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Benito Mussolini Becomes Dictator
In January 1925, Mussolini became a full fledged dictator. Prior to this, however, he stripped away the power of others as Prime Minister. -
Hindenburg is Elected President of Germany
Hindenburg is elected President of Germany over Adolf Hitler. Hitler would later transform the office of the President into that of a complete dictator. -
Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany
On this day Hitler was promoted to Chancellor of Germany. Hitler would later use this posiiton to become supreme ruler of Germany. -
First Fireside Chat
FDR hosts his first "Fireside Chat". These chats would be personal radio broadcasts that talked about the United States. -
First Concentration Camp Created
Dachau, the first concentration camp, is created. There would later be over 1000 concentration camps created. -
Remilitarization of the Rhineland
Germany remilitarizes the Rhineland, an area previously restricted by the Treaty of Versailles. This action helped Germany -
Germany Annexes Austria
German troops enter the country of Austria. After being pressured by Nazis, the Austrian Chancellor resigned, allowing Germany to take control of Austria. -
Munich Pact
The Munich Agreement is signed at Munich, Germany. This agreement allowed German speaking parts of Czechoslovakia to be annexed by Germany. -
Germany Invades Poland
Germany invades Poland by air and by land. This officially begins World War 2. -
Einstein and Others Inform FDR about Atomic Bombs
Albert Einstein and others infrom FDR about the possibility of creating nuclear weapons. These bombs would later help end World War 2. -
Germany Conquers France
After seven weeks of fighting, Germany conquers France. Germany invaded on May 10th, 1940. -
Battle of Britain
Following the defeat of France, Germany moved to attack Britain. After two attacks on London, Britan had successfully repelled the German forces. -
Germany, Italy, and Japan form the Axis Powers
Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact. This pact created an alliance between Japan, Germany, and Italy. -
The Lend-Lease Act
The Lend-Lease Act of 1941 allowed Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide materials in aid for the war efforts in Europe. These provisions would not violate the neutral position of the United States. -
Germany Invades the Soviet Union
Germany invades the Soviet Union, breaking the non-aggression pact. This would be the largest German operation of World War 2. -
United States Enter World War 2
The United States enters World War 2. This day would be known as "a day that will live in infamy." -
Pearl Harbor
Japan surprise attacks the United States at the naval base of Pearl Harbor. The attack is devastating, and brings the United States to join the second World War. -
Britain and the United States Declare War on Japan
Britain and the United States dclare war on Japan. These combined forces would be a major obstacle for Japanese aggression. -
Battle of Midway
Six months after Pearl Harbor, the Battle of Midway was a major naval battle between the United States and Japan. American forces triumphed against the Japanese Imperial Naval. -
Battle of Stalingrad
Germany and the Soviet Union fight for control of the city of Stalingrad. This battle was one of the largest and bloodiest battles of World War 2. -
Operation Torch
British and American troops invade North Africa. This was the first joint British-American plan of invasion. -
Battle of Guadalcanal
The Battle of Guadalcanal was mainly over the control of an air base located there. The end of this campaign was the turning point in the Pacific War. -
The Tehran Conference
The Tehran Conference was a meeting between the leaders of the United States, the U.S.S.R., and Britain. This meeting occured at Tehran, Iran. -
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a surprise attack from the German offensive. This battle took more U.S. lives than any other. -
Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference was a meeting between the leaders of the United States, the U.S.S.R., and Great Britain. These men decided the repercussions of Germany post defeat. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
American forces invade the island of Iwo Jima. After a month of fighting, U.S. forces had wiped out the Japanese located there. -
Nuremberg Trials
The Nuremberg Trials prosecuted Nazis for the war crimes committed during World War 2. This would become a precedent for future international war crimes. -
V-E Day
V-E Day was the day of the German surrender. It was celebrated as a public holiday. -
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa was a major series of battles between the United States and Japan. These battles led to the end of the war. -
Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The United States drop atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan surrenders shortly after. -
V-J Day
V-J Day marked the surrender of Japan. This also marked the official end of World War 2. -
Taft-Harley Act
This act restricted the effects of labor unions. -
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was a defensive agreement between several nations, including Russia, Poland, and East Germany. This pact would ensure the defence of any of its members upon being attacked.
