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Japan Invades Manchuria
Manchuria was rich in iron and coal. This attack was the first direct challenge to the League of Nations. The League of Nations protested against Japan expanding, but they ignored them. -
Japan withdrawls from the League of Nations
Seen as an act of defiance and shocking people around the world, Japan withdraws from the League of Nations because they were blamed for events in Manchuria. -
Japan invades China
Defying a treaty written in 1922, Japan breaks their promise to respect China’s borders. Coming in from the north, Japan’s better equipped and trained soldiers defeated China’s millions of soldiers. Beijing, other northern cities, and China’s capital of Nanjing fell to the Japanese in May 1936. -
Hitler invades the Rhineland
German troops invade the Rhineland. This place being the border between France and Germany, France didn’t want to anger Germany. Thinking to avoid another war, Britain and France didn’t stop Hitler and urged appeasement. Hitler later stated that if Britain and France would have done anything to try and stop him, he would have backed down. https://15frocha.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/hitler-invades-rhineland/ -
Nanjing Massacre
Japanese soldiers murdered tens of thousands of seized soldiers and innocent civilians in Nanjing. China’s official army leader, Jiang Jieshi, was forced to retreat westward and set the new capital at Chongqing. An independent army of Chinese citizens led by China’s Communist leader, Mao Zedong, remained fighting the Japanese in the triumphed area. The League’s failure to stop Japanese expansion encourage other European Fascists. -
Germany invades Poland
Pursuing their non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union, Germany invaded Poland using their new war tactic called blitzkrieg. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Poland -
France and Britain declare war on Germany
Germany attacking Poland was the last straw with France and Britain. Unfortunately, Poland fell under Germany’s control before France or Britain could take any military action. http://www.tomatobubble.com/id570.html -
Germany attacks Denmark and Norway
In the middle of their “sitting war” with France and Britain, Germany launched a surprise attack on Denmark and Norway. It took only four hours for Denmark to fall under German control, however Norway took two months. Germany set up bases along the Norwegian and Danish coasts, giving them access to launch an attack on Great Britain. http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-1940-evening-standard-london-front-page-reporting-germany-invades-72278480.html -
German forces take Paris
Germans defeat france’s crumbling forces, leading to france’s inevitable surrender. -
The Axis Alliance is formed
Originally, Italy had formed an alliance with Germany, known as the Pact of Steel, on May 22nd, 1939. However, the Tripartite Pact overrode the Pact of Steel when Japan joined the alliance. http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Axis_Powers_in_World_War_II -
Germany helps the Italians
Shocked when Britain fought back, Germany had to help their struggling allies. General Erwin Rommel, head of the Afrika Korps, finally took Tobrok, Libra after back and forth fighting with Great Britain. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/italian-campaign -
Germany attacks the Soviet Union
Even though they were successful with Leningrad, the Germans weren’t prepared to fight in snow at Moscow. Hitler ordered a “No Retreat!” when troops tried to back down, causing a total of 500,000 German lives lost and no gain for Hitler. http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2011/07/world-war-ii-operation-barbarossa/100112/ -
Germany attacks America
A German U-boat attacked a U.S. destroyer in the Atlantic while the destroyer was helping a British ship carry U.S. arms to Great Britain. President Roosevelt then ordered navy commanders to shoot any German submarines in sight. This started an undeclared naval war between the United States and Hitler. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II -
Japan bombs Pearl Harbor
Early in the morning, Japan bombs Pearl Harbor. More than 2,300 Americans were killed and 27 American ships were sunk. http://www.enkivillage.com/why-did-japan-attack-pearl-harbor.html
