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Japanese Invades China
Japanese military leaders wanted to solve the country’s economic struggles by foreign expansion. They planned to conquer China for the raw materials. When Japan seized Manchuria, many League members harshly protested.The League’s failure to stop the Japanese encouraged European Fascists to plan aggression of their own. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Japanese_troops_entering_Tsitsihar.jpg/300px-Japanese_troops_entering_Tsitsihar.jpg. -
Ethiopia Falls
The Ethiopians had resisted an Italian attempt at conquest during the 1890s. To avenge that defeat, Mussolini ordered a massive attack of Ethiopia in October 1935. Although the League disapproved of the attack, its members did nothing. Britain continued to let Italian troops and supplies pass through the British-controlled Canal on their way to Ethiopia. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5AaDLVrxRJM/UTTc3htd17I/AAAAAAAAADg/f_LQk1OEdTk/s1600/Italian-troops-surrender-Ethiopia.jpg -
Germany invades the Rhineland
German troops moved into Rhineland. The French were stunned. They didn't want to risk war. France let appeasement happen between them and Germany. Later Germany admitted that they would've stepped down if France had fought back. http://imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/46/4618/PZVFG00Z/posters/robert-hunt-german-re-occupation-of-rhineland-1936.jpg -
German Allies Bomb Guernica
German allies bombed the ancient Basque city of Guernica in Spain. This left the city in rubble. This caused many deaths and broke up many families. https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/6d310b6f30131bb5d8693bc8683a6209304bcec1/0_259_3022_1814/master/3022.jpg?w=620&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&s=4586f0b4025f5f7376dd4cf71d0fb1a5 -
Hitler's Plans to Absorb Austria and Czechoslovakia into the German Empire
Hitler announced to his advisors his plans to absorb Austria and Czechoslovakia into the German Empire. The treaty of Versailles prohibited any union between Germany and Austria, but many Austrians supported it. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-1987-0922-500,_Wien,_Heldenplatz,_Rede_Adolf_Hitler.jpg -
Austria and Czechoslovakia are Taken
Hitler announced to his advisers his plans to take Austria and Czechoslovakia into the German Empire.
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Hitler Sends the German Army to Austria
Hitler sent his army into Austria. Many Austrians didn't have an issue with combining with Germany. France and Britain ignored their agreement to protect Austrian independence. Germany took over Austria. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/3b/22/34/3b2234e1cd647f613bf8157da20b0bdb.jpg -
Hitler’s Demand for the Sudetenland
Hitler demanded that the Sudetenland be given to Germany. The Czechs refused and later asked France for help. Chamberlain thought that he could keep peace by giving in to Hitler’s demand. Britain and France agreed that Hitler could take a part of Sudetenland. In return, Hitler pledged to respect Czechoslovakia’s new borders.
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The German Invasion of Poland
Hitler made a surprise attack on Poland, equipped with tanks. His air force also bombed Warsaw, Poland’s capital. This was influential because it gained Germany more territory, therefore allowing. It to become more aggressive. https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005070 -
End of the Sitzkrieg
What had been a sitzkrieg, or “sitting war”, ended on this day. Hitler destroyed the calm by invading Norway and Denmark. It wasn't a surprise when the unprepared and stunned Denmark fell only four hours after Germany’s attack. http://hubpages.com/education/Sitzkrieg -
Roosevelt Cuts Off Oil Cargo to Japan
Roosevelt cut off oil cargo to Japan because they were going to conquer European colonies which could threaten American owned properties such as the Phillipine Islands and Guam. http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-07-08/news/bs-md-shipwreck-oil-20110708_1_fuel-oil-fuel-bunkers-crude-oil -
America Decodes Japan’s Secret Messages
Americans had decoded a code the Japanese used to send secret messages meaning that they knew Japan’s plan with Southeast Asia. http://www.slate.com/blogs/quora/2013/11/20/u_s_in_world_war_ii_how_the_navy_broke_japanese_codes_before_midway.html -
The End of the Battle of Britain
Hitler, who had been mercilessly bombing the cities of Britain, decided to stop his attacks. This was due to the great power of the British resistance. The end of this Battle of Britain taught Allies that, with enough force, Germany could be defeated. This new finding gave hope to the enemies of Germany. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/topics/dogfight -
The German Invasion of the Soviet Union
Hitler finally launched his invasion of the Soviet Union. His tanks and aircraft overpowered the massive but poorly trained army of the Soviet Union. The Soviet soldiers were freezing and starving due to Germany’s superior tactics. One million people died that winter. https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005164 -
The Japanese Bomb Pearl Harbor
The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Within only a few hours, 19 ships were destroyed or damaged. Eight battleships were moored. 2,300 people were killed while 1,100 became wounded. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor
