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King Alfonso XIII flees Spain
King Alfonso XII of Spain ruled from 1886-1931. He fled the country in 1931 due to the uprising of a Republican-Socialist government that threatened the monarchy. The uprising of this new government destroyed the Monarchy that had ruled Spain since the late 1400's. Spain began a revolution that would last until just before World War II -
Japan occupies Manchuria
An explosion occurred at a railroad in the city of Mukden. This railroad was owned by the Japanese and they blamed the Chinese for the explosion so they retaliated and invaded Manchuria. After a few months, the Japanese had completely run the region since the Chinese army was untrained. Manchuria contained oil, rubber, and other resources that Japan did not have and needed because of the Depression in Japan. The League of Nations lost much of their credibility due to this invasion. -
First Neutrality Act
The first of the Neutrality Acts prohibited the trade of arms and other war materials to warring countries. The act also declared that citizens traveling in war zones and on war ships did so "at their own risk". It's noted that Franklin D. Roosevelt opposed the act, but was pressured by the strong opinion of the people and Congress to sign it. -
Italy invades Ethiopia
Under Benito Mussolini, the Italians invaded Ethiopia on October 3, 1935. The purpose was to increase the power of the Italian nation. Most of the Ethiopians had outdated equipment for war and were defeated. Also Great Britain and France did not intervene at this time because they were hoping that Italy would stay allied with them over Germany. The war between these two nations continued on for most of the war, and ended around 1941. -
Germany Occupies Rhineland
Hitler sends German troops into the Rhineland, a demilitarized zone along the Rhine river in Germany. This was a move that directly violated the Versailles Treaty that was signed after WWI, as the treaty called for the demilitarization of the Rhineland and Germany’s troops to be reduced to almost nothing. The presence of German troops in the Rhineland shifted the balance of power away from countries such as France and Britain. -
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Spanish Civil War
A new Republican-Socialist government formed under Manuel Anzaña. Anzaña’s administration focused on land reform which included taking land from the Catholic Church. After an uprising, a pro-fascist military group led by Francisco Franco fought against the Republicans for control of Spain. Franco gained support and supplies from fascist Germany and Italy, while Anzañas gained support from the Soviet Union. The Fascists won the war and ruled until 1975. -
Neutrality Act
The Neutrality Act of 1937 allowed warring an war-prone countries to purchase any goods from the United States except for war materials such as arms. This was done as a safety measure to prevent further conflict overseas. -
The Nanking Massacre
The Nanking Massacre began on December 13, 1937 and continued for six weeks. The Imperial Japanese army invaded Nanking, the capital of Nationalist China, and killed thousands of people. The event is also called the Rape of Nanking because between 20,000 and 80,000 women were sexually assaulted by the Japanese troops. It is estimated that between 200,000 to 300,000 people died before the assault was called off in January 1938, when the Japanese declared that order had been returned to the city. -
Germany occupies Austria
On March 12, 1938 Nazis soldiers marched into Austria. The following day annexation or Anschluss was declared and Austria became a part of Germany. A large number of Austrians, many who were ethnic Germans, were enthusiastic about Germany's take over. Austria remained under German control until the end of the war. -
The Munich Pact
A failed act of appeasement between Germany and the major European powers when Germany invaded Czechoslovakia. A conference occurred in Munich, however Czechoslovakia and the Soviet union were not invited. France, Italy, and Britain all allowed Germany to occupy the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia. While Czechoslovakia had an official alliance with France, Britain, and the Soviet Union, neither of these countries felt that protecting Czechoslovakia was necessary. -
Germany occupies Czechoslovakia
As part of appeasement foreign policy, the Munich Pact had authorized Germany to annex the region of Czechoslovakia where Germans and the German language were common, the Sudetenland. However, Hitler overstepped the limits of that by annexing the whole country - after taking that region, he successfully threatened Czechoslovakia's president with the bombing of Prague to gain free entry of German troops into Czechoslovakia. Then he declared a protectorate over Moravia and Bohemia. -
Germany Invades Poland
After Hitley overstepped the Munich Pact by taking all of Czechoslovakia, France and Britain reacted by guaranteeing the integrity of the Polish state. Hitler’s response was the German-Soviet Pact of August 25 1939, which had a secret clause that divided Poland between the two, allowing Germany to invade Poland without fear of Soviet Union intervention, which it did on September 1, 1939. Within weeks, the Polish army was defeated thanks to Hitler’s trademark Blitzkrieg method of warfare. -
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World War II
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Cash-and-Carry Act
The policy of "cash and carry" originally allowed the selling of non-warfare materials to warring countries as long as they paid immediately in cash and provided the transportation for the goods. Franklin D. Roosevelt, however, expanded the policy in 1939 to include arms. -
Cash and Carry Act
A Neutrality act first passed in 1937. The 1939 Neutrality Act, President Roosevelt succeeded in renewing “cash-and-carry” and expanding the policy to include arms sales. Loans to the warring nations were still prohibited in the Act and American ships still were not allowed to “carry” the weapons to foreign ports. Cash-and-carry would be expanded further in the months prior to the U.S. entering the war. -
France Surrenders
Hitler’s blitzkrieg of France began on May 10, 1940. By June 14, 1940, the French had abandoned Paris and the Nazis were able to conquer the city with no resistance. After this defeat, French Prime Minister Marshal Henri Petain announced his intention to sign an armistice with the Nazis. The French surrendered on June 17, 1940, and, on June 22, signed the armistice, which gave the Germans permission to occupy two thirds of France and said that the French must bear the cost of Germany's invasion. -
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain ( July 10, 1940 – October 31, 1940) was a German air attack against the United Kingdom. Nazi Germany’s objective was to get Britain to negotiate a peace settlement. The German planes targeted British ports and airfields. The Royal Air Force of Britain fought against the German planes, and suffered much less causalities, 544 to 2,698. This battle marked Hitler’s first major defeat and shifted American opinion on the strength of Britain. -
Four Freedoms Speech
President Franklin D, Roosevelt addressed this speech to Congress in an effort to move the United States of American away from foreign polcy of neutrality. He insisted that people in all nations of the world have the ability to share the same four freedoms that Americans are blessed with. These four freedoms being freedom of speech and expression, freedom to worship the God that you choose in any way that you choose, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. -
Lend-Lease instituted
The Lend-Lease Act expanded the powers of the U.S. government, especially those of the president. Originally created to aid Great Britain, it was eventually expanded to also assist China and the Soviet Union. The Lend-Lease Act gave Roosevelt unlimited authority to sell and/or transport weapons and war products (essentially, whatever and to whomever he wished) overseas while remaining neutral. In order to promote the LLA, FDR used propaganda and coined America as the "Arsenal of Democracy." -
Germany invades the Soviet union
Under the code name Operation "Barbarossa", this was the largest Germany operation of WW1. In August of 1939, the Germans and the Soviet Union had signed a non-aggression pact but Hitler viewed this as a temporary taactical maneuver. On December 18, 1940, Hitler signed the Directive 21. This was the first operational order for invasion of the Soviet Union. On June 22, 134 divisions at full strenth invaded the Soviet Union. Over 3 million German were there and roughly 650,000 troops from allies. -
The Atlantic Charter Signed
The Atlantic Charter was a postwar policy statement that stated the Allied goals for the post-war world. The charter was drafted by Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt at the Atlantic Conference in Newfoundland. It was issued on August 14, 1941. The Atlantic Charter strengthened Britain and America’s bond as well as issue policies on the Axis powers. 8 principle points were also made to set rules for the world and nation to nation interaction. -
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U.S. Involvement
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The Battle of Bataan
Forces of the Imerial Japanese Arm and Navy invaded Luzon along with several islands in the Philippie Archipelago after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. After 3 long months of battle this was the largest surrender in American and Filipino military histories. 75,000 Filipino and American troops on Bataan were forced to make an arduous 65-mile march to prison camps. Thousands perished and it became known as the Bataan Death March. -
Doolittle's Tokyo Raid
A group of 80 men led by Jimmy Doolittle raided and bombed Japan. There were safe zones in China for the men. Guam, Wake, Hong Kong, and Singapore were all successfully taken down, Tokyo being bombed as well. It was the only operation that US Army Air Force bombers were launched from aircraft into combat. All men were volunteers since the attack was very dangerous. -
Dolittle's Tokyo Raid
Doolittle's Raid was an air raid by the United States of America on the Japanese capital Tokyo and other places on Honshu island during the world war. It was one of a sequence of raids on the island before the atomic bomb -
Battle of Midway
On the Battle of Midway the United States defeated Japan in one of the most decisive naval battles of World War II. Partially because of major advances in code breaking, the United States was able to preempt and counter Japan’s planned ambush of its few remaining aircraft carriers, inflicting permanent damage on the Japanese Navy. An important turning point in the Pacific campaign, the victory allowed the United States and its allies to move into an offensive position. -
The Battle of Guadalcanal
This was a series of land and sea clashes between the Allies and the Japanese. Which also accounted for the first major offensive and decisive victory for the Allies in the Pacific theater. There were Japanese troops stationed in the Solomon Islands, U.S. marines launched a surprise attack & took control of an air base under construction. Reinforcements were sent to the island and both sides heavily endured losses, but Japan had much greater losses and were forced to withdrawal from Guadalcana. -
Battle of El Alemein 2
German - British battle near the settlement of El Alemein in Egypt where the British greatly outnumbered the Germans. Operated by Bernard Law Montgomery , the british front line proved too overwhelming for the Germans which led to them winning the battle. -
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Second Battle of El Alamein
Major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War.
This victory turned the tide in the North African Campaign and ended the Axis threat to Egypt, the Suez Canal, and of gaining access to the Middle Eastern and Persian oil fields via North Africa.
revived the morale of the Allies, being the first major offensive against the Axis since the start of the European war in 1939.
Took place near Egyptian railway of El Alamein. -
Operation Torch
Invasion of French North Africa by British American Forces. This was done to regain control captured by German troops in the provincial part to deterr further German expansion. -
Operation Torch
British and Americans joined together against the French to invade North Africa . The landing was a key part of the success of this mission. Casablanca, Oran and Algiers were the three beaches that the operation would commense at. The three “tasks” central, western, and eastern were all eventually successful. Casablanca had minimal resistance while oran struggles due to shallow waters, but managed to be successful as well as Algiers. They were able to force French forces further away. -
Italy Capitulates
On this date Italy surrendered, Mussolini was not killed until 1945 , the new leader had begun associating with Roosevelt a few weeks back and assumed power and Mussolini went into hiding -
Battle of Anzio
Lasted to June 5, 1944
The Battle of Anzio stemmed from the Allied attempt to draw German troops off the Gustav Line in Operation Shingle. An expeditionary force secured a beachhead near Anzio on Italy’s west coast, but the Germans quickly contained U.S. divisions. A succession of attacks resulted in heavy casualties on both sides, though no budge in the stalemate for four months. The Allies finally broke out of the beachhead in late May, facilitating the advance that led to the capture of Rome. -
D-Day
D-Day was the invasion of Normandy, France. This was the first major offensive attack into the mainland of Europe by the Allied Forces. D-Day was the first attempt to liberate the French. It was also the first amphibious landing of its scale. -
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Battle of Leyte Gulf
The Battle of Leyte Gulf is considered the biggest naval battle of World War II. On October 23, the Allies invaded the Philippine island, Leyte, in an attempt to isolate Japan from the countries it occupied in Southeast Asia, which were providing many valuable natural resources to Japan. The Imperial Japanese Navy mobilized nearly all of its remaining naval vessels during this battle. After the Allies' victory, Japan’s naval capabilities were severely crippled and its oil supply was limited. -
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was one last major German offensive campaign which went from December 16th, 1944 until January 25th, 1945. The goal of this offensive attack was to break the Allied lines and cause them to withdraw from the war. The Battle of the Bulge, although initially successful for the Germans, turned out to be a major failure. -
Yalta Conference
The meeting of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. These 3 leaders agreed for Germany's unconditional surrender and post war measures. -
Yalta Conference
Franklin Roosevelt, Joseph Stalin, and Winston Churchill met up and made future decisions about the postwar world and discussed major strategic moves against the Japanese in the Pacific war. They all agreed that France should have some authority with governing Germany postwar, and Germany should assume the majority of responsibility for postwar reconstrution. Initial reactions to the Yalta Conference gave hope to individuals seeking cooperation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. -
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Battle of Iwo Jima
The American amphibious invasion of Iwo Jima during World War II came from the need for a base near the Japanese coast. Following elaborate preparatory air and naval bombing, three U.S. marine divisions landed on the island. Iwo Jima was defended by the Japanese army and navy troops. Despite the difficulty of the conditions, the marines wiped out the defending forces after a month of fighting, and the battle earned a place in American culture with the picture showing the U.S. flag being raised. -
Postdam Conference
Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Truman met and negotiated terms for the end of the world war. -
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Battle of Okinawa
Last and biggest of the Pacific island battles of World War II, the Battle of Okinawa involved 287,000 troops of the U.S. Tenth Army against 130,000 soldiers of the Japanese Thirty-second Army. At stake were air bases vital to the projected invasion of Japan. By the end of the 82-day campaign, Japan had lost more than 77,000 soldiers and the Allies had suffered more than 65,000 casualties, including 14,000 dead. -
Roosevelet Dies
His death by hemmorhage marked the end of his presidential term and worried many Americans fearing their strive to win the way is dead but in reality the war ended upon itself. -
Death of FDR
On April 12th, 1945, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt died after suffering a stroke. He was actually posing for a portrait when he collapsed, now famously known as the "Unfinished Portrait of FDR." President Harry S. Truman took over for FDR, who was in his 4th term. Eventually, Truman dropped the atomic bombs on Japan, and ultimately helped end World War II. Roosevelt's legacy marks him as one of America's greatest Presidents. -
The Fall of Berlin
Stalin releasing his massive relegated army into trying to capture Berlin marked the beggining of the end of Hitler's 3rd Reich. itt was soon followed by Hitler's suicide and German surrender due to the soviet's going door to door in the German capital -
Mussolini Dies
Executed Publicly by hanging, his death marked the withdrawal of Italy from the war with their idol being spit on publicly. -
Death of Benito Mussolini
On April 28th, 1945, Benito Mussolini was executed after being captured by a group of communist partisans in northern Italy the previous day. The exact timeline of events leading to his capture and execution are disputed. However, his death led to the fall of the fascist party in Italy, and ended most of Italy's involvement of World War II. -
HItler Dies
Hitler's commited suicide in an underground bunker followed by a siege of the United States influenced the German surrender. The Berlin attack by the U.S influenced him to kill himself to deterr any shame. -
Hitler's Death
Hitler took his own life on April 30th 1945 in his furher bunker in berlin as he became surrounded. different accounts state the cause of death but the general accepted cause is a self inflected bullet wound -
Fall of Berlin
Final major offensive of WWII.
Soviets attacked the Germans on 3 fronts, east, south, and north.
Soviets prepared by encircling Berlin after their victories at Seelow Heights and Halbe.
Most of the German’s units were disorganized.
Hitler suicided before the end of the war.
Although Berlin surrendered in the 2nd of May, fighting continued until 8th of May at the northwest, west and southwest of Berlin (Germans wanted to surrender to the Western Allies instead of the Soviets). -
V-E Day
Victory in Europe Day or V-E Day was a formal holiday celebrating the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany's armed forces. It marked the end of the European part of World War II and was celebrated throughout the world. From Moscow to Los Angeles people flooded the streets to rejoice the victory over the Nazi's. -
Potsdam Conference
Harry Truman, Joseph Stalin, and Winston Churchill met up in the summer after Germany surrendered on May 8th, 1945 to determine postwar borders of Europe.The Allies were still committed to fighting in the Pacific war, but there was difficulty reaching a consensus based on postwar reconstruction in Europe. Although FDR was in support of having Germany take the majority of the blame, Harry Truman feared a deterioration in the German economy would lead to the uprising of another violent faction. -
Bombing of Hiroshima
For several months in 1945, the United States dropped leaflets on Japan warning of aerial bombing raids on cities. However, on August 6, 1945, without warning, the Enola Gay dropped the "Little Boy" on Hiroshima. The city was chosen for its industrial production, headquarters of a regional Japanese military command, and large stockpile of military supplies. 70-80 thousand people were killed, and another 70,000 seriously injured. Three days later, Nagasaki experieced a similar fate. -
Bombing of Nagasaki
During the final stages of WWII, in an attempt to end the war for good, the United states dropped a plutonium implosion-type atomic bomb named Fat Man at the city of Nagasaki on August 9th, 1945. The bombing in Nagasaki took the lives of between 39,000-80,000 people. Around half the deaths happened on the day of the bombing; large numbers of people died in the following months due to burns and radiation sickness. Six days after the bombing of Nagasaki, Japan has announced its surrender. -
V-J Day
Victory over Japan Day, V-J Day, occured on August 15, 1945 when Japan accounced their unconditional surrender to the allies. This marked the end to the long and bloody conflict of World War II and crowds of people took to the street in celebration throughout the Allied Nations. This day can also be used for September2, 1945 when Japan formal surrender took place on the U.S.S Missouri.
