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The Treaty of Versailles
A reluctant Germany signed the treaty to end WW2. Germany was forced to give up some of their territory, pay reparations (£6,000 million), give up raw matierials, adhere to strict military laws, and basically take blame for the entire war. This lead to a mutual anger towards the allies across all Germans, leading them to want to get revenge. This treaty could be seen as the spark of WW2, and Hitler promised he could get them out of their depression and shame, and therefor gained Nazi followers. -
Rise of the Nazi Party
The year following the Treaty of Versailles, Drexler, and Feder, and Eckart created the German Worker's Party in 1919. Worried that the GPW might be too revolutionary, the German Army dispatched Hitler to spy on the group. However, Hitler liked the ideals of the group and soon became the head speaker. His passion gained many followers and soon the GPW became the Nazi party, and from there the militant group started invading countries for power and revenge. -
The Invasion of Poland
The first invasion of WW2 was Hitler's first attempt at using the Blitzkrieg, Hitler's ruthless battle plan, in order to obtain Lebensraum, or living space, but Hitler claimed it as a defensive action. An underprepared Poland lost quickly due to underestimating Germany's power. As Germany's first and successful invasion, they were off to a good start. -
Invasion of Norway
Hitler brought his Blitzkrieg to Norway because of the unfrozen ocean ports and the access to Sweden and their resources of iron ore. After a 62 day long battle between Germany and the U.K., France, Norway, and Polish, Germany was victorious and held occupation in Norway. Germany now had access to resources and a way to ship it back. -
Invasion of Denmark
The German invasion of Denmark was the shortest of the military operations of WW2, ringing in at 6 hours. Germany now held occupation of Denmark and could extend their air defense network up north so that it was harder for the British to attack Germany by air. Also, Denmark was invaded so that Germany could make their way up to and to invade Norway for their connection to Sweden, who had iron ore. -
Invasion of the Low Countries and France.
Perhaps the most risky invasion was Germany's invasion of France because of how powerful France was and how many of the Allied Forces were there. However, Germany was successful and held occupation in France. Germany aslo invaded Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands by surprise, and the Dutch surrendered four days later after the German bombings. Germany now held occupation in the countries and removed the Dutch military out of the continental European theater. -
Battle of Greece
After Italy's failed attempt at a surprise attack in Greece, Germany swept in to help their allies. Even though Allied forces were winning for a bit, Hitler's troops eventually took control and held occupation in yet another country. They now had better access to the Mediterranean Sea. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Increasingly bad tensions between Japan and America over power in the Pacific lead to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, one of America' biggest Navy base. When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, they successfully took out a good portion of the US Navy. A total of 2,403 people in Pearl Harbor were killed and 1,178 were wounded, and numerous aircraft and ships were destroyed. Stunting American involvement in the pacific theater helped the Axis powers gain power and influence in the Pacific Theater. -
Invasion of the Philippines
Japan invaded the Philippines and fought against the Filipinos and Americans for 6 months in order to remove the US bases there, to protect their access to Southeast Asia, and to have access to the Philippines resources. Even though the Filipinos and Americans combined had a 3:2 ratio against the Japanese, the Japanese still defeated them and held occupation. The invasion even lead to the Baatan Death March, where 75000 American and Filipino troops were forced to walk 65 miles to prison camps. -
Invasion of Malaya
Japan needed Singapore's resources and taking control of Malaya would greatly diminish British influence there. Allied and Axis powers fought in Malaya, but the Allied powers had severely underestimated the Axis's power. The Allies, losing quickly, surrendered, and Japan took many British POWs. A victorious Japan now had access to their needed resources and removed the British influence from Malaya.
