-
Stalin's rise to power
Stalin rose to power as General Secretary of the Comminust Party, then becoming Soviet dictator shortly after Lenin's death. He was the leader of the Red Army, and helped defeat the Nazis during WW2. -
Mussolini's rise to power
Mussoline created the Fascist Party in Italy, and declared himself dictator before WW2. In 1922, as Prime Minister, he promised the Italy he would restore order, giving him authority. He was a complete dictator by 1925. -
Japan invades Manchuria
This invasion lasted five months, and ended with a Japanese victory. Their occupation here lasted until the end on WW2. -
January 28 Incident
This was an attck on Shanghai, China by Japan using a flare-up. This fighting lasted about three months. A ceasefire agreement was signed on May 5. -
Hitler's Rise to Power
This was the day Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany, marking the first step to his rise to power. Germany was in desperate times, so he was appointed. By 1938, Hitler had begun demolishing the Jews. -
Tojo's rise to power
In this year, General Tojo was appointed major general and from then on he becomes more and more powerful. He was appointed head of Military Police in 1935, then Prime Minister in 1941. -
Italy's conquest of Ethiopia
This was a total war between Italy, Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), and the League of Nations. Italy was forced to surrender in the end. -
Spanish Civil War
This was civil war (1936-1939) between the Republicans, who fought for the democratic Spanish Republic, and the Nationalists, led by Francisco Franco. The Nationalists won, and Franco ruled Spain for 36 years after that, from 1939 until he died in 1975. -
Rome-Berlin Axis formed
This was a treaty formed in 1936 between Italy and Germany. It was an agreement created by Italy’s foreign minister Galeazzo Ciano informally linking the two countries, both of which were fascist. -
Ani-Comintern Pact signed
This pact was signed by Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany. It was against communism and Russia. -
Japan invades China
This full scale war was called the Second Sino, lasting eight years and two months. As a result, the Chinese were victorious after Japan's surrender. This also resulted in China becoming a permanent member of the UNSC (United Nations Security Council). -
Annexing of Austria
This event was also called the Anschluss. It was when German troops marched into the country of Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. -
Nazi-Soviet nonaggression act
Before WW2 broke out in Europe, the two enemies (Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union) signed the Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact, stating that neither of the two countries would take military action against each other for the next 10 years. -
Poland Attacked
Also known as the September Campaign, the attack on Poland was an invasion by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a Slovak contingent that marked the beginning of World War II in Europe. -
Winston Churchill's rise to power
On this day, Churchill became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He led Britian's fight aganst Germany in WW2. He was well known for his speeches. -
Battle of Britain
This was the first major campaign to be fought by only air forces. It as also the largest and most continuous aerial bombing operation to that time. -
Tripartite Pact signed
This pact was also called the Berlin Pact. It was angreement betwen Italy, Japan, and Germany by Hitler, Ciano, and Kurusu. This was propaganda directed at the US. This pact created the Axis Alliance. -
Germany and the Axis Powers attack Russia
Also known as Operation Barbarossa, this was a massive attack on Russia with a force of over four million troops. This battle lasted five months, with a Soviet victory, despite huge losses in men and land. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
This was a surprise military attack by the Japanese Navy against the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. According to the defenders, 353 fighter planes, bombers, and torpedo planes from Japan attacked the base. -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was one of the most important battles of World War II. It was the turning point of the war in the Pacific between Japan and the US. The battle took place over four days. -
Allies invade and take over Sicily
Codenamed Operation Husky, this was a military battle in which the allies took Sicily from the Axis powers (Italy and Germany). The battle began with the air forces and was followed by 6 weeks of land combat. This event launced the Italian campaign. -
Battle of Stalingrad
Ending in February of 1943, this was a major battle in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for power over Stalingrad (now Volgograd), a city in Southern Russia, on the eastern boundary of Europe. Unprepared, the Germans had to face the winter, with temperatures well below zero. There was a shortage of supply for ammunition and heat, causing Germany to surrender, -
D-Day
On this day, Allied Forces of Britain, America, Canada, and France attacked German forces on the coast of Normandy, France. This was known as the largest seaborne invasion in history. The allied forced were victorious. -
Liberation of Paris
Also named the Battle of Paris, this was a military conflict that consisted of the capture and liberation of Paris from Germany. The German surrendered the French capital on August 25th, six days after. -
Battle of the Bulge
This was a battle started by the Germans, and also the largest battle ever fought by the US Army. The battle lasted one month, and during that, an estimated 500,000 German, 600,000 American and 55,000 British troops became involved. Germany lost in the end. -
Death of Roosevelt
America's longest serving president died on this day by a cerebral hemorrhage. This event happened at 1PM while he was surrounded by family and friends. -
Hitler commits suicide
Knowing Germany lost the war, the dictator took his life on this day in his underground bunker. His wife Eva had also committed suicide along with him that day. His remains were burned. -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
On this day, President Harry S. Truman oredered that a five-ton bomb be dropped over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. It immediately killed 80,000 people. Thousands more died in the weeks after from wounds and radiation poisoning. Another bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki three days later, killing around 40,000 more people. Japan surrendered days after. -
V-E Day
V-E day was called Victory in Europe Day because it officially announced the end of WW2 in Europe. The police reported that there was barely any criminal activity throughout the day despite the loud celebrations of the people in the city. -
V-J Day
This wa the day Japan announced its world-wide surrender, ending WW2. The surrender took place aboard the USS Missouri, anchored in Tokyo Bay. August 14 and 15 are both known as "Victory over Japan Day."
