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Japan Becomes Democratic
The Japanese government became more democratic during the 1920s by signing a treaty to respect the borders of China, and signging the Kellogg-Briand Pact to demand war. This event was significant because it shows that Japan was the only nation looking towards democracy and foreign relations. -
Militarists Control Japan
After the Great Depression took place, the Japanese were blaming their government, so the people support the Military leaders and helped them gain control of the country. This event was significant because the Military leaders did not want to create a new government, but kept their figurehead and aimed to expand Japan and control foreign nations. -
Japan Seized Manchuria
The Japanese army invaded Manchuria in 1931 for its rich resources like iron and coal. This event was significant because Japan was the first nation to challenge the League of Nations and when the League members protested against Japan's attack on Manchuria, Japan withdrew from the League two year after the attack. -
Japan Invades Manchuria
The Japanese army attacked Manchuria in 1931 because the area was rich in iron and coal. This event was significant because Japan started industrialization by building mines, factories and even a puppet govenrment in Manchuria. Another reason that this event was significant was because it made the members of the League of Nation protest, which caused Japan to drop out from the League of Nations. -
Hitler Becomes Chancellor
The conservative leaders of the Nazis told President Paul von Hindenburg to put Hitler as chancellor, thinking that Hitler would be useful for the Nazis' needs. This was a significant event because after President Paul von Hindenburg died, Hitler gave himself special powers and when there was a burning down of his building, he was allowed to remove all forms of government and put himself as fûhrer. -
Hitler Disobeys the Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles required Germany to limit the size of their army, but Germany disobeyed this treaty by reintroducing the draft and rearming German troops. This event was significant because from these actions and with the League trying to stop Germany from rearming made Hitler aim for bigger things and risks. -
Neutrality Acts of 1935
The United States followed isolationism, in which Congress passed the Nautrality Acts in 1935 that forbid any loans or selling of weapons to nations at war. This event was significant because now, the United States were not to participate in any wars or hel pany other nation. Therefore, other nations, especially the United States' allies were not happy with isolationism. -
Nuremberg Race Laws Removes Rights from German Jews
The Nuremberg Race Laws were passed in 1935 which prevented German Jews from being German citizens and in which they were viewed as 'subjects'. Also, German Jews were not allowed to marry or have sexual relations with Aryans. These laws were significant because being a 'Jew' is having a certain belief and is not a race. But Hitler thought that it was a race and that it would affect the Aryan race. Also, there were instructional charts to distinguish Jews and Aryans. -
Mussolini Attacks Ethiopia
Mussolini attacked Ethiophia in revenge of Ethiopia's resistance in their previous battle with Italy. Mussolini'a advanced weapons like airplanes, tanks, guns, and poison gas were too strong for Ethiopia's spears and swords. Therefore, Ethiopia asked the League of Nations for help, but the members did not do much except for condemning the attack. This event was significant because when Ethiopia gave in to Italy, Britain and France desired peace in Europe. -
Germany Occupies Rhineland
German troops entered Rhineland because it was an important industrial area and because Hitler wanted to take greater risks after defying the Treaty of Versailles. In response to Germany's entrance, Britain called for an appeasement, but this made Hitler want to attack the land more. Therefore, Germany eventually reoccuppied Rhineland. This event was significant because the reoccupation was the turning point of the war, which also helped the expansion of Germany and Hitler. -
The Spanish Civil War
Army leaders showed favoritism towards a Fascist-style government by joining Francisco Franco's revolt, which led to a 3-year long civil war. This event was significant because Fraco became Spain's Fascist dictator after the Nationalists (Fraco's forces), with the help from Hitler and Mussolini, defeated the Republicans. -
The Axis Powers
Germany first created the Rome-Berlin axis, where Hitler and Mussolini reached an agreement to form an alliance between Germany and Italy, but later Japan was added to this agreement, forming the Axis Powers. This event was significant because it allowed Germany to expand in power, made Germans view themselves as superior, and even help Italy and Japan expand. -
Japan Invades China
Japan invaded China because there was a border incident between the nations. The northern cities like Beijing and Nanjing were passed down to Japan. This event was significant because the well-equipped and trained Japanese soldiers were fighting better than the Chinese army with a much greater population. But the Chinese kept on fighting evern though they retreated westwards. -
Germany Annexes Austria
Hitler's army annexed Austria and France and Britain did not aid Austria's independence because they wanted to promote peace within Europe. This event was significant because it was the first expansion of Germany. -
The Munich Conference
The Munich Conference was a meeting proposed by Mussolini that was held in Munich, Germany. Germany, France, Britain, and Italy was invited to this meeting, where Britain and France agreed to give Germany Sudetenland if Hitler would respect Czechoslovakia's new borders. This event was significant because after less than six months, Hitler took Czechoslovakia and asked Poland to return Danzig. -
Kristallnacht
It was an attack in Germany where Nazi storm troopers destroyed Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues. This event was significant because the Nazi policy of Jewish persecution was developed and the Jews had a depressing future in Germany, so some Jews moved to other places. -
Nazis and Soviets Sign Nonagression Pact
Germany, which followed Fascism and Russia following Communism, signed a nonagression pact, promising each other that they will never attack one another. This event is significant because they agree to share Poland, and later on in World War Two, Germany attacks Russia. -
Germany Attacks Poland
Hitler surprisingly attacks Poland on September 1, 1939 after signing the nonagression pact. This event was significant because it was the first time Germany applied the blitzkrieg, France and Britain proposed a war with Germany on September 3, 1939 and when Germany won this war, Germany took control of the western half of Poland. This was the start of World War Two. -
Stalin Sends Troops to Finland
Stalin sent around a million Soviet troops to Finland, where the soldiers were not prepared for fighting in the winter, thinking that they would win the war. This event was significant because the Finns were better in condition, but the Soviets just had more soldiers, which caused them to win the war. Also, this war caused the Finns to accept Stalin's surrender terms by March 1940. -
France Falls
Hitler planned to attack France by sweeping through the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. This event was significant because the Germans used the "Maginot Line" to reach France's northern coast in ten days and caused the Allies to retreat. Also, in June 4, the Germans took Paris, the French leaders urrendered, and Germany took control of northern France until France gained independence in 1944. -
The Battle of Britain
After the Luftwaffe tried to bomb British airfields and aircraft factories, they aimed for cities like London to decrease Britain's confidence, but the RAF was advantageous because they had radar and an Enigma machine. The British resisted Germany, causing Hitler to retreat. This event was significant because Hitler was thought to be undefeatable, but Britain blocked Hitler's attacks. -
Mussolini Attacks Egypt
Mussolini attacks Britain's colony, Egypt. They proceeded quickly by using the Suez Canal making British units move back. British attacks the Italians greatly.This event was significant because Hitler jumped in and supported the Italians by sending a tank force, which made the British forces retreat to Libya. Also, there were fights between Britain and Erwin Rommel until June 1942, but Rommel ended up to be victorious. -
The Lend-Lease Act
The Lend-Lease Act allowed the president to lend or lease supplies like weapons to nations that were important to the United States. The U.S. Navy escorted British ships with U.S. arms. This event was significant because the United States did not want to partcipate in wars and Congress passed Nautrality Acts, but this event changed the views of Americans and their future. -
Hitler Expands in the Balkans
Hitler influenced Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary to join the Axis Powers in early 1941, but since Yugoslavia and Greece with Pro-British governments did not, Hitler attacked the two countries on April 6, 1941 and defeated them both, allowing Hitler and Germany to expand more themselves and in the Balkan area. -
Hitler Attacks the Soviet Union
On June 22, 1941, Operation Barbarossa started to take action. Since the Soviet Union was not prepared for this attack, in which their troops were not well equipped and well trained apart from the huge population, the Germans pushed 500 miles into the Soviet Union. This event was significant because Hitler attacked the Soviet Union for fun, and used the scorched-earth strategy on them just as the Soviet Union used this strategy against Napoleon. -
The United States Involves in War with Germany
A German U-boat attacked a U.S. destroyer on September 4, 1941, so Roosevelt allowed navy commanders to shoot German submarines as well. Therefore, the United States ended up participating in a war. This event was significant because Germany did not cause the United States to get into war, but Japan did. -
Hitler Attacks Moscow
The Nazis began to move into Moscow and Soviet General Georgi Zhukov counterattacked in December. Germans retreated due to their stay in low temperatures with summer uniforms, but Hitler did not accept any retreats to take place and kept them in line against the Soviets till March 1943. This event was significant because Hitler gained nothing from this attack but just killed 500,000 Germans, which proved to others that it was possible to defeat Hitler, the unstoppable. -
The Japanese Bomb Pearl Harbor
The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, in which Americans did not know when or where this would happen. This event was significant because Congress accepted President Roosevelt's request to declare a war on Japan and its allies. Also, this event caused the United States to abandon neutrality and join the Allies. -
The United States and Britain Declare War on Japan
In order to take revenge for the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States bombed Tokyo and other Japanese cities, but caused a small amount of damage. This event was significant because it notified a psychological point to both the United States and Japan; the Japanese were vulnerable to attack. -
Hitler Declares War on the United States
When Hitler was dealing with the two front war, he wanted to attack France and Britain, but during this time, the United States supported Britain and Russia, so after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hitler (allies with Japan) attacked the United States with Italy. This event was significant because he wanted to prevent supplied coming across the Atlantic to Britain and Russia. Also, this war was to take revenge on the United States. -
The Joint War Policy
Winston Churchill and President Roosevelt held a meeting at the White House to create a joint war policy. This event was significant because both Churchill and Roosevelt agreed with Stalin's plan about him asking for the relieving of pressure on his army in the east from Germany's and wanting the opening of a second front in the west to split the Germans' power by making them fight great battles in two regions instead of one. The Allies wanted to decrease Germany's power on two fronts. -
Internment of Japanese Americans
PResident Roosevelt started the internment of Japanese Americans because they were seen as a threat to America after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This event was significant because the Japanese were suddenly seen as enemies by Americans and they were put into camps. Also because these interments were only given to the Japanese and not other races like German Americans. -
The Battle of Midway
The Japanese planned to attack Midway Island, but Americans knew about this. This event was significant because it was a sea and war battle during World War 2, where the Americans defeated Japan's attack with defense and ended up taking the offensive side. -
Battle of Guadalcanal
Americans heard that the Japanese were going to make an air base at Guadalcanal, so before they do so, the United States had to attack. So there was a battle between the Allies and Japan. This event was significant because the Americans wereable to drive Japan out of the island. -
The Battle of Stalingrad
Germay greatly destroyed Stalingrad and got to control 90 percent of it. This event was significant because Germany surrendered and lost over one million soldiers due to a Russian counterattack and Russian winters, -
The Battle of El Alamein
After General Erwin Rommel took Tobruk, General Bernard Montgomery was sent from London. Because the Germans were so well settled in El Alamein, the only way for the British forces to dislodge them was using a massive frontal attack. This event was significant because Germany was removed, Italy was pushed back, and it was the first time the British won a battle. -
Battle of Leyte Gulf
The Japanese planned to crush the Americans and prevent the Allies from reinforcing them because the Americans arrived in Leyte and were going to move into Japan. This had a risk in which the whole Japanese fleet could be lost, but was taken on October 23, 1942. The significance was that the Japanese were destroyed, Americans cut Japanese supply lines, and Japan was only left with an army and the kamikazes. -
Operation Torch
The Allies held Operation Torch after Rommel retreated west after the Battle of El Alamein. This event was significant because an Allied force led by Dwight D. Eisenhower arrived at Morocco and Algeria, but Rommel's Afrika korps got caught between Montgomery's and Eisenhower's armies, which crushed Rommel. -
The Invasion of Italy
Roosevelt and Churchill decided to attack Italy and the Allied forces captured Sicily after their arrival from italian and German troops. This event was significant because the capturing of Sicily caused Mussolini's loss of power, was arrested, shot, and hung in front of public. -
D-Day
D-Day was an invasion made by the Allies, targeting European mainlands. This event was significant because a dummy army was used to attack Calais and when the Allies entered Paris, they liberated France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. It was also significant because it is a battle to take back France and put Hitler into a difficult position; fighting a war on two fronts.The war ends in Europe and the Russians build the Berlin War, starting the Cold War. -
The Battle of the Bulge
The Germans attacked the Americans in the Ardennes. This event was significant because the Allies pushed back and made a turn-over, which caused the Germans to retreat due to lack of reinforcements. -
Battle of Okinawa
The Americans reached Okinawa after taking Iwo Jima. This event was significant because it was one of the bloodiest land battles and the last major battle during World War 2, and marked Japan's surrender since the Japanese lost 100.000 troops, while the Americans lost just 12,000. -
Hitler Marries Eva Braun
Hitler married his companion on April 29, 1945. This event was significant because the next day, they both commited suicide and their bodies were taken outside to be burned. -
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The Nuremberg Trials
These trials were passed in Nuremberg because of the actions of Nazi leaders for vilating war rules, using aggression, and commits crimes against humanity. This event was significant because many leaders were killed or commited suicide after these trials were passed. -
Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
First, the United States dropped an atomic bomb in Hiroshima and then in Nagasaki for the second time. Around 70,000 people died in both cities, but due to the radiation, more people died. This event was significant because the United States bombed these two cities to have Japan surrender, which Japan did on September 2, marking the end of World War 2. -
A New Constitution in America
General Douglas MacArthur and his political advisers promoted a new constitution, which changed the empire into a constitutional monarchy like Britain's. This event was significant because Japan also adopted this constitution. -
The End of World War II
A peace treaty is signed between the United States and 47 other nations with Japan. This event was significant because it ended World War II, the U.S. stopped controlling Japan, Japan asked the U.S. to protect their nations with the U.S. military, and Japan and the United States became allies.
