding public office, the Nuremberg Laws were passed. These deprived Jews of citizenship, jobs, and property. -
Alliance with Italy and Germany (14)
Germany and Italy both had fascist governments, which gave them common interests. Mussolini decided to seek an alliance with Hitler after seeing Germany's impressive growth of power. Once Japan was added the alliance was called the Axis Powers. -
Kristallnacht (11)
A German Jew shot an employee of the German embassy in Paris out of anger at his father's deportation. In responce, Nazi leaders attacked the Jewish community. Storm troopers attacked Jewish homes, businesses, and synogogues and murdered around 100 people. -
Invasion of Poland (1)
Hitler invaded Poland using his blitzkreig strategy of overwhelming the target. He was successful and was able to annex the western half of Poland where the German population was. This was the onset of World War II in Europe. -
Soviet Union Invaded E. Poland (2)
After making an agreement with Hitler, Stalin annexed the eastern half of Poland. He then continued to take over the Baltic states and Karelia, an area in southeastern Finland. -
France Surrenders (3)
Germany invaded France using an unexpected route, causing them to be vulnerable to the attack. After Italy attacked from the south, France could not win. Marshal Henry Petain was named prime minister of France and they surrendered. -
Allied Invasion of Italy (8)
Great Britain attacked Italy's colonies in North Africa. They were very successful and were able to move 500 miles and take 130,000 Italian prisoners in two months. -
Lend Lease Act (5)
Although the US was not yet involved in the war, they still wanted to help their allies. To do this, President Roosevelt instilled the Lend Lease Act which allowed him to supply arms to any country crucial to the US. -
Battle of Britain (4)
Hitler saw Great Britain as the last threat to its power, therefore they decided to attack. The Battle of Britain included many attacks Germany made in which they attacked British cities as well as army bases and aircraft factories. -
German Invasion of the Soviet Union (7)
Hitler gained control of the Balkans in order to invade their ally, the Soviet Union. The Soviet army was unprepared and used their method of scorched earth. However, the Russian people would not surrender and the winter was harsh, so it was a difficult victory for the Germans. -
Atlantic Charter (6)
President Roosevelt met secretly with Winston Churchill off the coast of Newfoundland before the US had entered the war. They issued a joint declaration upholding free trade among nations and the right of people to choose their government. -
Pearl Harbor (15)
The US and Japan had growing tensions for some time. Japan felt threatened by the Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii, so they launched a surprise attack. They bombed the base and 18 ships were sunk or damaged. The US was them dragged into World War II. -
Japanese Internment in the US (20)
Japanese Americans were feared after the Pearl Harbor attacks, especially on the west coast and in Hawaii. President Roosevelt set up internment camps were Japanese Americans were resettled for the remainder of the war. -
Battle of Midway (16)
Midway Island was targeted by the Japanese because it held a key American airfield. Although the Americans were outnumbered, they were able to use their forewarning to their advantage. They sank the Japanese ships before the planes took off and won the battle. -
D-Day (9)
British, American, French, and Canadian troops invaded Normandy in the most famous battle of the war. They fought on a 60-mile stretch of beach where the allies suffered heavy casualties, but where able to hold their ground. This battle was instrumental in the liberation of France, and then Belgium, Luxembourg, and most of the Netherlands. -
German Surrender (10)
The allies were able to make their way across Germany to surround Berlin. Hitler prepared for his end by marrying his long-time companion in an underground headquarters and killing himself. Then, the Third Reich un conditionally surrendered to General Eisenhower. -
Bombing of Hiroshima (18)
The US warned Japan of a rain of ruin if they did not surrender. After not recieving a responce, the US dropped the first automic bomb on Japan. It killed almost 73,000 people. -
Bombing of Nagasaki (17)
Three days after the first automic bombing of Japan, they were attacked again. It killed about 37,500 people and radiation killed many more. -
Japanese Surrender (19)
The bombings forced Japan to surrender. The Japanese surrendered to General Douglas MacArthur aboard the battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay. This was the official end to World War II.
