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Hitler becomes the Chancellor of Germany
By becoming chancellor, Hitler would be one step closer to becoming the total ruler over Germany. Once Paul von Hindenburg dies, Hitler would be able to rise to power. This would be the main start or cause of WW1. Hitler and the Nazis gained power on January 30th, 1933. By March that year Hitler had total power over the country. http://www.theholocaustexplained.org/ks3/the-nazi-rise-to-power/how-did-the-nazis-gain-support/hitler-becomes-chancellor/#.VRDFC_nF9ps -
Japan Invades China
Japan invaded China and China is considered our ally. This is one reason that lead to FDR passing the Export Control Act, which gave FDR the power to restrict the sale of strategic materials . We stopped providing the fuel needed for Japan to use for their airplanes. Japan invading China is the event that leads to us passing acts that they don't like. This is just one more step leading to our involvement in WW2.
http://lanceolsen.hubpages.com/hub/The-Greater-East-Asia-War-and-WWII -
Hitler Annexes the Country of Austria into Germany
Hitler annexes Austria into Germany. This is just the first step during his conquest for power in Europe. By doing this, Hitler becomes even more power hungry because the European nations just let him have his way. This would lead to Hitler taking over Czechoslovakia on March 15th, 1939. Since Britain and France let Hitler annex Ausrtia, more problems would arise because they "appeased" him.
http://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=2221 -
Germany Invades Poland
This is the beginning of WW2. The Polish army was defeated within just a few weeks. Britain and France, who are loyal to Poland's border, both declare war on Germany on September 3rd, 1939. The Soviet Union invaded eastern Poland on September 17, 1939. Germany invading Poland is the official start of WW2 many would argue.
http://blogs.britannica.com/2010/09/looking-back-at-the-beginning-of
http://blogs.britannica.com/2010/09/looking-back-at-the-beginning-of-world-war-ii-picture-essay-of-the-day/ -
Axis Powers Are Formed by the signing of the Tripartite Pact
Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact creating the Axis Alliance. This pact provided mutual assistance for the countries who signed the treaty if they were attacked by a nation not already involved in the war. The signing of the pact was important because this created a lot of controversy in the United States. Many politicians thought twice before entering the war on the allies side after the signing of the treaty.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripartite_Pact -
Germany and the Axis Powers Attack Russia
Germany and the Axis Powers attack Russia with a huge force of over four million troops. This was probably one of the most beneficial events to the Allied Forces during WW2. After the Axis Powers attacked the USSR, Russia joined the Allied Forces. This was important because without the Soviet Union's help, the war very well could have ended differently. Russia was a major factor during WW2 and did a lot of the fighting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Front_(World_War_II) -
Japanese Bomb Pearl Harbor
The United States was trying to stay as neutral as possible and did not really want to enter another war. The Japanese bombed a naval base located in Pearl Harbor, killing over 2,500 troops and sinking 18 destroyers. This event set off the public of the United States. The United States opinion about the war shifted very drastically. Without this event happening, who knows how long we would have waited before we entered the war.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor -
D-Day-Normandy Invasion
On this date over 150,000 allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, which was guarded by heavily- gunned German forces. During this operation, over 10,000 casualties died on just the first day. This operation was crucial to the allied cause. If they could take back Normandy, the western allies would then be able to push further into central Europe from there. The allied forces did secure the beaches of Normandy, which resulted in them being closer to winning the war. -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
As Allied troops moved across Europe in a series of offensives against the Nazi's, they began to encounter concentration camps. In them, tens of thousands of prisoners were being held. Right before the camps were about to be liberated a majority of the prisoners were evacuated, which later became known as death marches. After the liberation of these camps the world discovered the horrors that the Nazi's had put on Jews, blacks, homosexuals, and mentally handicapped people.
http://scrapbookpage -
Adolf Hitler Commits Suicide- Germany Loses the War
Adolf Hitler commits suicide as he knows Germany has lost the war. 8 days later Germany would officially surrender to the Allied powers. Hitlers death put an end to war against Germany, ending Hitler's dreams of a "1,000 year reich." This is not really a turning point in the war, but more like the nail in the coffin against Germany.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/adolf-hitler-commits-suicide
http://news.keuka.edu/opinion/hitler-still-commands-our-attention-and-interest -
U.S. drops the Atomic Bomb on Hirsohima
President Truman decides to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. The city of Hiroshima is devasted. The reason the atomic bomb was dropped was to prevent American casualties. The bomb killed 80,000 people immediately and thousands more from radiation poisoning. By dropping the atomic bomb we saved thousands of Americans lives, because we did not have to invade Japan.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/04/tibbets-son-disapproves-plan-send-delegation-hiroshima-ceremony/ -
Atomic Bomb is Dropped on Nagasaki
Another atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. The devastation at Hiroshima was not enough to convince the Japanese War Council to surrender. After the 2nd bomb was dropped, this resulted in Japan's unconditional surrender. About 80,000 people were killed, resulting in the end of WW2.
The atomic bombs were crucial to winning WW2 and saved many American lives.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atomic-bomb-dropped-on-nagasaki
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2392814/Fury-Navy-
