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Adolf Hitler consolidates his power after the death of President Hindenburg, becoming the leader of Germany. This marks the complete establishment of Nazi dictatorship in Germany -
Hitler announces the reintroduction of military conscription, violating the Treaty of Versailles. This action was one of the early signs of Nazi Germany's defiance of the WW1 peace settlement -
Fascist Italy, led by Mussolini, invades Ethiopia. This was an early example of aggression by an Axis power and marked the beginning of Italy's imperial ambitions. -
Nazi Germany remilitarizes the Rhineland, a demilitarized zone according to the Treaty of Versailles. This move was an early step in Nazi expansion and was met with little resistance -
The Spanish Civil War begins as a military revolt against the Spanish Republic led by Francisco Franco. This war served as a proxy war where fascist nations supported France and the Soviet Union aided the Republicans -
Germany annexes Austria in a move known as the Anschluss. This was a key part of Hitler's expansionist policies, and Austria became part of Nazi Germany without putting up resistance -
Britain, France, Italy, and Germany sign the Munich Agreement, allowing Germany to annex the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia -
Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union sign a non-aggression pact, agreeing not to attack each other. This pact allows Germany to invade Poland without the fear of Soviet intervention, paving the way for the start of World War 2 -
Germany invades Poland, starting World War 2. This invasion causes Britain and France to declare war on Germany, marking the beginning of a global conflict. -
Germany launches Operation Barbarossa, invading the Soviet Union, This is the largest military invasion in history, opening up the Eastern Front, which would change the course of the war. -
Japan attacks the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This surprise attack leads to the United States formally entering World War 2, declaring war on Japan -
Allied forces launch the D-Day invasion on the beaches of Normandy, France. This is the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany, as Allied forces begin the liberation of Western Europe. -
Adolf Hitler commits suicide in his Berlin bunker as Soviet forces close in on the city, Hitler's death marks the collapse of the Nazi regime -
Germany formally surrenders to the Allied forces, ending the war in Europe. It marks the defeat of Nazi Germany, and the end of the war in Europe