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The second World War is in motion
Hitler plans to unify all German-speaking people. He annexed Austria then demanded the liberation of German people in the region of Czechoslovakia. Neville Chamberlain flew to Germany to attempt a settlement before war broke out. -
Treaty of Munich is established
Hitler, Chamberlain, Daladier of France and Mussolini of Italy met and agreed that Hitler should have the Sudetanland of Czechoslovakia. The Czechs were not represented at the meeting and were forced to surrender the Sudetenland to Germany. -
Hitler marches to Czechoslovakia with german troops
Despite the promises given by Hitler in the Treaty of Munich, he marched into Czechoslovakia and occupied the country. -
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Britain rearms and reassures Poland's safety
Britain had begun re-arming adding a new radar early warning system that was installed along the east coast. Assurances were given to Poland who was being threatened by the "Fuhrer" also known as Hitler, the German leader. -
Russia and Germany sign a non-aggression pact
Hitler and Stalin signed a non-aggression pact which proved to have included secret clauses for the division of Poland within it. -
German troops invade Poland
German troops overrun and capture Poland. -
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the phoney War begins
The months following Britain’s declaration of war are referred to as the ‘phoney war’ because Britain didn't make any military action. -
Britain and France declare war on Germany
Britain and France declare war on Germany. Neville Chamberlain was first to broadcast the announcement that the country was at war. -
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Nazi Germany invades Denmark and Norway
Germany invades and occupies Denmark and Norway to guard supply routes of Swedish ore and also to establish a Norwegian base to break the British naval blockade on Germany. -
Germany uses Blitzkrieg attacks
Hitler launches blitzkrieg (flash war). Rotterdam was bombed almost to extinction. Both countries were had hundreds of people in them. -
Dunkirk (known as Operation Dynamo)
The British commander-in-chief, General Gort, had been forced to retreat to the coast at Dunkirk. A call went out to for sea vessels to travel to Dunkirk to take the troops off the beaches of Dunkirk. More than 338,000 men were rescued. -
Italy enters the war with Axis powers
Italy entered the war on the side of the Axis powers. Italy’s motive for entering the war was the hope of being rich from the spoils of war. -
France signs armistice with Germany
The French, signed an armistice with Germany taking France out of the war and into German occupation. -
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Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain had four main phases:
1. During July Hitler sent Luftwaffe bombers to attack British ports.
2. During August the attacks on shipping continued but bombing raids were concentrated on RAF airfields.
3. From September 7th the city of London was heavily bombed. Hitler hoped to destroy the morale of the British people.
4. With the failure of daylight bombing raids Hitler began nightly bombing raids on London and other important industrial cities. -
signing of Tripartite Pact
The pact of a mutual alliance was signed by Germany, Italy and Japan. -
Germany attacks Russia – Operation Barbarossa
The Russians were attacked, though they had signed a treaty with Germany in 1939. -
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
The Japanese, attacked the US pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor. -
Britain and US declare war on Japan
Britain and the United States declare war on Japan. -
Battle of Midway
The USA defeat the Japanese navy at the Battle of Midway. The US navy was able to push the Japanese back. -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Russians win their first victory against Germany at the Battle of Stalingrad. -
Italy surrenders
The new government of Italy surrendered to the British and the USA. They then agreed to join the allies. -
D-Day battle of Normandy Beach
The allies launched attack Germany’s forces in Normandy. The Germans who had been fed false information about a landing near Calais, rushed troops to the area but were unable to prevent the allies from forming a solid bridgehead. For the allies it was essential to first capture a port. -
Death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt
President Roosevelt dies and is "succeeded" by President Truman. -
Hitler "commits suicide"
The German leader, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his bombproof shelter together with his mistress Eva Braun. -
Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima
To end this second World War the U.S drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima -
Japanese surrender
After the second bomb Japanese surrender -
MacArthur accepts Japan’s surrender
MacArthur finally accepts the surrender of Japan
