World War II and Great Depression Timeline (1920-1945)

  • Adolf Hitler becomes leader of the Nazi party

    Adolf Hitler becomes the leader of the Nazi party, which was for the rights of workers. Hitler remained leader of the Nazi party until his death in 1945. (Politcal)
  • Benito Mussolini becomes Prime Minister of Italy

    Fascist, Benito Mussolini becomes Prime Minister of Italy. With a totaltarian in power, Italy looks to gain power throughout his rule.
    (Political)
  • Wall Street Crash of 1929

    The stock market in the United States crashes, leading to the Great Depression. This event is also known as Black Tuesday. (economic)
  • Japan seizes Manchuria

    The Japanese Kwangtung Army attacked Chinese troops in Manchuria in the year 1931. This event is commonly called the Manchurian Incident. (Military)
  • Hitler ordered German troops to charge into Rhineland

    This event violated the Treaty of Versailles. This is the first time since the end of World War I that German troops had been in the region of Rhineland.
  • Japan Invades Shanghai

    In 1937, Japan invades Shanghai. By mid-November of that year, Shanghai was under Japanese control. (Military)
  • Start of the Rape of Nanjing

    A period of mass rape and murder committed by Japanese troops agiainst the people of Nanjing. This was a huge part of the second Seno-Japanese War. Over 300,000 people died during the Rape of Nanjing
  • World War II offically begins

    The war between the Allied Forces and the Axis Powers offically begins in 1939. The war would go on to last 6 years and one day. (Military)
  • Pearl Harbor is Attacked by Japan

    Japan led an attack in to the United States' naval base of Pearl Harbor. Japan attacked because they wanted the United States to accept Japanese domination of the Pacific. (Military)
  • Hitler declares war against the United States

    Just four days after the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, Adolf Hitler and the Empire of German declared war on the United States of America. Before Adolf Hitler declared war, the United States was neautral. (Military)
  • Battle of Coral Sea

    The Battle of Coral Sea was a two day naval battle during World War II. It was between the Japanese Navy and the naval and air forces of the United States and Australia. (Military)
  • Battle of Midway

    At the Battle of Midway, the United States Navy defeat the Japanese Navy. The battle was fought at Midway Atoll and the Pacific Ocean. (Military)
  • British Forces stopped Rommel’s troops

    British Forces stopped Rommel’s troop at El Alamein, Egypt. This led to an Allied victory. (Military)
  • German troops surrender

    The German Troops surrender at the Eastern Front. During this time the German sixth Army of 300,000 dies. (military)
  • D-Day Invasion

    The Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France. Troops attacked from land, sea, and air. (Militrary)
  • Battle of the Bulge

    The Germans launched a suprise attack on the Allies. 19,200 Allied troops were killed in the Battle. (military)
  • Franklin D, Roosevelt Dies

    The American president who lead the nation throughout the war dies at age 63 while in office. Harry S. Truman took over for Roosevelt after he had passed away.
  • Atomic bombing of Hiroshima

    An atomic bomb was used by the United States at Hiroshima in 1945. This was the first time an atomic bomb was used. (technological)
  • Japan Surrenders

    Japan surrendered World War II in 1945. The surrender of Japan eventually lead to the end of World War II. (Military)
  • World War II ends

    After 6 years of fighting, the war results in an Allied victory. The end of the war leads to a fall of the Japanese and Italian Empires.