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President Paul von Hindenburg names Adolf Hitler, leader or fÜhrer of the National Socialist German Workers Party (or Nazi Party), as chancellor of Germany. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/adolf-hitler-is-named-chancellor-of-germany
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FDR signs the Neutrality Act of 1935 in order to prevent the U.S. from being further involved in the war. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fdr-signs-neutrality-act
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A border incident between Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland that December gave Benito Mussolini an excuse to intervene. Rejecting all arbitration offers, the Italians invaded Ethiopia on October 3, 1935. https://www.britannica.com/event/Italo-Ethiopian-War-1935-1936
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The Japanese defeat China, and take possession over Northern China. https://www.britannica.com/event/Marco-Polo-Bridge-Incident
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In a speech in Rome, Benito Mussolini, fascist leader of Italy, promises to fight the democracies alongside Adolf Hitler's should war break out.
http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/hitler-and-mussolini-meet-rome -
United States legislation enacted this;"mandated a 20% increase in strength of the United States Navy". It represented the United States' response to the Japanese invasion of China and the German annexation of Austria. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Act_of_1938
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Time releases the 1938 edition of their "Man of the Year", but his face is not represented on the cover. http://content.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19390102,00.html
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Hitler’s forces invade and occupy Czechoslovakia–a nation sacrificed on the altar of the Munich Pact, which was a vain attempt to prevent Germany’s imperial aims. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nazis-take-czechoslovakia
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Germany and the Soviet Union agree to a nonaggression pact leaving the Soviets free to strengthen their western frontier, and Hitler free to attack Poland. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-hitler-stalin-pact
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One of the main contributions to the start of WWII. Hitler conducted a military technique known as "blitzkrieg", which consisted of extensive bombing to destroy railroads, air capacity, etc. of the enemy's territory. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-invades-poland
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President Franklin D. Roosevelt addresses Congress in an effort to move the nation away from a foreign policy of neutrality. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/franklin-d-roosevelt-speaks-of-four-freedoms
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President Franklin D. Roosevelt orders the United States Coast Guard to seize German ships that sail into American ports. 65 Axis ships are held in "protective custody." http://www.britishpathe.com/video/u-s-seizes-axis-ships
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President Franklin D. Roosevelt announces that the United States will take over defense of Iceland for the duration of the war. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/u-s-occupies-iceland
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The Japanese bombed US territory (Oahu, HI), forcing the United States to join WWII. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pearl-harbor-bombed
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Adolf Hitler declares war on the United States, bringing America, which had been neutral, into the European conflict. The United States declares war on Germany, Italy, and Japan. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-declares-war-on-the-united-states
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During the Conference, the three leaders coordinated their military strategy against Germany and Japan and made a number of important decisions concerning the post World War II era. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/tehran-conf
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The day the allied powers crossed the English Channel, and landing on the beaches of Normandy, France, beginning the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/d-day
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Adolf Hitler commits suicide by swallowing a cyanide capsule and shooting himself in the head. Soon after, Germany unconditionally surrendered to the Allied forces, ending Hitler’s dreams of a “1,000-year” Reich. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/adolf-hitler-commits-suicide
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This date marks the date that the German troops scattered throughout Europe finally laid down their arms http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe
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Aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Japan formally surrenders to the Allies, bringing an end to World War II. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/japan-surrenders
