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Attack of Manchuria
The Japanese businesses had invested heavily in China's northeast province, Manchuria. So when the Japanese seized the land, there was really no coincidence. The Japanese needed this land mainly for its natural resources, which were oil and coal. So when the army seized it and set up a puppet government, engineers and technicians from Japan started rolling into the land to build mines and factories.(13) -
Nuremberg Laws
The Nuremberg laws were a set of laws that the Nazi's made to limit all Jews In anyway they could. These laws include depriving Jews of their rights of German citizenship, depriving their rights of job offerings, and depriving their rights of property. These laws were made in 1935. (12) -
Alliance with Italy and Germany
With Hitler's growing strength, Mussolini felt it was necessary that he seek an alliance with Germany. The two dictators reached an agreement known as the Rome-Berlin Axis. A month later another alliance was made between Germany and Japan and the three countries became the Axis Powers.(14) -
Kristallnacht
It was after hearing about an employee of the German Embassy in Paris being killed by a Jewish person that Kristallnacht took place. Nazi storm troopers had launched a violent attack. They attacked Jewish businesses, homes, and synagogues all across Germany. The Nazi storm troopers also killed around one hundred Jewish people.This day became known as Kristallnacht, meaning Night of Broken Glass because so many Jewish shop windows were smashed and broken glass covered the streets. (11) -
Invasion of Poland
Hitler's invasion of Poland was a huge surprise. The invasion involved German warplanes raining bombs and terror all over tthe Poles. At the same time bombs werebeing dropped, German tanks and troops were also on their way across Poland's border. Poland crumbled at the seams and Poland was now apart of the German's empire. (1) -
Soviet Union Invaded Eastern Poland
After his secret agreement with Hitler, Stalin finally made his move on Poland. He decided to send troops to occupy the eastern half of Poland. With his troops being in Poland, now Stalin could begin annexing the regions around Poland. these regions included Lithuania,Lativia,and Estonia. (2) -
Battle of Britain
In the summer of 1940, Germany's airforce started bombiong Great Britain. At first, Great Britain was greatly outnumbered, and soon Germans not only were they targeting factories and airfields, they also started to attack cities in Britain, which unfortunatly killed many innocent civilans. Soon Britain fought back and by May 10, 1940, stunned by Britain's fighting, Hitler decided to call off his attacks and instead focus more on eastern Europe and the Mediterranean. (4) -
France Surreneders
after a well fought battle against the Germans, the French fall short and surrender their country to the Germans. Upon taking over the country, Germany took control of the northern part, while leaving the southern part of France to a puppet government controlled by Marshal Henri Petain. (3) -
Lend lease Act
This act was to ensure that the Untied States would in hopes, stay neutral, and out of the war. The act allowed the president at the time, President Roosevelt, to lend or lease arms and other supplies to the countries that needed them. On the other hand, only countries vital to the United States would be able to have access to these supplies and arms. (5) -
German Invasion of Soviet Union
Germany started on the winning side of the invasion. They were able to push back the Soviets and were able to surround and isolate one of the Soviet Union's cities. Trouble came after the city Germany had surrounded was resisting to surrender. This situation caused Hitler to look at the Soviets capital, where he then marched towards to. Germany eventually stopped fighting when winter came because their weapons became useless in the winter, and the Soviets showed no sign of surrender. (7) -
Atlantic Charter
Although the U.S. was not in the war yet, President Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, prime minister of Great Britain, met near Newfoundland. There they agreed on a joint declaration called the atlantic Charter. The agreement upheld free tarde with nations and people had the right to choose their own government. (6) -
Pearl Harbor
Early in the morning, American sailors woke up to the sound of explosives. Within two hours, the Japanese had sunken 18 ships, including 8 battleships. Also 2,400 Americans were killed and more than 1,000 were wounded. This event became known as Pearl Harbor. (15) -
Japanese Internment
President Roosevelt set up a program of internment and loss of property for all the Japanese Americans because at this point in time they were considered a threat to the country. Then in March, the military began rounding up all the "aliens" and shipping them to relocation camps. Two- thirds of those interned were Nishi, or Japanese Americans who were native-born American citizens. The U.S. imprisoned close to 31,275 people it wrongly considered "enemy aliens". (20) -
Battle of Midway
The Americans were outnumbered 4-1 in ships and planes. But with even this information the Americans admiral still proceeded onward and he and his troops hoped to ambush the Japanese at Midway. With the American forces hidden beyond the horizon, the admiral let the Japanese make the first strike. Then the Americans swooped into action and attacked the Japanese ships. They ended up destroying 332 Japanese ships. The attack was so bad, the Japanese were forced to withdraw.(16) -
Allied invasion of Italy
In the summer of 1943, allied forces invaded Italy. The allies were able to capture Sicily from Italian and German troops by the end of August. This conquest caused Mussolini to topple from power and get arrested. Unfortunately, Germany gained control of northern Italy and put Mussolini back in power. The Germans then retreated northward, while the allies entered Rome. Fighting continued until Germany was defeated by the allies after the Italian resistance ambushed some of their trucks.(8) -
D-Day
On June 6th, British, American, French,and Canadian troops fought against the Germans on a beach in Normandy. By the end of the first day there were more casualties on the Ally forces than on Germany's force. With their heads held high, the allies persevered and after a month they gained more troops. With this gain, the allies forced the Germans to retreat and easily marched into Paris. By September, the allies had liberated France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and much of Netherlands. (9) -
Germany Surrenders
By the middle of April, Hitler knew that war was clearly over for him and his country. This was because Allied and Soviet troops were already advancing in his country and he knew the end was near. He and his new wife killed themselves before Germany officially surrendered. By May 7th, Germany had surrendered and soon the whole world knew. Troops advancing in the country now stopped to witness their long-awaited victory. On May 8th, the surrender was officially signed in Berlin.(10) -
Bombing of Hiroshima
This bomb was dropped in a city with a population of 365,000 people. The bomb was dropped because the Japanese had not surrendered and backed off of the Untied States. This bomb killed almost 73,000 people and many died more died also due to radiation. (18) -
Bombing of Nagasaki
This bombing was the consequence to the Japanese for not backing away from the U.S. this bomb was dropped on a city with a population of 200,000. This bombing killed 37,500 people and even more were killed due to radiation. (17) -
Japanese Surrender
The Japanese surrendered to General Douglas MacArthur on September 2nd. The surrender took place aboard the United States battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay.(20)
