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Japan invades Manchuria
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Hitler’s appointment of Chancellor in January of 1933
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Dachau opens
One of the first concentration camps was Dachau, which opened on March 20, 1933 -
the Nazis instigated their first action against German Jews by announcing a boycott of all Jewish-run businesses
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Prisoners were political prisoners
From 1933 until 1938, most of the prisoners in the concentration camps were political prisoners (i.e. people who spoke or acted in some way against Hitler or the Nazis) and people the Nazis labeled as "asocial." -
The Nuremberg Laws
The Nuremberg Laws, issued on September 15, 1935, began to exclude Jews from public life. The Nuremberg Laws included a law that stripped German Jews of their citizenship and a law that prohibited marriages and extramarital sex between Jews and Germans. The Nuremberg Laws set the legal precedent for further anti-Jewish legislation -
Anti-Comintem Pact signed
Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan sign the Anti-Comintern Pact, directed against the Soviet Union and the international Communist movement. -
Japan invades China, initiating World War II in the Pacific.
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Program against Jews
During the night of November 9-10, 1938, Nazis incited a pogrom against Jews in Austria and Germany in what has been termed, "Kristallnacht" ("Night of Broken Glass"). This night of violence included the pillaging and burning of synagogues, breaking the windows of Jewish-owned businesses, the looting of these stores, and many Jews were physically attacked. Also, approximately 30,000 Jews were arrested and sent to concentration camps. -
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Slovaks declare independence
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 -
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Fascist Italy invades and annexes Albania.
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World War 2 starts
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Germany invades Poland, initiating World War II in Europe
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Warsaw surrenders on September 27. The Polish government flees into exile via Romania. Germany and the Soviet Union divide Poland between them
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Germany attacks
Germany attacks western Europe—France and the neutral Low Countries. Luxembourg is occupied on May 10; the Netherlands surrenders on May 14; and Belgium surrenders on May 28. On June 22, France signs an armistice agreement by which the Germans occupy the northern half of the country and the entire Atlantic coastline. In southern France, a collaborationist regime with its capital in Vichy is established. -
Romania is forced to cede parts
The Soviet Union forces Romania to cede the eastern province of Bessarabia and the northern half of Bukovina to the Soviet Ukraine -
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The air war known as the Battle of Britain ends in defeat for Nazi Germany
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The Italians invade British-controlled Egypt from Italian-controlled Libya
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Italy invades Greece from Albania
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The Germans send the Afrika Korps to North Africa to reinforce the faltering Italians.
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Bulgaria joins the Axis
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Ustasa proclaim the Independent State of Croatia
The leaders of the terrorist Ustasa movement proclaim the so-called Independent State of Croatia. Recognized immediately by Germany and Italy, the new state includes the province of Bosnia-Herzegovina. -
A Soviet counteroffensive drives the Germans from the Moscow suburbs in chaotic retreat
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Japan bombs Pearl Harbor
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From 6 June 1944 to 8 May 1945 in Europe the Allies had 200,000 dead and 550,000 wounded
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World War 2 ends
Having agreed in principle to unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945, Japan formally surrenders, ending World War II.