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Nazis and Soviet
August 23 Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia sign a mutual non-aggression pact. The agreement is signed by German foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop and Josef Stalin's commissar of foreign affairs, V. M. Molotov. -
equal rights
December 16
In Washington, the National Women's Party meets and urges the Congress to act on an Equal Rights Amendment -
prime mnisters resigns
May 7
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlin resigns in disgrace. He will be replaced by Winston Churchill on May 10. -
Italy declares war on Britain and France
Italy declares war on Britain and France, and U.S. President Roosevelt announces a shift from neutrality to "non-belligerency," meaning more active support for the Allies against the Axis. -
the Alien Registration Act (the Smith Act)
In the U.S., the Alien Registration Act (the Smith Act) passed by Congress requires aliens to register and be fingerprinted; the Act makes it illegal to advocate the overthrow of the US government. -
Germany declares a blockade of British waters
Germany declares a blockade of British waters, and begins a bombing campaign which, by September, will be killing hundreds each day. In November, German air raids will kill more than 4,500 Britons. -
german troops invade
April 6
Greece and Yugoslavia are invaded by German troops. -
declaration of war
December 8
President Roosevelt addresses the U.S. Congress, saying that December 7 is "a date that will live in infamy." After a vote of 82-0 in the U.S. Senate, and 388-1 in the House, in favor of declaring war on Japan, Roosevelt signs the declaration of war. (See Roosevelt's famous address to Congress requesting that war be declared.) -
canada attacks dieppe
August 19
Canadian commando troops attack the coastal French city of Dieppe, but German defenders abort the raid and 3,500 Canadians are lost -
A joint U.S.-British force
A joint U.S.-British force of 400,000 troops, under the direction of General Eisenhower, begins landing at Casablanca, Oran and Algiers. They will successfully overtake the French garrisons there. -
The Battle of Stalingrad begins
The Battle of Stalingrad begins. The battle will claim the lives of 750,000 Russian soldiers, 400,000 German soldiers, nearly 200,000 Romanian soldiers, 130,000 Italian soldiers, and 120,000 Hungarian soldiers. -
Battle of Kursk
July 5 The Battle of Kursk begins. Soviet troops will eventually defeat the Germans, after a week of heavy fighting and tens of thousands of casualties on both sides. -
GI bill of rights
June 22
In the U.S., President Roosevelt signs the Servicemen's Readjustment Act that will provide funds for housing and education after the war. It is better known as the GI Bill of Rights. -
battle of bulge
December 16
The Battle of the Bulge begins. It the last major German counteroffensive, as allied troops are pushed back in Belgium's Ardennes Forest. As Allied lines fall back, a "bulge" is created in the center of the line, giving the battle its familiar name (see MAP). Two weeks of intense fighting in brutal winter weather follow before the German offensive is stopped.
