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Hitler Becomes Chancellor
The President of Germany made Hitler the Chancellor. As a chancellor, he used his authority to build his power. When the Reichstag burned down, he blamed this on Communists, and demanded troops to "protect himself," but instead used the army to increase his power. -
Death of Hindenburg
After Hindenburg dies, Hitler declares himself Führer. As the Führer, banned all other political parties other than the Nazi party. He also remilitarized Germany and reintroduced the military draft directly in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. However, the Allies decided not to take action. -
Hitler Releases Nuremburg Laws
Nuremburg Laws were a series of anti-Semetic laws (anti-Jew). These laws were intentionally against Jews, and restricted their freedom as much as possible. For example, German Jews lost their citizenship, and weren't allowed to marry or have a relationship with anyone who was Aryan. -
Germany Occupies Rhineland
Germany's occupation of Rhineland worried France, because Germany was remilitarizing on their border. So France asked Britian for help, but Britain still pursued the policy of appeasement. -
The Spanish Civil War
When the civil war in Spain arose, Hitler gave armed support to the Nationalist Army in Spain, and helped Francisco Franco win the Civil War. Germany sent soldiers, planes, tanks, and munition. Hitler used this was as a "dress rehearsal" for the second world war. -
The Munich Conference
At the Munich Conference, Germany declares itself allies with Italy, led by Mussolini. The Allies still pursue the policy of appeasement. -
Germany Invades Poland
Germanyinvades Poland, which causes the second World War to begin. -
Allies Respond to Germany's Attack
Britain, France, and New Zealand declare war on Germany 2 days after Germany invades Poland. The Allies abandon their policy of appeasement. -
Britain Attacks Germany
British Air Force strikes German Navy. With this attack, the war has begun. -
US declares Neutrality
The United States declare their stance in the war (neutral) because they don't want to get involved in another European conflict. At the same time, Germany moved farther into Poland to attack France. -
France Falls
France is defeated under Germany's Attack. Germany attacks by using the strategy called Blitzkrieg, where it attacked Paris with bombs first, then troops. WHen Paris fell, all of France fell with it. -
Mussolini invades North Africa
Mussolini invades North Africa because he beginst to think that if he doesn't act soon enough, he will not gain anything from the war. So he invades Egypt (Britain's terrotory) -
Lend Lease Act
The United States' Congress issues the Lend Lease Act which allows the Allied nations to buy American weapons and arms. -
Britain Strikes Back at Italy
Britain is very successful in its attack to drive back Italy and Hitler has to come save Italy. Because of this, Hitler had to separate his forces, which caused his downfall. -
Countries joing the Axis Powers
Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary join the Axis powers, while Greeca and Yugosavia resist. -
Hitler Attacks Yugoslavia and Greece
After Hitler invades Yugoslavia and Grece, Yugoslavia surrenders in 11 days, while Greece surrenders in 17. They become Germany territory. -
Hitler Launches Operation Barbarrossa
Operation Barbarrossa was the code name for the German attack on USSR. This occurred even though Germany had a non-aggression pact with USSR, because Hitler secretly wanted to exterminate the Russian race. -
Atlantic Charter
The Atlantic Charter was set up by the Roosevelt (president of the US) and Churchill (British Prime Minister) when they secretly met up. This charter upheld free trade among nations and the right of people to choose their own government. -
German U boat Attacks US
When a German U boat fired on a US ship carrying weapons to Britain, Us retaliated, and an undeclared war raged between US and Germany. -
Leningrad Under Seige
Hitler's forces cause Russian forces to retreat, and eventually upt them under seige at Leningrad. In order to force Russians to surrender, Hitler tries to starve the Russians. However, Stalin refuses to give up and 1 million out of 2.5 million people die. -
Hitler Attacks Moscow
Instead of continuing the seige in Leningrad, Hitler decides to attack Moscow. But the Russian Winter caused Hitler to lost 500,000 soldiers. -
Pearl Harbor
The Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, a US military base located in Hawaii. This marks the beginning of the Pacific battle in the WW2, and US's unvolvement in the war. -
US declares war on Japan
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the US joins the WW2 as a part of the Allies and the US and Great Britain declare war on Japan. -
Hitler Declares War on US
Because Japan had joined the Axis powers, Hitler declares war on the United States. -
Doolittle's Raid on Japan
Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle bombed Tokyo and other cities. Even though the damage done was minimal, it raised American moreals and convinced people that the Japanese were not invulnerable. -
Battle of Coral Sea
US navy fough the Japanese, and even though the Allies suffered more damage but it was something of a victory, since the US was successful in stopping Japanese expansion. IN this battle, neither navy fought directly, but attacked each other by dropping bombs on them via ariplanes. -
Battle of Midway
The Japanese attacked the island of Midway (near Hawaii) but the US had already known about this. Before the Japanese could attack, US attacked them, and the attack crippled the Japanese forces and caused them to retreat. After this attack, the Allies took on the offensive -
Battle of El Alamein
The Allied forces decided to take back control of North Africa, and sent troops to Egypt. The Germans had positioned themselves in an Egyptian village called El Alamain. IN Novermber 4, the Allies claimed victory. From here, the Allies proceeded to take ove Italy. -
Battle of Guadalcanal
When the US learned that the Japanese were building an airbase in Guadalcanal, they attacked. In the end, Japanese retreated, and began to call this island, "the island of death". -
Battle of Stalingrad
When Hitler couldn’t conquer Moscow or Leningrad, he sent troops to Stalingrad. The city was heavily destroyed by bombs, but Stalin told his generals to protect the city named after him to their death. Although the Germans had been winning, the Soviets attacked on Nov. 19 from outside and trapped the Germans inside the city. The Germans surrender on Feb 2, 1943. -
Operation Torch
This was an operation where Allies, led by Eisenhower, landed in Algeria and Morocco after the Germans fled from the Battle of El Alamein. This battle caught the Germans between two fronts in Egypt, and eliminated German forces form Africa. -
Invasion of Italy
The Allied forces now turn their attention to Italy. The land on Sicily, and capture it in a month. They overthrow Mussolini, but when the Germans counterattacked, Mussolini was put back in power. -
Allies Take Over Rome
After their fighting within Italy, the Allies march into Rome. However, the fight in Italy doesn't end until Germany's surrender in 1945. -
D-Day Invasion
The Allies planned an attack against Hitler. But in order to throw off the Germans, they set up troops in the south of France, while the actual attack was in Normandy. The invasion was successful, and the Allies advanced toward Paris. This showed that Hitler wasn't unstoppable. -
Battle of Leyte Gulf
Douglas MacArthur, who was ordered away from Leyte, returned to the Philippines. Within 4 days of fighting with the advancing Allied troops, Japanese navy had lost disastrously, and the Us had eliminated the Japanese navy as an opposing force in the war. -
Battle of the Bulge
As the Allies avdanced on two fronts ( US, France and UK were pushing Germany back form the West, and the USSR was pushing from the East) Hitler tried to break through the attack. His attack pushed through the Allied defense, but Germany was forced to retreat even furthur, as the attack was not successful enough. -
Battle of Okinawa
American troops moved into Okinawa from Iwo Jima. The Japanese fought hard, but in June 21, the battle ended, with Japanese losing 100,000 troops -
Hiroshima Bombing
US decided to use Atomic bombs on Japan because they felt that it was the quickest way to end the war. Truman warned the Japanese government that unless they surrendered, the US will use the atomic bombs. But the Japanese did not answer, and the US dropped an atomic bomb in Hiroshima. -
Nagasaki Bombing
Because Japan had still not surrendered after the atomic bombing of Hirpshima, the Us dropped another atomic bomb in Nagasaki. The Japanese soon surrendered after this attack. -
Japan Surrenders
Japan surrenders, and the second World War comes to a close.
