World war ii special 512

World War II Timeline-Events Leading up to, During, and After World War II

  • World War One begins.

    World War One begins.
    As a result of the assasination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and a consequential diplomatic crisis, major European powers were at war within weeks, and this conflict spread around the world.
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    Events Leading up to, During, and After World War II

  • World War One ends.

    World War One ends.
    After heavy fighting and casualties for both sides, Germany finally surrenders, thus ending World War I.
  • Treaty of Versailles is Signed

    Treaty of Versailles is Signed
    To punish Germany for its actions, the victorious nations blame the war on Germany, thus making them pay for it. They also restrict Germany from having an army.
  • Founding of the Nazi Party

    Founding of the Nazi Party
    Anton Drexler founds the Nazi Party.
  • Mein Kampf is published.

    Mein Kampf is published.
    Eher Verlag publishes Mein Kampf.
  • Anne Frank is born.

    Anne Frank is born.
  • The Great Depression begins.

    A stock market crash in the U.S. becomes worldwide, resulting in the Gret Depression of the 1930s.
  • Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany.

    Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany.
    Hindenburg appoints Hitler as Chancellor of Germany, although he never recieved more than 38% of the popular vote.
  • Dachau Concentration Camp is opened.

    Dachau Concentration Camp is opened.
    The first concentration camp, Dachau, is opened to hold political prisoners.
  • Otto Frank moves to Amsterdam and directs a business called Opekta.

    Otto Frank moves to Amsterdam and directs a business called Opekta.
    In order to escape the anti-semitist views of the Nazi Party, Otto Frank moves to Amsterdam to prepare a home for his family. He also creates a hiding place.
  • The rest of the Franks join Otto in Amsterdam.

  • Hitler becomes the Fuhrer of Germany.

  • Nuremberg Laws are passed, restricting Jewish rights.

    Nuremberg Laws are passed, restricting Jewish rights.
  • Anschluss

    Anschluss
    Austria is annexed by Germany.
  • Kristallnacht begins.

    Kristallnacht begins.
    Kristallnacht, or "the night of broken glass," was the result of a Jewish assasination on a German diplomat. Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues across Germany and Austria were attacked. More than 200 synagogues were burned and destroyed, and 91 Jews were killed instantly. Additionally, roughly 30,000 Jews were imprisoned in Concentration Camps. This occurred for another night and disgraced both countries.
  • Germany invades Poland.

    Germany invades Poland.
    World War II begins with the German invasion of Poland.
  • Germany captures Denmark.

  • Germany captures the Netherlands.

  • Germany captures northern France.

    Germany captures northern France.
    Already, Germany has overrun northern France. All that is remaining between it and Britain is the English Channel.
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    Battle of Britain.

    To achieve air superiority over Britain and the English Channel, Britain and Germany engage in heavy dogfights and strategic bombings. Although Germany outnumbers Britain's air forces and constantly bombs their airfields, British air command and tactics were far superior to that of Goring's. Finally, the battle ended on October 31 of the same year, and Germany could not perform Operation Sea Lion, which was the German invasion of Britain that would now not take place.
  • Germans have finished sealing the Warsaw Ghetto.

    Germans have finished sealing the Warsaw Ghetto.
  • Operation Barbarosa begins.

    Operation Barbarosa begins.
    Operation Barbarosa was the lightning speed, surprise invasion of Russia by the Germans. Although the Soviets were caught off guard, they had more than enough manpower to defeat the Germans. Their slash and burn tactics also proved to be fatal for the Germans.
  • Japan bombs Pearl Harbor.

    Japan bombs Pearl Harbor.
    After a severe oil embargo by the U.S, Japan bombs Pearl Harbor in revenge. The U.S. declares war on Japan a day later.
  • Nazis start to use toxic gas on Jews at Chelmno Concentration Camp.

    Nazis start to use toxic gas on Jews at Chelmno Concentration Camp.
  • Germany and Italy decalre war on the U.S.

    SInce Japan had declared war on the U.S, Germany and Italy had to do the same, for they were sworn allies of each other in the alliance pact they signed.
  • The Franks go into hiding.

    As a result of Margot Frank being called up for deportation, the Franks have no choice but to go into hiding.
  • The Van Pelses join the Franks in hiding.

  • The Aktion in which 300,000 Jews are sent to Trebinka.

    The Great Aktion begans on July 22 and ends on September 12. Similar Aktions took place in every ghetto.
  • Germany takes Vichy, France.

    Germany takes Vichy, France.
  • Germans resume rounding up Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto.

    Germans resume rounding up Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto.
  • Fighting occurs within the Warsaw Ghetto.

    Fighting occurs within the Warsaw Ghetto.
    After tensions have rose to a boiling point, many Jews decide to fight back in the Warsaw Ghetto. The begins the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
  • Germans destroy the main synagogue in Warsaw.

    Germans destroy the main synagogue in Warsaw.
    Nazi General Jurgen Stroop orders the destruction of the Great Synagogue on Tlomackie Street.
  • Italy surrenders, but German forces within do not.

    Italy surrenders, but German forces within do not.
    taly unconditionally surrenders to the Allies, but German forces continue to fight.
  • The evacuation of more than 7,200 Jews to Sweden from Denmark begins.

    The evacuation of more than 7,200 Jews to Sweden from Denmark begins.
    As a result of Hitler's deportation order of all Jews in Denmark, the Danes evacuate them to Sweden.
  • Germany invades Hungary.

    Germany invades Hungary.
  • D-Day

    D-Day
    The allies land on the coast of Normandy, France, to start the invasion. The fleet is of the largest scale ever used in the history of combat.
  • Raoul Wallenberg arrives in Budapest.

    Raoul Wallenberg arrives in Budapest.
    Wallenberg led one of the most successful rescue efforts during the Holocaust. He prevented the Germans from deporting tens of thousands of Jews to the Auschwitz-Birkenau killing center.
  • The Franks and Van Pelses are found.

    The Franks and Van Pelses are found.
    After managing to hide in the Annex of Prinsengracht 263 for a little more than two years, the Franks and Van Pelses are suddenly betrayed to the Germans by an anonymous worker and sent to different camps. Only Otto Frank will survive the horror of Auschwitz.
  • Arrow Cross government takes over in Hungary.

    Arrow Cross government takes over in Hungary.
    The Arrow Cross party was a nationalist socialist party that controlled Hungary from October 15, 1944, to March 28, 1945. It was led by Ferenc Szalasi, and ten to fifteen thousand civilians were murdered outright as a result. 80,000 people were also deported to camps in Austria. Szalasi was executed on the account of several war crimes.
  • Death marches from Hungary finally end.

  • Pest is liberated.

    Pest comprises two-thirds of Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Unlike Buda, it is mostly flat and plain.
  • Buda is liberated.

    Buda comprises the final one-third of Budapest, and it is heavily wooded and hilly.
  • Anne and Margot Frank die within days of each other.

    Margot and Anne were seperated from their family on November 26, 1944, and death marched to Bergen-Belsen. The camp's system had completely broken down, but the sisters tried their best to look after each other. Anne died a few days after Margot, but the exact date is not own.
  • Former Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini, is executed.

  • Hitler commits suicide.

    After failing to capture Russia or hold his occupied territories, Hitler suddenly kills himself in the Fuhrerbunker.
  • VE Day!

    VE Day!
    After the Red Army captures the eastern part of Berlin and the Reichstag on May 2, the western Allies only need to capture the west part of the city. Germany finally unconditionally surrenders on May 8, ending the war in Europe.
  • An atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima.

    An atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima.
    Almost 80,000 people were killed, and tens of thousands more would die later. This proved Truman's statement saying that if Japan did not surrender, America would promtly and utterly destroy them.
  • The second atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki.

    The second atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki.
    After refusing to surrender, Truman authorizes the dropping of a second atomic bomb.
  • V-J Day!

    V-J Day!
    Eperor Hirohito of Japan finally and unconditionally surrenders, for he realizes that Japan can not keep on fighting. The formal surrender of Japan takes place aboard the USS Missour on September 2..
  • Nuremberg Trials begin.

    Nuremberg Trials begin.
    23 of the most important Nazi generals who are accused of war crimes are put on trial in Nuremberg, beginning on November 20.
  • End of Nuremberg War Trials

    23 Nazi generals were tried. Most of them were executed.
  • Anne Frank's diary is published in the Netherlands.

    When Otto returned from Auschwitz to the Netherlands, his primary goal was to have Anne Frank's diary published. It was all that he had left of her, and he believed it would show people the effects of hate.