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Hitler Becomes Chancellor
Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany. -
Mussolini Invades Ethiopia
Italy, under the leadership of Prime Minister Benito Mussolini, invades Ethiopia. -
Neutrality Act
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the 1937 Neutrality Act, which bans travel on belligerent ships, forbids the arming of American merchnat ships trading with belligerents, and issues an arms embargo with warring nations. -
Japan Defeats China
The Japanese defeat Chinese forces in a clash near Peking, taking control of North China. -
Roosevelt Limits Ships to Asia
President Franklin D. Roosevelt forbids U.S. ships from carrying arms to China or Japan. -
Roosevelt Quarantines War
In response to Japanese action in China, Franklin D. Roosevelt delivers a speech in which he calls for peace-loving nations to act together to quarantine aggressors to protect the world from the disease of war. -
Attack on the Panay
Japanese warplanes dive-bomb the American gunboat Panay in the Yangtze River in China. Japan apologizes and pays reparations for the lives lost. -
March of Time
Time Inc, releases an anti-Nazi propagando newsreel entitled March of Time in Nazi Germany. -
U.S. Against Japan
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Hitler Supports Japan
German Chancellor Adolf Hitler announces support for Japan. -
Anschluss
German Chancellor Adolf Hitler declared Austria part of the Third Reich. -
Herman Goering Warns Jews
Herman Goering, marshall of the Third Reich and Hitler's second in charge, warns all Jews to leave Austria. -
U.S. Recognizes Austria
The United States grants recognition to the new Austrian government. -
Mussolini Joins Hitler
In a speech in Rome, Benito Mussilini, facist leader of Italy, promises to fight the democracies alongside Adold Hitler's should war break out. -
Naval Expansion Act
The U.S. Congress passes the Naval Expansion Act giving President Franklin D. Roosevelt one billion dollars to enlarge the navy. -
Hitler Aims for Sudetenland
Adolf Hitler is poised to invade and conquer the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia. -
Sudetenland and Appeasement
Leaders of France and Great Britain meet with representatives from Germany, including Adolf Hitler, to discuss Germany's demands, ultimately granting Hitler the Sudetenland in the hopes of gaining "peace with honor". The Czechs are not consulted. -
Hitler Promises Peace
Adolf Hitler renges on the promise made in September of 1938 and takes all of Czechoslovakia. -
Germany Invades Poland
German troops invade Poland on the ground while Hitler's air force bombs Polish cities from the sky. -
Allied Support Grows
The Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies is founded. -
Fleet Moved to Pearl Harbor
President Franklin D. Roosevelt moves the United States Pacific Fleet base from San Diego, California to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. -
Lend-Lease Program
Before the U.S. Congress, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposes a "lend-lease" program, which would deliver arms to Great Britain to be paid for following the war's end. Congress approves the bill. -
Pearl Harbor
Japanese fighter planes attack the American base at Pearl Harbor destroying U.S. aircraft and naval vessels, and killing 2,355 U.S. servicemen and 68 civilians. -
US Troops Land In Africa
Under the leadership of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, U.S. troops land in Algiers, Oran, and Casablanca in North Africa. -
Allies Captures Naples
The Allies capture German holdings in Naples. -
World War II Ends
A formal surrender ceremony is conducted in Tokyo Bay on the U.S. battleship Missouri. World War II officially ends.