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Japan Seizes Manchuria
In 1931, the Japanese army seized Manchuria after investing heavily in the province. This was the first direct challenge to the League of Nations. Japan wanted to take over Manchuria to resolve the country's economic problems by expanding into foreign countries. After the invasion, the Japanese began to build mines and factories to use Manchuria’s rich resources of coal and iron. In the next four years, Japan will continue to invade the rest of China. -
Hitler Rearms Germany
In the March of 1935, Hitler announced that Germany would not obey the limitations of the Treaty of Versailles. As the German army grew, Hitler began to rearm them. This alarmed other countries, because it showed that Germany was becoming powerful and could go to war. The League of Nations, however, did little to stop Germany. Their army continued to grow, conveying German aggression. -
Germany Takes Over the Rhineland
On March 7, 1936, German troops moved into the Rhineland. Germany's seizure over the Rhineland marked a turning point in the march toward war. This helped strengthen Hitler’s power and pride within Germany and the balance of power changed in Germany’s favor. France and Belgium were now open to attack from German troops. The weak response by France and Britain encouraged Hitler to speed up his expansion. -
Hitler Expands the German Empire
In a meeting with his advisors, Hitler announced his plans to make Czechoslovakia and Austria a part of Germany. He wanted to absorb both nations into the Third German Reich, or empire. The Anschluss, or union, of Austria and Germany was forbidden by The Treaty of Versailles. Despite the rules set by the treaty, Hitler invaded Austria in the March of 1938 and annexed it. Both France and England ignored this. -
Germany Takes Over the Sudetenland
In September 1938, Hitler demanded that the Sudetenland, where the German-speaking people lived in the western part of Czechoslovakia, be given to Germany. The Czechs refused and asked France for help. Britain and France agreed that Hitler could take the Sudetenland in order to maintain peace between them. In exchange, Hitler pledged to respect Czechoslovakia’s new borders. -
Hitler Conquers Poland
Hitler quickly moved ahead with plans to make a surprise attack to conquer Poland. The German invasion of Poland was the first test of Germany’s newest military strategy known as the blitzkrieg, or “lightning war.” It involved using fast-moving airplanes and tanks, followed by massive infantry forces, to take enemy defenders by surprise and quickly overwhelm them. This tragedy was very effective against Poland. -
Germany Attacks Denmark and Norway
During a lull at the beginning of WWII, Hitler decided to end the calm. He launched a surprise attack on both Denmark and Norway. Four hours into the attack, Denmark fell. Germany defeated Norway just two months after. As soon as Germany seized control, Hitler built bases along the Norwegian and Danish coastlines, preparing to strike Great Britain. -
Hitler Wins Paris
In the May of 1940, Hitler began to sweep through the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. This was part of his strategy to invade France. The Germans marched through the Ardennes, a heavily wooded area north of France, until they crossed the border and swept through the country. By the end of May,France began to crumble. On June 14, the Nazis invaded Paris. French leaders surrendered eight days later. The Germans then had control of the northern part of France. Hitler left the southern part of -
Japan Makes an Agreement with Italy and Germany
On September 27, 1940, Germany, Italy, and Japan signed the Tripartite Pact, which became known as the Axis alliance. Italy decided to sign this pact because Hitler’s strength started growing and Mussolini saw a chance that he should seek an alliance. Japan also thought the same thing and joined the Axis of alliance. This then became a threat to other countries seeing Japan become more powerful. -
Hitler Looks to the Balkans
Hitler began a plan to attack the USSR, and in order to do so, he needed the Balkans. Hitler wanted to invade the Soviet Union through southeastern Europe. He needed the Balkans so he could build bases along their borders for the invasion. In early 1941, Hitler had convinced Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary to join the Axis Powers. Greece and Yugoslavia, however, had pro-British governments, so they refused to join him. That is why on April 6, 1941, they finally put the plan into action to attack -
Hitler Invades the Soviet Union
With the Balkans firmly in control, Hitler could invade the Soviet Union under the plan of Operation Barbarossa. Early in the morning of June 22, 1941, the roar of German tanks and aircraft announced the beginning of the invasion. The Soviet Union was not prepared for this attack. The invasion rolled on week after week until the Germans had pushed 500 miles inside the Soviet Union. As the Soviet troops retreated, they burned and destroyed everything in the enemy’s path. -
An Undeclared Naval War Against Hitler
On September 4, 1941, a German U-boat shot at a U.S. Boat in the Atlantic Ocean. After this, President Roosevelt ordered the navy to shoot the submarines. This caused the United States to be in an undeclared naval war with Hitler. But, this attack did not draw the U.S. into the war, Japan did shortly after. -
Japanese Bomb Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese sunk and damaged 19 ships, including 8 battleships on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. On that same day, Japan also sent bombing raids on the British colony of Hong Kong and American-controlled Guam and Wake Island. The next day, President Roosevelt met with congress to request to go to war with Japan and congress quickly agreed and declared war.
