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The End of the Weimar Republic in Germany
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Kellogg-Briand Pact
This was an agreement between the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Germany, and Italy that renounced the use of war as a national policy. -
Japanese Invasion of Manchuria
Japan invaded the region of Manchuria, which began the hostilities in the Far East. -
Enabling Act
The Enabling Act is pushed through the Reichstag and the act says Hitler was allowed dicatatorial power and is named Chancellor in Germany for four years. This is considered the end of the Weimar Republic in Germany and the rise of the Nazi Party. -
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Hitler Takes Control
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Paul Von Hindenburg Dies
Paul Von Hindenburg was the second president of Germany from 1925-1934. When he died of natural causes in 1934 Hitler, who had recently gained dictatorial powers from the Enabling Act, declared his office vacant and declared himself the Fuhrer of Germany. -
Neutrality Acts
These were laws that were passed by Congress which made steps to ensure isolationism in the US and to avoid US involvement in the growing turmoil that was going on in Europe. -
Nuremberg Laws
Nuremberg Laws are passed in Germany which strip all Jews in Germany of their citizenship. This adds to the rising feeling of anti-semetism in Germany. -
Invasion of Ethiopia
The Italian invasion of Ethiopia happened because Mussolini wanted to show the military strength of his fascist regime to the world and to show that he is also a force to be reckoned with. The invasion took a little under a year and ended with Italy taking over Ethiopia. -
Munich Agreement
This was an agreement that was negotiated between the major powers in Europe and Germany about Germany's expansion. It was decided that Germany would be allowed to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia, but Hitler would have to not ask for more land. -
Kristallnacht
This was a series of attacks made by German civilians and troops against Jews, synagogues, and other stores or buildings relating to Jews while the police simply looked the other way. This resulted in the death of about 100 Jews and the destruction of many Jewish buildings and businesses. -
Nazis Invade Poland
German armies and warplanes smashed into Poland from three sides in a tactic called "Blitzkrieg". Hitler would soon overun Poland in a little over a month. This invasion marked the official start of World War II, as Britain and France immediately declared war on Germany. -
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World War II
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Phoney War
This was an early phase in WWII in which no Western Power had committed to launching a land offensive against Germany. This gave Germany time to take over Poland and keep expanding throughout Europe. -
Dunkirk
This was a battle that was basically the defense of British troops and allied forces against attacking Nazi forces, which after decisive German attacks, led to the evacuation of the allied forces from Europe. -
Battle of Britain
This was an attempt by the Nazis to gain air superiority over Britain and take out the Royal Air Force so they wouldn't get in the way of a mainland British invasion. The Nazis lost, as the British were able to hold them off. This battle showed the Nazis that invading Britain would not be quick or easy. -
Lend-Lease Act
FDR signs the Lend-Lease Act, which allowed the US to send military supplies to the UK, Soviet Union, and other allies. This was a major step away from the isolationist policy of the US, this would lead to further international involvement for the US. -
Operation Barbarossa
This was the codename for the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. Hitler took with him more than 3 million troops, thus being the largest invasion in history, and also showing his unlimited ambitions and the power of Germany. This resulted in a defeat of the Germans as the severe winter and Soviet troops were able to hold them back. -
Japan Bombs Pearl Harbor
Japan sneak attacks the United States and bombs a US the naval base Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The bombing ended up killing many US civilians and soldiers. FDR would later ask congress to declare war and after they approved. the US would finally become involved in WWII. -
Final Solution is Made
This was the plan made by Himmler and Hitler that the final solution of the "Jewish problem" was the murder of every single Jew. This led to the attempted genocide of the Jewish people. -
Midway
This was one of the most decisive victories for the Allies in the was against Japan as they were able to defeat a Japanese Nacy at Midway. This was the turning point for the war in the Pacific. -
Stalingrad
This was a very decisive victory for the Allies. The Nazis were attempting to invade Russia and they tried to take control of the city of Stalingrad. The Soviets were able to hold back the Nazis and also inflicted heavy casualties on them. As a result, the Nazis were never able to recover back to its full strength. -
El Alamein
This was a decisive battle for the Allies as it was the turning point in the North African Campaign. British forces were able to defeat German and Italian forces and also stopped the Axis from occupying Egypt, the Allies were able to control of the Suez Canal, and they also gained access to many Middle Eastern oil fields. -
Operation Torch
This came about after Russia's demand that the Allies invade mainland Europe and help the Russians. Churchill decided that instead of an immediate mainland invasion, they invade North Africa and get rid of the Axis so they could control the Mediterranean and prepare for an invasion of Southern Europe. The regions that were invaded were Morocco and Algiers. -
Anzio
The Allies invaded Anzio and were able to eventually beat off the Axis and able to occupy Rome. -
D-Day
This was the Allied invasion of Normandy. It was a very long and bloody battle for the Allies, but they were able to defeat the Nazis and thus began the Normandy campaign and the eventual defeat of the Nazis. -
Battle of the Bulge
This was the last major offensive of the Nazis during WWII. The ultimate goal of the Nazis was to attack and split the Allied lines in half, capturing Antwerp in the process, and then destroying the Allied armires. This resulted in a major failure for the Nazis and they experienced major losses from the battle. -
Liberation of Auschwitz
On this day Auschwitz was liberated by Soviet troops and the prisoners at the death camp were finally freed. -
Iwo Jima
This was a decisive victory for the Allies as they were able to capture the Japanese airfields on the island of Iwo Jima and use them for a possible mainland invasion of Japan. -
V-E Day
This was the date when the Allies accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany. The picture to the left shows the furthest extent of the Nazi Germany. -
A-Bomb Drops on Hiroshima
President Truman authorized the dropping of an atomic bomb on Hiroshima because of the military supplies that were being held there. The blast from the bomb killed about 80,000 people. This was a big step towards Japan accepting an unconditional surrender from the Allies. -
V-J Day
This was the day that the Allies accepted the unconditional surrender from Japan, thus ending WWII. The picture to the left shows the furthest extent of the Japanese Empire. -
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The Aftermath
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Nuremberg Trials
These were military tribunals held in Nuremberg, Germany for the captured Nazi leaders. The charges against were mainly of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
