-
Japan invades Manchuria.
-
Period: to
Fascist Italy invades, conquers, and annexes Ethiopia
October 2, 1935–May 1936 -
Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan sign the Anti-Comintern Pact, directed against the Soviet Union and the international Communist movement.
November 25, 1936
Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan sign the Anti-Comintern Pact, directed against the Soviet Union and the international Communist movement. -
Period: to
Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy sign a treaty of cooperation on October 25; on November 1, the Rome-Berlin Axis is announced.
October 25–November 1, 1936
Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy sign a treaty of cooperation on October 25; on November 1, the Rome-Berlin Axis is announced. -
Japan invades China, initiating World War II in the Pacific.
July 7, 1937
Japan invades China, initiating World War II in the Pacific. -
Period: to
Germany incorporates Austria in the Anschluss.
March 11–13, 1938
Germany incorporates Austria in the Anschluss. -
Germany, Italy, Great Britain, and France sign the Munich agreement which forces the Czechoslovak Republic to cede the Sudetenland, including the key Czechoslovak military defense positions, to Nazi Germany.
September 29, 1938
Germany, Italy, Great Britain, and France sign the Munich agreement which forces the Czechoslovak Republic to cede the Sudetenland, including the key Czechoslovak military defense positions, to Nazi Germany. -
Period: to
Under German pressure, the Slovaks declare their independence and form a Slovak Republic. The Germans occupy the rump Czech lands in violation of the Munich agreement, forming a Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.
March 14–15, 1939
Under German pressure, the Slovaks declare their independence and form a Slovak Republic. The Germans occupy the rump Czech lands in violation of the Munich agreement, forming a Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. -
France and Great Britain guarantee the integrity of the borders of the Polish state.
March 31, 1939
France and Great Britain guarantee the integrity of the borders of the Polish state. -
Period: to
Fascist Italy invades and annexes Albania.
April 7–15, 1939
Fascist Italy invades and annexes Albania. -
Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union sign a nonaggression agreement and a secret codicil dividing eastern Europe into spheres of influence.
August 23, 1939
Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union sign a nonaggression agreement and a secret codicil dividing eastern Europe into spheres of influence. -
Germany invades Poland, initiating World War II in Europe.
September 1, 1939
Germany invades Poland, initiating World War II in Europe. -
Period: to
The Soviet Union invades Finland,
November 30, 1939–March 12, 1940
The Soviet Union invades Finland, initiating the so-called Winter War. The Finns sue for an armistice and have to cede the northern shores of Lake Lagoda and the small Finnish coastline on the Arctic Sea to the Soviet Union. -
Period: to
Germany, Italy, Hungary, and Bulgaria invade and dismember Yugoslavia.
April 6, 1941–June 1941
Germany, Italy, Hungary, and Bulgaria invade and dismember Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia surrenders on April 17. Germany and Bulgaria invade Greece in support of the Italians. Resistance in Greece ceases in early June 1941. -
Hitler commits suicide.
April 30, 1945
Hitler commits suicide. -
Germany surrenders to the Soviets.
May 9, 1945
Germany surrenders to the Soviets. -
The United States drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki.
August 9, 1945
The United States drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. -
Having agreed in principle to unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945, Japan formally surrenders, ending World War II.
September 2, 1945
Having agreed in principle to unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945, Japan formally surrenders, ending World War II.