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Mussolini takes over Italy's Government (March on Rome)
The event by which Benito Mussolini and his fascist party comes into power with the goal to be known as the most important political party in Italy. The king of Italy wanted to avoid conflict and basically lets Mussolini march right on in. References
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Beer Hall Putsch
The event in which Adolf himself and his followers had the thought to seize the Bavarian government and start a larger revolution against the Weimar Republic by kidnapping Gustav von Kahr, the state commissioner of Bavaria, and two other conservative politicians. This plan was supposedly inspired by Mussolini's successful "March on Rome"
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Kellogg-Briand Pact
An a international agreement to try and eliminate war by agreeing not to "solve" conflicts and disputes with war. Wasn't very effective at all as there were many loop holes within it because of the different understandings of what self defense is. Plus, this pact was to prevent further wars and ww2 was not prevented.
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U.S. Stock Market Crash
The U.S. stock market crashes due to investors trading some 16 million shares on the NY stock exchange in one day. Billions of dollars were lost which wiped out thousands of investors. This lead to the spiraling down of the industrialized world and America equalling the Great Depression.
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Japan Invades Manchuria
Japan invaded Manchuria for two main reasons. Ideology and natural resources. This was fairly "easy" for Japan to do as China was very weak from a civil war against communists. They did not resist. But China then turned to the League of Nations for help.
References
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Hitler becomes Germany's Chancellor
Before Hitler was appointed as chancellor, Germany was in a terrible state after the great depression. With people without jobs, food, and fear, they were happy for some relief and leadership in their country. So, the very man who spent almost his entire political career trying to destroy the republic, was now the leader.
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First Anti-Semitic Law is passed in Germany
During the first six years of Hitler's dictatorship, there were numerous laws passed that restricted the basic human rights of the citizens ( jews ) in Germany. Some of the first ones passed were: The Law for the Reestablishment of the Professional Civil Service and The Law on the Admission to the Legal Profession.
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The night of the long knives (Rohm Purge)
The nazi leaders take advantage of the purge to kill their political enemies. This was based on the german nationalist rights. These killings set an agreement between the Nazi Regime and the German Army which allowed hitler to name himself Fuhrer of Nationalist Socialist Germany and gain total power.
References
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Hitler openly announces to his cabinet he will defy the Treaty of Versailles
When the cabinets and generals met with HItler and listened to him read his finished proclamations. These proclamations were then announced by Goebbels to the world with an urgent press conference.Germany was going to re-introduce military conscription and build a new Army. This went against the Treaty of Versaille.
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Creation of the Nuremberg Laws
The Nuremberg Laws were designed by Hitler and approved by the Nazi party at a Nurnberg convention on September 15,1935. The Nuremberg laws were 2 measures that were race-based and practically deprived all Jews of their basic human rights. The laws deprived jews of german citizenship and forbid marriage/sexual relation between the 2 races.
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Italy invades Ethiopia
When Italy invaded Ethiopia, people said it was possibly one of the events that led to WWII because the decisions that the league of nations made were considered inaccurate in a way because they didn't know what to do.
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Hitler Militarizes the Rhineland
This is when Hitler goes against the Treaty of Versailles by sending troops into Rhineland to militarize it. This went against the treaty because Rhineland was to be demilitarized. When Hitler seized Germany, he canceled the military clauses of the treaty and began remilitarizing of the Rhineland.
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The Rape of Nanking
Japanese General Matsui Iwane ordered that Nanking be destroyed to break the spirit of Chinese resistance. Most of the city ended up getting burned and the troop launched a campaign of atrocities against the civilians. 20,000 women raped and over 50,000 males killed. Plus 150,000 male war prisoners. References
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Germany Annexes Austria
This is when the austrian nazis/germany marched into their own Austrian government to seize it and take control of it/unite it with Nazi Germany. Austria existed as a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II when the Allied Powers made Austria independent. References
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Munich Conference
The settlement in which Germany, Great Britain, France, and Italy were involved in. It allowed the annexation of Sudetenland (Czechoslovakia) to be permitted. Originally, the Czech wanted to rely on their allies, the Soviet Union and France. But, neither wanted to be in war. Especially With germany. Thus equaling the Czech to turn only to submitting to the Munich Agreement. References
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Kristallnacht
Or "Night of Broken Glass" referring to the waves of violent uproars and killings of the Jews on Nov. 9/10th. This violence took place in Germany,Annexed Austria, and Sudetenland ( recently occupied by Germany ). Just some of the violence that went down was burning of synagogues and arresting of jewish men. References
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Hitler demands the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia
When Hitler carried out the Munich Agreement and actually takes Sudetenland from the Czech. An example of appeasement. References
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Einstein’s letter to FDR, “The Manhattan Project”
When Einstein sent a letter to Roosevelt asking for the development of an atomic research program later that year. Roosvelt agreed to slowly proceed and it was then given its code name "The Manhattan Project". After a big breakthrough, the first controlled nuclear chain reaction, the development of the atomic research program skyrocketed.
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Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
A non-aggression pact to strengthen the peace between the U.S.S.R. and Germany. Agreed not to participate in any violence or attacks on one another and that the two governments must be in contact to help protect from conflicts of interest. Also stated that if they came to problems, they solve them with exchanging of opinions or through the establishment of arbitration commissions.
References
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Nazi Invasion of Poland
Because HItler wanted more and more power, he looked to Poland where he'd attempt to invade and take them as he did with Sudetenland and Austria.He took Austria and Sudetenland without violence - he figured he could do the same with Poland but they put up a fight and got some allies to join in it. But Hitler succeeded in taking Poland and turning it to communism.References
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Evacuation of Dunkirk
When the Germans invaded Northern France and the "Low Countries" and started surrounding the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), there was an enormous evacuation of the BEF, French, and Belgian troops. By the beginning of June, over 140,000 French and Belgian troops had been saved and about 198,000 British were saved.
References
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France Surrenders
Paris has basically fallen to Germany. Thus, France creates an armistice with the nazis and the nazis take half of France at this point which is a big win for Germany to gain.
References
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Battle of Britain
The French being defeated, signed an armistice with Germany leaving the British the last country standing alone against Germany and it's military forces. This was a significant turning point in WWII where Britain won air superiority against Germany. The first all air battle in history. References
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The Tripartite Pact
When the axis powers are formed consisting of Japan,Italy,and Germany. This happened just by signing the Tripartite Pact and becoming allies. The pact stated that if any of the countries involved within the pact, were attacked, that they would provide mutual assistance.
References
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Lend Lease Act
Was proposed in 1940 and passed in 1941 stating the principles providing U.S. aid to the foreign countries being attacked at the time. It also allowed the president to transfer any army materials such as arms to foreign countries that vitally needed it. It also allowed the U.S. to not be overextended but also support its war interests in battle. References
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Operation Barbarossa
Also called Operation Fritz. The event in which the Germans invaded the Soviet Union. Though, the Germans failed to defeat the Soviets showing a crucial turning point in the war. References
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Bombing of Pearl Harbor
A surprise attack on U.S.'s Pearl Harbor. It was hundreds of Japanese fighter planes that did the job to the naval base in Honolulu Hawaii. Managing to destroy 20 U.S. naval vessels ( 8 ships and over 200 airplanes ). 2,000 U.S. sailors and soldiers were killed. We then declare war on Japan and so do they. References
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The Wannsee Conference and the “Final Solution”
The conference was when 15 high ranked nazis/german officials gathered in Wannsee to discuss and coordinate the "Final Solution of the Jewish Question". The Final Solution took millions of jews in trains every day and sent them to gas chambers to die. About 6 millions jews' lives were taken.
References
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Bataan Death March
The U.S. surrendered to the Japanese with the Filipinos. There were approximately 75,000 troops that got sent away on a 65 mile march to prison camps in intense heat. Thousands ended up dying which is why it was named the Bataan Death March.
References
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Doolittle Raid
This was when sixteen B-25 bombers were launched from the U.S.to the Japanese mainland with orders to attack. This attack actually did little damage but is a famous raid today for damaging Japan's Prestige greatly which awarded Doolittle the congressional medal of honor.
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Battle of Midway
This is where the U.S. defeats Japan in one of the most decisive naval battles in WWII. The victory allowed the U.S. and it's allies to get out of playing defense and move into an offensive position. Japan didn't sink all of our aircraft carriers at Pearl Harbor, so they attempted to do it this time at the Battle of Midway. Unsuccessful.
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Battle of Stalingrad
Successful Soviet defense of Stalingrad during WWII in the U.S.S.R. Overall, It stopped the German advance into the Soviet Union. This battle was one of the bloodiest in history with 2 million casualties including civilians and soldiers. One of the most crucial engagements in the world war and a turning point for the Eastern Front.
References
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Operation Torch
The allies invade French North Africa which was the first time the British and French worked together on an invasion plan. The allies successfully won which is why it was so important. References
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Island Hopping ( Buna Gona Campaign )
Was one part of the Allies attacking Japan. During the campaign the allies learned how to deal with well-made bunkers across the specific. They also learned that heavy artillery is very important when you face a strong defense( Even in the jungle ). The allies advanced across the Pacific with lessons learned.
References
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D Day and Operation overload
When 156,000 British,Canadian, and American soldiers landed on a 50 mile stretch of 5 different beaches. It required much planning and was one of the most extensive military assaults in history. The allies successfully took over Normandy and made there way to Germany where they would meet up with the Soviet Union. This was considered the beginning of the end of war for Europe.References
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Operation Valkyrie
Stauffenberg, a colonel in the Nazi army, ( w/ others in the German military) wanted to take the fate of German people into their own hands and kill Hitler. To do this, Stauffenberg snuck an explosive briefcase into a conference that Hitler was at and left. He killed 4 others and Hitler remained alive. More people died from this attempt to the end of the war than the whole 4 and a half years before that.References
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Discovery of Majdanek
(Final Solution) Majdanek was used as a work camp to those fit to work. Many beyond many died from harsh living conditions and simple overwork. Mass murders and killings happened daily too. When the soviets approached, the Nazis tried their best to dismantle the camp and sent the prisoners west. They didn't finish covering up evidence of what happened there. Majdanek became the first major concentration camp that was liberated.References
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Battle of the Bulge
Hitler attempted to split the allied armies. To do this, he used a strategy he used 3 times before called the Blitzkrieg. The allies were caught off guard but master maneuvering got them through it with another win. Though, this battle was the costliest action ever fought in U.S. history and had 100,000 casualties.
References
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Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
American B-29 Bomber dropped the first ever deployed atomic bomb over Japan's Hiroshima. It immediately killed 80,000 people. (wiping out over 90% of the population.) And tens of thousands more would die of radiation exposure later on. 3 days later, another B-29 dropped another atomic bomb on Nagasaki. Killing 40,000 people. Hirohito (emperor of Japan) then announces their surrender. References
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Hitler's Suicide
For the last great siege in the war, Hitler decided to remain in his bunker. When officers reported to him that the Russians were only days from overtaking his chancellery, He decided to kill himself. Along with his wife, it's said that cyanide capsules were used and for good measure, Hitler shot himself with his pistol.
References
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V-E Day
Both America and Britain celebrate their victory.They put out flags and banners rejoicing in the defeat of the Nazis.This was also the day when the germans laid down their arms in Europe. Also, the day in Prague when the Germans surrendered to the Soviets. More than 13,000 British POWS were released too.References
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V-J Day
This was the announcement of Japan's surrender also known as the end of WWII. Japan formally surrendered aboard the U.S.S Missouri. This was months after Nazi Germany surrendered and it brought the many casualties and hostilities to a much needed close.
References
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Creation of the United Nations
The United Nations was created for means of better dealing with international conflicts and substituting peace. They wanted to a better job than the League of Nations. After WWII, this seemed like a necessity for the Allies, Japan, Germany, and Italy.
References
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The Nuremberg Laws
Were a series of 13 trials held in Nuremberg for the point of bringing Nazi war criminals to justice. Some of the people that were indicted, killed themselves before trial even began. Hitler and his top two associated all killed themselves before they could go to trial. Many observers believed that this made it one step closer to establishing a safe international law.
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Japanese War Crime Trials
The International Military Tribunals hear the case for 28 Japanese accused for committing war crimes in WWII. There was only one prosecutor at these trials compared to the Nuremberg where they had 4 for all of the countries. References
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