The War By acarbone Oct 30, 1922 Mussolini becomes Prime Minister of Italy Jan 21, 1924 Stalin declared leader of the Soviet Union after Lenin dies of a stroke Sep 18, 1931 Japanese invasion of Manchuria begins. Some regard this as the start of the Second World War. Period: Sep 18, 1931 to Feb 27, 1932 Japanese Invasion of Manchuria Jan 30, 1933 Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany Mar 4, 1933 FDR become President of the United States Aug 23, 1939 Non-agression pact between Germany and Russia is signed Sep 1, 1939 Germany begins invading Poland, WWII begins Period: Sep 1, 1939 to Oct 6, 1939 German invasion of Poland Sep 3, 1939 Phoney War begins. UK and France declare war on Germany, but nothing happens. Mar 11, 1941 Lend-Lease Act passed in United States Oct 17, 1941 Hideki Tojo becomes Prime Minister of Japan. Dec 7, 1941 Japan attacks at Pearl Harbor. United States goes to war with the Axis Powers. Apr 30, 1945 Hitler commits suicide.
