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Japan Becomes More Democratic
During the 1920s, Japan agreed to respect China's borders, and signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact declaring war. However, Japan's parliamentary system had many weakness. It limited the abilities of the prime minister and cabinet, and lessened civilian leaders' power over armed forces. Through its weak government system, Japan began turning to a democratic government. -
Militarists Take Control of Japan
Prior to the Great Depression, the Japanese lost faith in their government, and began turning to military leaders. Unlike other nations, the militarialists focused on restoring power to the military. They used foreign expansion to mend country’s economic crisis, and set eyes on making a Pacific empire that would produce supplies and markets for good, and provide more room for the increasing population. In this way, Japan disrupted world stability, and challenged world peace. -
Hitler is Appointed Chancellor
In January 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed the chancellor of Germany by president Paul Von Hindenberg. This meant that Hitler was now the head of the government. The appointing of Hitler as chancellor meant that he now had the support of Germans, which helped create the foundation Hitler needed to rise higher in power. -
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Major Causes of World War 2
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Hitler's Names Himself Führer
On August 2, shortly after German president Paul Von Hindenberg's death, Hitler declared himself the absolute ruler of Germany. Hitler's declaration as the fuhrer stands for Hitler's first grasp of power, and a chance to finally step up and carry out his plans. -
Violation of the Treaty of Versailles
Breaking the Treaty of Versailles had been one of Hitler's major goals even before he came to power. After rising as dictator of Germany, he saw his chance. In 1935, he started rebuilding and strengthening the German army, contradicting the Treaty of Versailles, which forbid Germany from building any military sources. By building an army, he was able to prepare for war. -
Hitler Passes Nuremberg Race Laws
Not long after Hitler declared himself Führer, he passed a set of rules, called the Nuremberg Race Laws. These laws rid German Jews of any rights they had. Though these rules did not even make sense, Hitler insisted that the Jew "race" was a disgrace to and contaminated German blood. Believe it or not, the Germans went along with Hitler's word, proving that he had truly gained the trust of his country. This ensured that people were willing to follow Hitler's leadership, even if it meant war. -
Germany Invades Rhineland
Hitler took his next step by invading Rhineland. The remilitarization of Rhineland was another act the Treaty of Versaiiles forbade to do. Hitler had violated the treaty once again, and since neither Britain nor France took action to stop it, Hitler gained more strength. This eventually led to more future invasions of other nations. -
Germany Aids Spanish in Civil War
In July 1936, Hitler sent 26 fighter aircrafts, 30 Junkers 52s, 15,000 troops, and four tank companies to aid Spain in their civil war. Hitler supported this war, because it gave him a chance to test his military leaders as well as weapons and war tactics. It also opened possibility of an alliance with Italy, who was another supporter of the dispute. -
Countries Call For Munich Conference
In 1938, a total of five countries attended the Munich Conference; Russia, Germany, Italy, Britain, and France. The meeting was held to confront Hitler about German remilitarizination in Rhineland. Hitler claimed that if he was granted control over the Sudetenland, then further German expansion would stop. Britain and France agreed to this proposal, and eventually appeased Germany. This led to even more conflicts; it was just another one of Hitler's schemes in order to obtain Czechoslovakia. -
Hitler Takes Czechoslovakia
Hitler broke his promise with Britain and France soon after the Munich Conference, by taking Czechoslovakia. The Czechs were very weak, and soon enough the country was in the hands of Germany. This invasion symbolized Hitler's determination to make Germany a world power, even if it meant making promises he would soon shatter. -
Hitler Signs Pact of Steel with Mussolini
In May 1939, Hitler signed the Steel Pact with Mussolini, establishing a friendship with Italy. With this pact, Hitler also gained an alliance, and no longer had to face the lonliness of fighting alone. He gained more and more confidence to progress foward. -
Germany Shakes Hands with Russia
In 1939, Hitler signed the Non-Aggression Pact with Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union. The two countries agreed that they would never attack each other. They also made a secret agreement to split up Poland after invading it. Though they were once bitter enemies, Stalin saw Hitler's increasing power, and being a power-hungry dictator himself, decided to support Hitler. Now, Germany and Italy were both targeting towards war, as Italy became a new threat to Britain and France's attempts for world. -
Nazis Invade Poland
As planned, on September 1, Hitler leads his army into Poland borders. Stalin takes his troops across the eastern border, and Hitler uses his abundant source of fast, new, and effective weapons into forcing Poland into a quick defeat. The invasion of Poland is incredibly significant in causing the war, as it served as “the last straw” in finally drawing Britain and France’s attention. For once, Britain and France didn’t use appeasement, and took action. -
Lightning War (Blitzkrieg)
Hitler’s incredible source of fast, new, and effective weapons destroyed Poland’s transportation, factories, army, air force, and others. Poland faces a quick defeat. -
It's Finally War
Prior to the German invasion of Poland, Britain, France, Australia, and New Zealand declare war on Germany. The declaration of war is devastating to Britain and France, especially since they’d tried all methods in preventing world disputes, and maintaining peace. -
British Royal Air Force attacks the German Navy
This event marks the start of the war, and the end of appeasement. -
Neutrality Act
Prior to the declaration of World War 2, the United States claimed its neutrality, refusing to take sides. This clearly showed how the US didn't want any involvement in the war. -
Fall of France
Hitler starts by taking France down first. He knew France was weak, afraid, and not prepared to attack. They made the French army think the fighting was going to take place in Belgium. Mussolini also sent troops to fight against the French. The defeat of France stated that Germany was putting the world back in the way they wanted to prior to World War 1. -
Battle of Britain
On July 11, 1940, Hitler launched Operation Sea Lion, aka the invasion of Britain. Britain had certain advantages, such as the determination of the country and radar systems. Radio waves could detect aircrafts and indicate distance and with regular transmissions, find speed and height of any approaching aircrafts.The results of the Bombing of London were extremely effective, because Hitler actually withdrew temporarily, due to the numerous aircrafts he'd lost. -
Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor (During+After)
On Dec 7, Japan positioned a tank force 275 miles north of Hawaii. They also sent 51 dive bombers, 40 torpedo bombers, and 43 escorting fighters. Though they were spotted on U.S. radar screens, US technicians were poorly trained, and couldn't figure out Japan's new technology systems. The US was outraged, having lost mass numbers of ships and aircrafts. This eventually led to the declaration of war on Japan. -
Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor
On Sunday Dec. 7, Japan surprised the world by attacking the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The US regarded this attack as unexpected, bastardely, and unprovoked. Consequently, the US was forced out of Neutrality and onto the side of the Allies. This was extremely important, because now one of the most powerful nations had entered the war. -
US Enters War
Exactly one day after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the US was forced out of neutrality and into the war. This was extremely significant, because now the allies had one of the most powerful nations at the time on their side. -
It's a World War
Three days later, Germany and Italy proved their alliance with Japan by declaring war on the US. Now, they were back where they had started not even 50 years before, in a world war. -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad started on August 23, 1942. The Allies took advantage of the hot and cold weathers. Soviet troops launched an attack on Germans during a Russian winter. Hitler refused to retreat, and eventually German troops starved to death and surrendered. Germans were now in the position of defending themselves, while the Soviets kept pushing them west. -
Battle of El Alamein
On Oct. 3, Britain fired 1,000 guns on the Axis powers' armies. This was an important victory for the Allies, because it started turning the advantage over to the allies side. The belief that Hitler wasn't invincible grew, boosting up the Allies’ confidence. -
Operation Torch
After the victory at El Alamein, the Allies pushed westward. On Nov. 8, 100,000 allied troops arrived in Morocco and Algeria under the command of American general Dwight D. Eisenhower. Sandwiched between Montgomery and Eisenhower's troops, Rommel was crushed in 1943. This contributed to the increasing string of Allied victories. -
Invasion of Italy
On July 10, 1943, Allied forces captured Sicily, overthrowing Mussolini from power. The Italians surrendered on September 3. Germans temporarily restored power to Mussolini, but eventually fell in May 1945. Mussolini was also killed and hung in Milan to mark the official end of his reign. Now, the Allies had a weakening Germany and Italy, two of their main enemies. -
D-Day Invasion
The D-Day invasion was launched on June 6,1944. It was the attack on German-held France across the English Channel. Britain, the US, France, and Canada sent troops on the 60-mile beach in Normandy. Germans had heavily prepared for defense, and though America suffered great loses, they had a fresh supply of troops which enabled them to keep ground. In July 25, Allies broke through German forces near Saint-Lo, enjoyed their march into Paris. With this victory, the Allies could aim towards Germany -
Battle of Leyte Gulf
Battle of Leyte Gulf Though Europe was now free from the world chaos, war remained between the sides of Japan and the US. This battle that took place on the island of Leyte in the Philippines resulted in the Japanese loss of over 100,000 troops, while the Americans suffered with only 12,000. In this battle, the Japanese used for the first time kamikazes, which were suicide pilots who drove their planes into Allied ships. -
Battle of Bulge
At this point, Hitler had to fight on two fronts, of which he’d tried to avoid. On December 16, Germans broke through to American forces into Allied borders. However, the Allies eventually forced Germans to withdraw. This battle served as the last step to end the war in Europe. -
Battle of Okinawa
Shortly after the previous clash with Japanese forces, American Marines invaded Iwo Jima. The Japanese suffered the loss of over 100,000 troops, while the Americans lost only 12,000. It was marked as one of the bloodiest land battles of the whole war. The Japanese army had been weakened in enormous measures. -
Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
After German scientists perfected the first bomb in the US, and after it was approved by Roosevelt, the US set out for their first target. On August 6, the B-29 bomber flew from Tinian Island, and at 8:16 AM, the bomb was released above Hiroshima, a city in Japan. The bombing resulted in hundreds of thousands of people. It signaled the beginning of the future development of atomic weapons, and changed the way of war forever.
