Important events during World War 2

Adolf Hitler becomes leader of national socialist (Nazi) party

Jul 29, 1921

A decorated veteran of World War I, Hitler joined the German Workers' Party, precursor of the Nazi Party, in 1919, and became leader of the NSDAP in 1921.

Hitler's book "Mein Kampf" published.

Jul 18, 1925

Reading Mein Kampf is like listening to Hitler speak at length about his youth, early days in the Nazi Party, future plans for Germany, and ideas on politics and race.

Germans elect Nazis making them the 2nd largest political party in Germany

Sep 14, 1930

On election day September 14, 1930, the Nazis received 6,371,000 votes – over eighteen percent of the total – and were thus entitled to 107 seats in the German Reichstag. It was a stunning victory for Hitler. Overnight, the Nazi Party went from the smallest to the second largest political party in Germany.

Franklin Roosevelt elected President of the United States.

Nov 8, 1932

Franklin D. Roosevelt helped the American people regain faith in themselves. He brought hope as he promised prompt, vigorous action, and asserted in his Inaugural Address, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

First concentration camp opened at Oranienburg outside Berlin.

Mar 12, 1933

The first camps included; Dachau in southern Germany near Munich, Buchenwald in central Germany near Weimar, and Sachsenhausen near Berlin in the north.

Civil war erupts in Spain.

Jul 18, 1936

Within days, Spain was divided in two: a "Republican" or "Loyalist" Spain consisting of the Second Spanish Republic (within which were pockets of revolutionary anarchism and Trotskyism) and a "Nationalist" Spain under the insurgent generals, and, eventually, under the leadership of General Francisco Franco.

Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Soviet Union

Aug 23, 1939

Hitler and Stalin signed a non-aggression pact which included secret clauses for the division of Poland.

HItler invades Poland

Sep 1, 1939

Germany invaded Poland. The Polish army was defeated within weeks of the invasion.

Britain and France declare war

Sep 3, 1939

Britain and France, standing by their guarantee of Poland's border, had declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939. The Soviet Union invaded eastern Poland on September 17, 1939. The demarcation line for the partition of German- and Soviet-occupied Poland was along the Bug River.

Italy enter war on side of Axis powers

Jun 11, 1940

Italy entered the war on the side of the Axis powers. Italy's motive for entering the war was the hope of rich pickings from the spoils of war.

attack on Pearl Harbor

Dec 7, 1941

was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States navel base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.