-
Period: to
1920-1950
-
Adolf Hitler Becomes leader of Nazi Party
On January 30, 1921, Austrian-born Adolf Hitler becomes leader of Nazi Party. Hitler was a corporal in the German Army. Video: ww.history.com/videos/adolf-hitler#adolf-hitler -
Benito Mussolini appointed Prime Minister of Italy
Italian Politician, Benito Mussolini becomes Prime Minister and leader of Italy. Mussolini was the former leader of the Italian Facist Party. -
Josef Stalin sole dictator of the Soviet Union (USSR)
Josef Stalin becomes the sole dictator of the Soviet Union (USSR) and he takes complete power. Stalin was part of the Bolshevik revolution so he is a communist. -
Japan’s Army seizes Manchuria, China
Japan's massive army seizes Manchuria from the Chinese as Japan's Empire continues.The Japanese established a puppet state, called Manchukuo, and their occupation lasted until the end of World War II. -
Hitler is named the Chancellor of Germany
Hitler's popularity increased with the Great Depression and he spread the Nazis' beliefs of anti-semitism and racism. He made anti-semitic laws that banned Jews from public schools. -
Neutrality Acts passed by US Congress
The Neutrality Acts were used to try and keep the United States at peace. It forbade the president from selling arms, making loans, or giving any kind of assistance to any nation involved. -
Italian Army invades Ethiopia in Africa
In 19365, Benito Mussolini's armies invaded the African country of Ethiopia. Without help from the France or British, Ethiopia fell. -
Militarists take control of Japanese Government.
The Great Depression shook faith in the Democratic system, so Military leaders pressured the government to take control of nearby countries. These militarists preached racism. -
Hitler sends troops to Rhineland of Germany in violation of the Versailles Treaty.
In defiance of the Treaty of Versailles, Hitler rebuilded Germany's troops and deployed them to Rhineland, a western region of Germany. -
Japan's army pillage Nanjing, China; masacre a quarter million people.
In 1937, Japan's massive army spent six weeks pillaging the Chinese city of Nanjing. They killed a quarter of a million people. These people were women and prisoners. -
Munich Pact signed giving the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia to Germany
The Pact allowed Germany to occupy Sudetenland. It is a portion of Czechoslovakia which has mostly german speaking people. -
Nazis begin rounding up Jews for labor camps
Nazi soldiers start to round up Jewish men, women, and children to send to labor camps. These camps had awful and diseased conditions. -
Nazi-Soviet Pact signed by Hitler and Stalin
Hitler and Stalin meet to sign the Nazi-Soviet PAct. The Naz--Soviet Pact states that neither country is permitted to attack eachother. Hitler breaks this Pact when he invades Russia. -
Nazis invade Poland; Britain and France declare war on Germany
Hitler marches into Poland as his army destroys all in sight. Because of Poland's alliance with Britain and France, Britain and France Declare war on Nazi Germany. -
Battle of Britain – Royal Air Force defeats German Air Force to prevent invasion of their island
Britain's spirit never broke as civilians lived in subways. The Royal Air Force fought very hard defending Britain from the German Air invasion. -
First time Peacetime Draft in US
The US drafts a peacetime draft for the first time in 1940. This takes place 5 years before the war actually ends. -
Nazis invade Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium – take control
Nazi Germany's Army spreads and invades the Netherlands, Luxemborg and Belgium. The Nazis then take control of these countries. -
Germany invades France and forces it to surrender
Nazi Germany's ruthless SS and Wehrmact march into France. This leads to Frnace having to surrender. Even though the British sent troops, they were both overpowered by Germany's massive army. -
Hitler breaks Pact with Stalin’s Russia and invades - USSR which now joins England in fighting the Germans
Hitler breaks the Nazi-Soviet Pact. He does this by invading the land of the USSR. Because of this, the USSR joins England in Fighting the Germans. They are now an ally force. -
Churchill and FDR issue the Atlantic Charter
Churchill and FDR issue the Atlsntic Charter. This outlines their postwar goals. Unlike WW1, they will not take any land after the war. -
Japanese invade French Indochina
Japan's army invades the French's territories of IndoChina. As of now, these are now the countries of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. -
Japanese Americans interned in isolated camps
All around in America, Japanese Americans are sent to internment camps with more Japanese Americans. A total of 110,000 people were sent into these camps. -
Russians stop Nazi advance at Stalingrad save Moscow
Helped by the Brutal, Russian winter, the russian army held the Nazi advance at Stalingrad. This was the turning point in the war for the russians. -
Dec. 7 Pearl Harbor in Hawaii attacked by Japanese Naval and Air forces, US declares war on Japan, Germany and Italy declare war on the US
Japan's Airplanes attack the unsuspecting naval port of Pearl Harbor. Americans suffer many losses and Japanese Americans recieve a lot of discrimination. -
Philippines fall to Japanese – Bataan Death March
Japan taks over the Phlippines from the Americans and the native Filipinos. Japan captures prisoners and force them to march 65 miles to a prison camp. Many die of the way there. -
Battle of Midway, turning point of war in the Pacific
The Battle of Midway was a major naval battle that took place in the Pacific from June 4th to June 7th. This was the point where after the Americans were on the winning side. Turning Point for the word. -
British and US forces defeat German and Italian armies in North Africa
After long hard battles in the African heat, Britain defeats the armies of Germany and Italy and starts drive them away. -
Zoot Suit Riots – Los Angeles, CA
On shore Sailors attack young mexicans. The Mexicans were wearing zoot suits and the sailors beat, club and almost killed a lot of Mexicans in Los Angeles. -
Italy surrenders, Mussolini dismissed as Prime Min.
In June, 1943 the former axis power of Italy surrenders and becomes a part the allied cause. -
D-Day invasion of France at Normandy by Allies
Troops from Canada, Britain and the United States storm the beaches at varios insertion points including the beaches Omaha and Sword. -
Paris retaken by Allies Forces
Helped by the French Resistance, Allied Troops take Paris from the Axis Powers. -
Battle of the Bulge – last offensive of German Forces
The Germans lauch a massive offensive in the Bulge in the Allied Line. This took place in the forests around Belgium. The Germans were unsuccessful in their attack. -
US forces return to recapture the Philippines
American forces of the Pacific Theater return to capture the Philipines from the Imperial Army of Japan. -
President FDR Dies.
President FDR dies in Warm Springs Georgia. Vice President Harry Truman takes over as commander in chief. -
V-E Day, war ends in Europe
Finally the war in Europe is over. Shortly before V-E Day, Hitler commited suicide in the bunker in Berlin as the Unstoppable Soviet Union took the city. -
First Atomic Bombs dropped
The Atomic bombs are dropped on the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. This was to prevent future loss of life and the prolonging of the war. -
V-J Day, Japan surrenders to Allied Forces
Finally the war for the United States is over. Japan surrenders after witnessing the horrific power of the Atomic Bomb. -
War Crimes Trials held in Nuremburg, Germany; Manila, Philippines and Tokyo, Japan.
Trials are held for the crimes commited during the war that were beyond the morals of war. This is the first time something like this happened.
