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Maginot Line Construction
A line a concrete fortifications made to stop any invasions into France. This event is significant because it was a defensive strategy to hold off Germany so they could rebuild their country. -
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US Isolation
During the depression in 1930 the United States did not want to go to war with a terrible economy. The US limits ships to Asia and uses tariffs to further themselves away and stay neutral. This event is significant because some countries rely on trade with the U.S. and might have been a reason why Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. -
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Japanese control of Korea
As the colonial government of Korea in the 1930s Japan began to build large-scale industries as an empire-wide program of economic self-sufficiency and war preparation. In 1938 Japan began to enlist Korean youths into the army. This event is significant because it expanded the Japanese empire and prepared them for war. -
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Hitler the new Chancellor
With Hitler in power he decides to create acts that would give him complete dominance and control over Germany. This is significant because Hitler promises to return the homeland to its former glory and starts rapid re-militarization around Germany. -
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The Holocaust
The Holocaust was the systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its allies. This event is significant because it is the worst atrocity against humankind throughout history and should never happen again. -
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Italian Invasion of Albania
Mussolini rapidly overran Albania with 100,000 Italian men and 600 airplanes, forcing their ruler King Zog into exile, and the country was made part of the Italian Empire as a separate kingdom. This event is significant because gave them more power and control of the Adriatic Sea. -
The Pact of Steel
Germany and Fascist Italy agreement which linked them politically and militarily to each other. This event is significant because it made them the official axis powers which eventually led to include Japan. -
German Invasion of Poland
This invasion gave Germany the opportunity for more "living space" and marks the first use of the strategy “blitzkrieg”. The significance of this event would be the start of WWII. On Sep 2, Britain and France demanded Germany to withdraw by Sep 3 or face war. -
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Battle of France
Germany invades France under two operations which pushed back British and and French forces, which led to an armistice that split the country of France under control of the Axis. This event is significant because it led to the collapse of the French army. -
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Hunger Plan
The plan was meant to seize food from the Soviet Union and give it to German soldiers and civilians. Germany was not self-sufficient in food supplies, and to sustain the war it needed to obtain the food from conquered lands at any cost. This event is significant because it caused millions of Russians to die from military actions and food supply crisis. -
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German Invasion of the Soviet Union
Germany's invaded the Soviet Union to conquer the west but was stalled in Moscow and pushed back by the counteroffensive. This event is significant because the German forces occupied some of the most important economic areas of the Soviet Union. -
Pearl Harbor
Japan did a surprise attack to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to try frighten the U.S. to stay neutral. This event is significant because it led the U.S. to join the war. -
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Japanese Invasion of the Philippines
Ten hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan invaded the Philippines. The lack of support the U.S. troops were given, they retreated until sickness and lack of food which caused them to surrender at Bataan. This event is significant because the Philippines is a strategic location for the Japanese as they lie between Japan and the South Pacific. -
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Bataan Death March
The U.S. surrendered the Bataan Peninsula on the main Philippine island of Luzon to Japan the approximately 75,000 Filipino and American troops on Bataan were forced to make an a 65-mile march to prison camps. They marched in intense heat and were subjected to harsh treatment by Japanese guards, which led to over 10,000 deaths. This event is significant because it is war crime that was dehumanizing and should never happen again. -
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Hiroshima & Nagasaki
President Truman decided to use the newly developed atomic bombs to end the war quickly in Japan. This event is significant because it created the controversy of the use of nuclear weapons because of the devastating effects, let the world know that the U.S. is powerful, and created an arms race.
