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Nazi Invasion of Poland
Often considered to be the spark that ignited World War II, German and Russian armies advanced into Poland with intents to capture and control the country one week after the signing of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact between the two superpowers. Two days later, based on foreign pacts with the nation, both France and the United Kingdom delcared war on Germany, who indicated violent relations with Poland. Despite several defense efforts, the Polish lands were divided and annexed by Germany and Russia. -
Period: to
World War II
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British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain Resigns/ Is Replaced By Winston Churchill
Because of the failing tactic of British prime minister Neville Chamberlain involving an appeasement policy in concerns with the escalating World War II, the English ruler, having disappointed countless citizens who supported his attempts at maintaining peace, stepped down from his seat. Winston Churchill took over his command thereafter. Until that later period of his term, Chamberlain was widely considered a marvelous leader both before and during the eight months of war he is associated with. -
The Tripartite Pact Creating The Axis Signed
The Tripartite Pact, a document signed by Adolf Hitler, Galeazzo Ciano, and Saburo Kurusa, was a significant document that triggered Allied defenses and ultimately heightened the importance on the world for all of civilization. This treaty established Germany, Italy, and Japan as the head of Axis forces and officially unified them and their efforts. It also stated that the three countries would combine military, economic, and political rule to install a new order for all of humanity in its path. -
U.S. Declares War On Japan/Enters WWII
It only took a minimal amount of time - one day - after the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor for the United States to declare war on the Axis nation, unite with Allied forces, and solidify its fundamental role in the progression and termination of what truly evolved into a World War. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the declaration soon after the devastating bombing, which destroyed four naval ships and killed over 2400 soliders, occurred, although the U.S. naval fleet was wounded. -
British Bomb Cologne
The German city of Cologne was bombed 262 separate times by Allied squads, most notably those of the British army. May 30 marks the beginning of the initial raid, codenamed Operation Millennium in reference to the number of bombs dropped. Although merely between 469 and 486 were killed (58 of whom were military personnel) thanks to the raid, thousands of residents were displaced, and the attack became the first in a series of 1,000-bomber Allied raids to threaten the Nazi Germany. -
Mussolini Overthrown In Italy
Failures at defending his nation after Allied troops stormed Sicily beaches and forced Italy to surrender caused former Fascist colleagues to capture and imprison Fascist ruler Benito Mussolini. After a signed armistice with the Allies in September and a German government takeover, Mussolini was rescued and placed into a limited position of power. This could not protect him, his family, and several of his followers, however, from brutal murder and torture by Italian partisans on April 28, 1945. -
Soviet Troops Liberate Kiev
The liberation occured as a result of over two and a half months of battle between the Soviet Red and German armies. In an effort to prevent Russian forces from access to their colonies, the Nazis planned to develop the Panther Line, a wall of defense stretching across much of Russia; the capital of Ukraine, Kiev, would become a prominent city in construction, despite complaints. Stalin's forces, however, attacked before the wall's creation and emancipated several vital cities, including Kiev. -
D-Day Occurs
Declared to be the turning point of World War II in favor of the Allies, this often violently depicted day produced five different battles off several coasts of France. It has been considered to be one of the riskiest military plans crafted during the war; the date for the stormings were argued profusely amongst Allie leaders, and the day designated was given unfavorable forecasts. Nonetheless, the battles ensued, and while thousands were massacred, the Allies emerged victorious in every battle. -
Hitler Commits Suicide
Nazi-Germany dictator Adolf Hitler commits suicide, although several historians suspect that he was, in fact, murdered or was forced into taking his own life. He died of a bullet wound in the head in a bunker beneath his headquarters in Berlin. After growing increasingly mentally unstable for approxiamately a month prior to his death, Hitler appointed Admiral Karl Donitz as the new head of state in his last testaments. Eight days after his demise, German forces issued an unconditional surrender. -
First Atomic Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima, Japan
The United States drops Little Boy, an atomic bomb, onto the unwary Japanese city of Hiroshima. This was the first atomic bomb ever utilized in military action and one of two dropped by the United States. Thousands were massacred, and radioactive poison exists to this day in that city. Eight days later, Japan unconditionally surrendered to the Allies, and many suspect that the nuclear attack posed the main reasoning behind the country's decision, which ultimately helped in ending the 6 year war.
