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Adolf Hitler becomes the leader of the Nazi party
Hitler's Nazi Party became the largest democratically elected party in the German Reichstag. Hitler aimed to eliminate Jews from Germany and establish a New Order to counter what h -
Benito Mussolini appointed Prime Minister of Italy
As Prime Minister, the first years of Mussolini's rule were characterized by a right-wing coalition government composed of Fascists, nationalists, liberals, and two Catholic clerics from the Popular Party. -
Joseph Stalin sole dictator of the Soviet Union (USSR)
Stalin vastly increased the scope and power of the state's secret police and intelligence agencies. Under his guiding hand, Soviet intelligence forces began to set up intelligence networks in most of the major nations of the world, including Germany, Great Britain, France, Japan, and the United States. -
Japan’s Army seizes Manchuria, China
On November 15, 1931, despite having lost more than 400 men and 300 left wounded since November 5, General Ma declined a Japanese ultimatum to surrender Tsitsihar. On November 17, in subzero weather, 3,500 Japanese troops, under the command of General Jirō Tamon, mounted an attack, forcing General Ma from Tsitsihar by November 19. -
Hitler is named Chancellor of Germany
Hitler had insisted on the ministerial positions as a way to gain control over the police in much of Germany. -
Neutrality Acts passed by US Congress
The Neutrality Acts were passed by the United States Congress in the 1930s, in response to the growing turmoil in Europe and Asia that eventually led to World War II. They were spurred by the growth in isolationism and non-interventionism in the US following its costly involvement in World War I, and sought to ensure that the US would not become entangled again in foreign conflicts. -
Italian Army invades Ethiopia in Africa
The Second Italo–Ethiopian War, also referred to as the Second Italo–Abyssinian War, was a colonial war that started in October 1935 and ended in May 1936. The war was fought between the armed forces of the Kingdom of Italy (Regno d'Italia) and the armed forces of the Ethiopian Empire (also known at the time as Abyssinia). The war resulted in the military occupation of Ethiopia. -
Japan’s army pillages Nanjing, China.
In Nanjing, China, Japan's army massacred a quarter of a million people. -
Munich Pact signed giving the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia to Germany
The Munich Agreement was a settlement permitting Nazi Germany's annexation of portions of Czechoslovakia along the country's borders mainly inhabited by German speakers, for which a new territorial designation "Sudetenland" was coined. The agreement was negotiated at a conference held in Munich, Germany, among the major powers of Europe, without the presence of Czechoslovakia. -
Nazis invade Poland; Britain and France declare war on Germany
Nazi leader Adolf Hitler claimed the massive invasion was a defensive action, but Britain and France were not convinced. -
Battle of Britain
Royal Air Force defeats German Air Force to prevent invasion of their island -
Nazis invade Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium – take control
The Germans moved to take control of that land directly between it. -
First time Peacetime Draft in US
Signed into law by Franklin Roosevelt in 1940, the Act established the first peace-time draft in United States history. -
French Indochina
Japanese invade French Indochina (Viet. Laos, Cambodia) -
Churchill and FDR issue the Atlantic Charter
The Atlantic Charter was a joint declaration released by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill -
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor in Hawaii attacked by Japanese Naval and Air forces, US declares war on Japan, Germany and Italy declare war on the US -
Russians stop Nazi advance at Stalingrad save Moscow
The German Army never fully recovered from the beating it took in Russia around Moscow -
Philippines fall to Japanese – Bataan Death March
The Bataan Death March was the forced march of American and Filipino -
Japanese Americans interned in isolated camps
he quality of life in the camps was heavily influenced by which government entity was responsible for them. -
Russians stop Nazi advance at Stalingrad save Moscow
Also known as the North African Campaign -
Battle of Midway, turning point of war in the Pacific
The Battle of Midway in early June 1942, marked the turning point of World War II in the Pacific. -
Zoot Suit Riots – Los Angeles, CA
he Zoot Suit Riots were a series of riots in 1943 during World War II that broke out in Los Angeles, California -
Italy surrenders, Mussolini dismissed as Prime Min.
Dismissed by Victor Emmanuel III -
D-Day invasion of France at Normandy by Allies
The invasion was one of the largest amphibious military assaults in history and required extensive planning. -
Paris retaken by Allies Forces
With much of France now under allied control the Americans decided that the liberation of Paris by Christmas would be politically advantageous. -
Battle of the Bulge – last offensive of German Forces
A surprise attack -
US forces return to recapture the Philippines
After a two day naval bombardment General Walter Krueger and the 6th Army landed on 22nd October, 1944. -
FDR dies, Harry S. Truman becomes President
After the death of FDR, Harry S. Truman of Missouri, the Vice President, took the oath as the thirty-second President. -
V-E Day, war ends in Europe
Also known as Victory in Europe day -
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V-J Day, Japan surrenders to Allied Forces
By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations so they surrendered -
War Crimes Trials held in Nuremburg, Germany; Manila, Philippines and Tokyo, Japan.
Due to major war criminals, the war crime trials had to be held
