World War 2 Timeline

Invasion of Manchuria

Sep 19, 1931

The Soviet Union officially declared war on Japan. The Japanese weren't too worried about the Soviets because they were too busy with the Germans on the eastern front.

Rape of Nanjing

Dec 13, 1937

Over a six week period where the Japanese brutally murdered 200,000 to 300,000 Chinese people, and women were raped and killed.

Anschluss

Mar 12, 1938

This event was when Austria wanted Germany to rule them. This basically made a union between Germany and Austria.

Munich Pact

Sep 29, 1938

This was an agreement that would stop an outbreak of war but gave Czechoslovakia to the German Conquest.

Kristallnacht

Nov 9, 1938

This was also known as the Night of the broken glass, the Nazi's raided Jewish homes, schools, and business. People were killed or sent to concentration camps.

Non-Aggression Pact

Aug 23, 1939

The Non-Aggression Pact was a pact between Germany and the Soviet Union. This meant that no military action would take place between them for the next 10 years.

Invasion of Poland

Sep 1, 1939

This was the beginning of the war. Germany invaded Poland as a "defensive measure". They told Britain and France that they did this to protect themselves.

Evacuation of Dunkirk

May 27, 1940

This was an evacuation of allied troops in North France. This event happened because British, Bulgarian and French troops were cut off and surrounded by the German Army. This was a big event because Churchill said that the heart, core, and brain of the British army could perish or be captured.

Tri-Partite Agreement

Sep 27, 1940

This was the day the Axis Powers are formed. This provided a mutual assistance, which means that an attack on one is an attack on all of them.

Lend Lease Act

1941

This act was the principal means of allowing the U.S military to aid foreign nations

Operation Barbarossa

Jun 22, 1941

A huge invasion of the Soviet Union by the German's. This was a huge turning point in WW2, because Germany failed which forced them to fight a 2 front war.

Pearl Harbor

Dec 4, 1941

Pearl Harbor was a devastating attack on America by Japan. This was a surprise attack on a US Naval base. The United States entered that war after this.

Battle of Midway

Jun 4, 1942

This was after the Pearl Harbor attack, the battle was between America and Japan.

Battle of the Bulge

1944

Hitler was attempting to split the allied forces. He tried this by doing a surprise blitzkrieg through Ardennes to Antwerp.

D-Day Invasion

Jun 6, 1944

This was an Allied attack against Germany to free Northern France. This is important because they freed France from German control.

Liberation Of Paris

Jul 19, 1944

Paris was under control by the Nazi for more than 4 years. This was important because Germany blew up a lot of Paris.

Hitler's Suicide

Apr 30, 1945

Hitler killed himself because he was scared of getting caught. This is important because he was the leader of Germany.

Surrender of Germany

May 7, 1945

Germany signed a surrender, this was the end of world war 2. With this surrender Germany had to accept full responsibility for the war. Germany had to pay war debt and they had to divide among the allied powers.

Hiroshima/ Nagasaki

Aug 6, 1945

The world's first atomic 2 atomic bombs in Japan, killing and destroying homes. The Hiroshima bomb killed 90% of the city. The Nagasaki killed an estimated of 40,000 people. On the news they called the bombs "a new and most cruel bomb".