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Hilter Sent Troops to Rhineland
Hitler goes against the Treaty of Versaille from World War One, and decides to send troops to Rhineland bordering France, which was a violation against the treaty. This is important because it showed German aggression yet again, and their unwillingness to abide the Treaty rules. This was the beginning of a build-up of events leading to another. world war. -
Japan Overruns Manchuria and Eastern China
Japanese armies overran much of eatern China, and started the Second Sino-Japanese War. This is important because Japanese army leaders believed they should start creating an empire equal to those of Western powers. They became more aggressive and withdrew from the League of nations because the Western powers didn't agree with their actions. -
Germany Annexed Austria
Austria refused to meet Germany's demands. Germany went into Austria to create a union called the Anschluss, as they were both German speaking cultures. He sent troops to Austria to indicate his new role as dictaor. This is important because the Germans took over Austria to expand their power, and Hilter killed any opposing his rule in Austria. This fed the German aggression and ego as they as a nation became more powerful. -
Hitler Gobbles Up Czechoslovakia
The Czechs had been persuaded by the Allies that they should surrender the Sudentenland to Hitler to appease him. Hitler had promised not to invade any more territory. However he broke his promises and took over the rest of Czechoslovakia. This was important because this event dragged more and more of Europe into war. It showed how aggressive Germany was, and it alarmed the rest of Europe even more, as Poland looked like the next target. -
Nazi-Soviet Pact
Hitler surprises the world by announcing that he had made a pact with Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union. The two agreed to not fight if the other went to war, and to divide up parts of Eastern Europe among them in secret (Poland). This was important, because this alliance helped both nations. The pact was made due to their needs. This Soviet support later allowed Germany to invade Poland with no threats from their East. This led to the start of WWI. -
Hitler Launched Blitzkrig
Hitler launched Blitzkrig against Norway and Denmark(Lightning War). Hitler used advanced tank and airpower technology to damage the enemy. This is important because this was the start of the Nazi army invading other countries. Hitler was slowing taking over Europe. -
Hitler Attacks France
Germny surprises France by attacking through the Ardennes Forest in Belguim. France forces thought they were safe from invasion because of the thickness of the forest. British and French troops were stuck in France due to the Nazi trrops. They were evacuated back to Britain, This is important because it shows how strong and aggresive the German army had become. France was a big power in Europe, and having it taken over would mean the Britain was the main Ally nation left in Europe at the time. -
Operation Sea Lion
Germany started dropping bombs on Britain Daily. They began dropping bombs on England's southern coast in military areas, but changed their tatics and started to drop bombs on London and other main cities. This was significant because much of London was destroyed and many innocent people lost their lives. The people in London became even more detemined to end the war and beat the Nazis. -
Lend-Lease Act
The United States passed an act that allowed the goverment to lend or sell war materials to allied countries that would support the defense of the U.S. This is important because this alllowed the U.S. allies to be supported and well armed in war . This furthered the U.S. involvement in the war. It also named the U.S. as the "Arsenal of Democracy." -
Japanese Allies Declare War on the US
After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, the US declared war on Japan. Japan and its Allies, Gemany and Italy, declared war on the US on this day. This is important because this is when the US fully entered the war, and defined its enemies. The US got ready to fight in the war and was more prepared for violence even on home turf. -
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The Turning Point in the War
The Allies began to have continuous victories on different fronts around the world. They won in the Pacific, North Africa, Italy, and in the Soviet Union, and France. This is important because the Germans and other powers like Japan and Italy seemed to become more powerful till this point. This turning point in the war allowed the Allies to become more optimistic and hopeful for victory in the war. -
Batann Death March
The Japaenese gained control over the Philipines from the US, forcing American and Filipino soilders to march 65 miles to their death. The importance of this is that it caused further tension between Japan and the US. This lead to more conflict and fighting these opposing powers. -
Battle of the Coral Sea
The Battle of the Coral Sea lasted for five days. It was naval warfare, but the ships never saw one another, as they had used aircraft to execute all attacks. The Americans sank Japanese ships, and prevented them from seizing important islands. This is important because it was a big victory for the Allies. This was the first setback for the Japanese in the war, and they had some losses. The Japanese also could not gain possession of land that was crucial for Ally victory. -
Allies Cross Into Italy
After the Allies were able to gain North Africa away from Axis forces, they were able to go to Sicily and advance in Italy. They defeated the Italians within a month's time. This is important because by invading Italy, it caused Hitler to exhaust more of his army power on an extra front. It also allowed for more help to free France after D-Day. This invasion weakened the Germans and the Italians. -
The US Navy Blockades Japan
The United States Navy's plan was to slowly weaken Japan. They decided to keep blockading Japan, and not allowing ships with necessities pass through. The Americans also bombed many Japanese cities and industries. This is important because this contributed to Japan's surrender to the Allies. The prevention of needed supplies reaching Japan's shores weakened the Japanese. The bombing of many cities left them destroyed and damage, and their firepower was sure to be damaged as well. -
Allies Push Towards Germany
The Allies were preparing to open a second front in Europe by invading France. The Allies prepared for D-Day by using airpower to bomb factories and other resources that might have been useful to the Germans. This is important because this was the beginning of the Allies' big invasions in Europe. This is when the Allies started to fight back and advance in the war against the Germans occupying France. -
Freeing of France
France had been overtaken by the Germans earlier, and the Allies wanted to get it back. Allied forces came from Italian waters, British and Americans broke through German defenses by Paris, and in Paris the French resistance rose up. This allowed the Germans to be overtaken on all sides. This is important because the freeing of France, an Ally, was a great accomplishment for the Allies. France was a big world power in Europe, and with its help they could win the war. -
Agreement at Yalta
Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin met at Yalta in the sourthern Soviet Union. The Big Three strategized, and came to a conclustion that the Soviet Union should enter the war on the side of the Allies. This was three months after Germany's surrender. This is important because it showed the Allies' desparation to win the war against Japan. Although Germany already surrendered, Japan kept going, and although the Allies didn't like each other, they had to get the Soviet Union's help. -
The Axis Armies Began to Surrender
The allies and soviet troops invaded Germany and caused the axis powers to surrender. This date is important, because this is what soon led to the end of the war. It showed that the Axis powers were weakening under the attacks from the Allies. -
Creation of the United Nations
A charter was drafted from delegates from over 50 nations and it was called the United Nations(UN). The UN played a great role in affiars around the world. The UN would try to keep balance and peace throughout the world and resolve disputes. This is important because the UN is still helping maintain peace between nations around the world. They help make sure national incidents don't get out of control. -
Manhattan Project
The US experiments with the splitting of atomic atoms to create a mass destruction bomb in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Scientist successfully used nuclear fission. On this day the first atomic bomb was successfully tested. This is significant because this is the weapon that leads to the end of the war offically throughout the world. Also this successful discovery of nuclear fission led to major developements in technology as well as the discvery of the us of nuclear power. -
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Nuremberg Trials
The Nuremburg Trails were trials held for the Axis leaders that were tried for "crimes against humanity". This is important becuase it gave the Axis leaders at wrong the justice they deserved. They were tried and punished for the crimes they committed in war. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman doctrine was a document set to support free people resisting the forces of unwanted pressures. This is important because this doctrine is what guided the United States for decades. The doctrine made it known that the U.S. would do whatever was neccasary to stop Soviet expansion. -
Creation of NATO
The creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was a formation of a military alliance between 12 countries. Countries pledged to assist one another if they were attacked. This is important because each country in the alliance would assist one another if they are in attacked and this makes them a powerful military alliance. They serve to protect each other and make it known offically that they are a pack of alliances. -
Creation of the Warsaw Pact
The creation of the Warsaw Pact was a military alliance formed by the Soviet Union. It was created in response to the creation of NATO. Unlike NATO, the Warsaw pact was communist and invoked by the Soviet Union.
This is important because the Soviet Union wanted to form a military alliance. They cemented division in Europe. They kept their satilites up and were dominated by the Soviet Union. Nations of NATO held power equally and were not dominated by one nation. This caused opposing views.
