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Law for Restoration of Professional Civil Service goes into effect in Germany
Removes Jews from government service and bars Jewish professors from teaching in universities. Scientific exodus begins. -
Nazi book burning takes place at universities throughout Germany
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Kristallnacht, "Night of Broken Glass" occurs
Wave of anti-Jewish violence throughout Germany, annexed Austria, and in areas of the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia recently occupied by German troops. -
Albert Einstein letter to FDR
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Germany invades Poland--WWII begins
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Great Britain declares war on Germany
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Germany, Italy and Japan sign Tripartite Pact
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Atlantic Conference
FDR and Churchill meet in secret; draft "Atlantic Charter", joint declaration of policy; remarkable because US was not yet in war -
Manhattan Project begins
General Leslie Groves appointed to head secret project to build an atomic bomb. -
Casablanca Conference
FDR, Churchill meet to plan Allied offensives aimed at 'unconditional surrender' of Axis powers. Giraud and deGaulle also present. Stalin not in attendance because of Battle of Stalingrad. -
Cairo Conference
FDR, Churchill and Chinese President Chiang Kai-shek meet to discuss the progress of the war against Japan and the future of Asia. Talks paused to allow FDR and Churchill to travel to Tehran to meet with Stalin. -
Tehran Conference
Stalin agrees in principle to declare war on Japan after Allied victory over Germany -
Yalta Conference
Soviets push for US and Britain to recognize Soviet created government in Poland. Declaration of Liberated Europe issued, asserts "the right of all people to choose the form of government under which they will live." Germany divided into four zones to be controlled by US, Great Britain, the Soviet Union and France. Berlin also divided into 4 zones, despite the fact that the city was located inside the Soviet controlled zone. -
Period of hostility between US and Soviet Union begins
US accuses Soviets of violating Declaration of Liberated Europe due to actions regarding formation of Communist governments in Romania and Poland. -
Invasion of Okinawa
Japanese troops take up positions in mountains, rather than defending the beaches. Americans forced to fight their way up steep slopes. More than 12,000 American soldiers, sailors and marines die before Okinawa captured on June 22, 1945. -
FDR dies, Truman becomes President
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First atomic bomb detonated in New Mexico desert
Manhattan project code name: Trinity -
Potsdam Conference
US and Soviets disagree over German reparations. Truman learns of successful atomic bomb detonation. -
US drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan
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VJ Day
