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Adolf Hitler becomes leader of the Nazi Party
Adolf Hitler became the leader of the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP), or the Nazi party, originally a small group of unemployed soldiers. -
Benito Mussonlini appointed Prime Minister of Italy
Benito Mussolini threatened the Italian government, gaining him the title of Prime Minister. He turned Italy into the first Fascist state. -
Josef Stalin becomes sole dictator of the Soviet Union
Josef Stalinbecomes sole dictator of teh Soviet Union (USSR), turning it into a totalitarian state. -
Japan Invades Manchuria
In an event commonly known as the Manchuria Incident, the Japanese Kwantung Army attacked Chinese soldiers in Manchuria. They wanted to control the region, and eventually all of East Asia. This event was one of the causes of World War II. -
Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany
Adolf Hitler, leader of the Nazi Party, becomes Chancellor of Germany. -
U.S. passes Neutrality Act
The United States passes the Neutrality Act, stating that the U.S. can't assist any country involved in war, to keep our country out of conflict. -
Italian Army invades Ethiopia
The Italian Army invades Ethiopia, Africa, taking the country. -
Militarists take over Japan's government
Militarists (people who advocate warlike policies) take over Japan's government. -
Hitler sends troops into Rhineland
Hitler sends troops into Rhinland in Germany in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. -
Japan Signs Anti-Comintern Pact
Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany sign the Anti-Comintern Pact, which was directed against the Soviet Union and international Communist movement. -
Japan invades China
Japan invades China, which starts World War II in the Pacific. -
The Nanking Massacre
The Nanking Massacre is also known as the Rape of Nanking. In the six weeks after the Japanese captured the Chinese city Nanking, a mass murder and war rape befell the city. Hundreds of thousands of disarmed soldiers and civilians were murdered, and widespread rape and looting occurred. An estimated 250,000-300,000 were killed. -
Munich Pact signed
The Munich Pact was signed, giving the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia to Hitler. -
Nazis round up Jews for labor camps
The Nazis began rounding up Jews to be taken to labor camps. Hitler seemed to think that this would help solve the (nonexistent) "Jew problem". Needless to say, Hitler did not like Jews, and blamed them for the hardships Germany faced after World War I. -
Nazi-Soviet Pact signed
The Nazi-Soviet pact was signed by Hitler and Stalin, agreeing that they would not attack each others' countries, and that they would split up Poland. This was surprising to many because Hitler and Stalin were bitter enemies. -
Nazis invade Poland
The Nazis invaded Poland, causing Britain and France to declare war on Germany. -
Nazis invade Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium
The Nazis invade Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium, taking control of all of them. -
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain was the battle over Britain, where German air force attacked Britain from above. The Royal Air Force beat the German Air Force to prevent invasion of their country. -
U.S. Peacetime draft
The first Peacetime draft in America occurred. -
Germany invades France
Germany invades France, forcing them to surrender. -
Japan Signs the Tripartite Pact
Japan, Germany, and Italy sign the Tripartite Pact. It was also known as the Three Power Pact, Axis Pact, Three Way Pact, or Tripartite Treaty. It was signed in Berlin, Germany. The pact establishe the Axis Powers of World War II. -
Hitler breaks pact with Stalin
Hitler breaks the Nazi-Soviet Pact and invades Russia. Russia joins forces with England in fighting the Germans. -
Atlantic Charter is issued
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and FDR issue the Atlantic Charter. -
Japanese invade French Indochina
The Japanese invade French Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia). -
Japan bombs Pearl Harbor
The Japanese hit Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii, in a surprise attack. They first started by taking out our military bases with bombs and incendiary bullets, then hit civilian areas. They destroyed ships in the harbor by using special torpedoes that didn't dive as deep as a normal torpedo, which was necessary in Pearl Harbor's shallow waters. Many people on Hawaii died that day, for we had little means to defend ourselves, especially in such short notice. -
Axis Powers declare war on U.S.
The Axis Powers, which included Nazi Germany, Japan, and Italy, declared war on America from December 11-13. -
Philippines fall to Japan
The Japanese take the Philippines, and cause the Bataan Death March. -
Japanese Americans interned in isolation camps
Japanese American citizens were interned in isolation camps due to paranoia in Americans that they were Japanese spies, etc. -
Battle of Midway
Battle of Midway was between the U.S. and Japan, where we stopped their advances towards Australia, taking over the Pacific. It was a turning point in the war. -
Russians stop Nazi advance
The Russians stop the Nazi advance at Stalingrad, saving Moscow. -
Japanese naval advance is halted
British and U.S. navies stop the Japanese naval advance in the central Pacific at Midway. -
Period: to
U.S. stops Japan's island-hopping
The U.S. stops Japan's island-hopping towards Australia at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.
