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Japanese invasion of Manchuria
Japan invades Manchuria after what was called the Minden incident. This territory remained under Japanese control until the end of World War II. -
Italian invasion and annexation of Ethiopia
After an incident along the borders of Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland, Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini used this as an excuse for Italian Invertions. The Italians invaded to increase control over African countries. -
Japan and Germany sign the Anti-Comintern Pact
The Nazi Germans and Imperial Japanese sign this pact against the Soviet Union and all communist controlled countries. -
Japanese invasion of China
The Japanese continued to seize further control of land in Asia. This began World War II in the Pacific. -
Germany takes over Austria (Anschluss)
Austria annexes into the growing German Empire. German rule become excedingly more powerful in Europe. -
The Munich Aggreement is signed (appeasement)
The Sudetanland of Czechoslovakia is given to Nazi Germany as an appeasemant by Italy, Great Britain, and France. This gives away the key defense positions of Czechoslovakia to the Germans. -
Slovaks declare independance
Under intense German pressure, the Slovaks declare their independance and from the Slovak Republic. The German occupy too much of the Czech lands, violating the Munich Agreement terms. -
Italy invades and annexes Albania
Albania becomes overrun by Italian troops in Mussolini's campaign increase Italian territory. -
German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact is signed
The two countries' signing of this pact came as a surprise to the world. The terms consisted of the two countries taking no military action against one another for 10 years. -
Germany invades Poland
German borders continue to expand, as they move through Poland. The Polish are quickly overwhelmed, and only last weeks upon their invasion. -
France and Great Britain declare war on Germany
Due to the their allainces with Poland, the two countries of France and Great Britain declare war on Germany. -
The Battle of Britain
The German Air Force (Luftwaffe) invaded Great Britain. The battle lasts until fall of 1940, when the the British defeat the Germans. -
The Tripartite Pact is Signed
This pact was signed to form alliances between Germany, Japan, and Italy. This gave power of land to Germany in Europe and Japan power to lands in east Asia. -
Pearl Harbor is bombed
Japan bombs Pearl Harbor in the Pacific. This forced the United States into the war. -
U.S. declares war on Japan
The United States declares war on Japan for the bombings of Pearl Harbor. The United States officially enters World War II. -
The Battle of Midway
When the Japanese attempted to take over Midway Island, a U.S. fleet attacked them. The United States defeated them, and this was an important turning point in the war in the Pacific, since the United States won pretty much every battle after that. -
Battle of Stalingrad
A massive battle when Germany invades the Soviet Union and attempts to take over the city of Stalingrad in the Soviet Union. Soviets triumph, after extensive German casualties. -
Italian Government surrenders
Italy surrenders to the Allies, and immediately after the Germans take control of North italy and the city of Rome. -
D-Day
This day is which allied forces invade Northern France through beach landing in Normandy. This was known by the military as "Operation Overlord." -
Allied troops reach, liberate Paris from Nazi occupation
After being under Nazi control for over 4 years, the French city of Paris is liberated by allied troops in 1944. -
Adolf Hitler commits suicide in his bunker
With defeat all but certain, Adolf Hitler and his wife committed suicide in their bunnker before the allied troops could get there. It has never been put to fact how exactly Hitler and his wife killed themselves, but it appears to most as cyanide pills and a later shot to the head. -
V-E Day
Also known as victory in Europe day, the day when the Germans surrendered. The ended World War II in Europe. -
Atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima
Ater Japan's refusal to surender. the uranium gun-type atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima. The bomb was nicknamed the "Little Boy," but it caused massive Japanese casualties. -
Atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki
Following the first bomb, the United States dropped a second bomb. This was a plutonium implosion-type bomb, and was given the nickname "Fat Man." -
V-J Day
After the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan officially surrenders. This day was given the nicknames "Victory over Japan Day."
