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Japan Invades Manchuria
In September 1931, Japan invaded Manchuria. Japan wanted more territory of their own as well as natural resources. Manchuria had a ton of resources which lead to the invasion. All of this action was taken place with the Japan Army, ignoring the governments orders not to invade. -
HItler Rises to Power
Hitler became chancellor in January of 1933. The Nazi power took off as well as Hitler's dictatorship. Hitler began to build German armed forces which was later used in the invasion of Poland. Doing all of this increased Germany's territory which is what Hitler wanted to do. -
Invasion of the Rhineland
German soldiers march into the Rhineland even though the Treaty of Versailles says that German troops were NOT aloud in there. Hitler said a French military agreement with the Soviet Union threatened Germany. This invasion made France greatly alarmed, but starting war was in no ones mind at that point. -
Rape of Nanjing
Japanese soldiers go into Nanjing and attack everyone. Women were raped and then murdered, children were murdered, anyone in Japanese forces way were killed. Between 200,000 and 300,000 Chinese civilians were murdered within four days. -
Hitler Gains the Sudetenland
In September 1938, Hitler threatened to take over the Sudetenland using force. With Britain and France not wanting to go to war, Chamberlin and Daladier met with Hitler. At the Munich Conference they agreed to give Hitler the Sudetenland in hope to avoid conflict, when in reality war was about to break loose. -
Kristallnacht
"The night of broken glass" where thousands of Jewish businesses and synagogues were damaged. 100 Jews were killed and 26,000 were sent to concentration camps. This was the first indication that Hitler seriously hated the Jews and wanted them gone. -
Germany Attacks Polland
German used the force of planes and tanks to break through to Poland. This was known as Blitzkrieg, tanks are used as a frontline and planes are used to bomb and make way for the tanks. Germany easily took over Poland within a months time. This attack triggered World War II. -
Britain and France delare war on Germany.
Britain and France declare war on Germany. -
France Falls
Germany attacks France. The French had set up the Maginot Line in which they would had hoped to save France. No one realized that German forces actually would go through the Ardennes forest to capture France. Once through, France had no chance. Saving the capitol Paris was key, but even that didn't work. France surrendered to German power and now occupied most of France. Vichy France was considered a "puppet government" because it had French leaders, but they took orders from Hitler. -
Battle of Britain
Britain was the only power that stood against Germany. All Allied powers had fallen under German control and with the United States not in war, Britain was alone. Britain held strong and planned to use the RAF against German forces. Germany fails for the first time because the RAF used the new technology of radar, but Germany was not going to back down. The Luftwaffe began bombing London. This battle lasted until late 1940. -
Attack at Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese. 20 warships and 200 aircraft were destroyed. 2,400 Americans are killed. The USS Arizona was a main target in the attack because it held the most men. They successfully sank the USS Arizona. That day also destroyed isolationism. -
The Bataan Death March
After General Douglas MacArthur left his men Japanese forces took over and the Americans had to surrender. This marked the largest U.S. surrender in the war. The march was 65 miles long and 2/3's of the men didn't even make it to the camps. The conditions were like those of the concentration camps where soldiers were given little food or water and were forced to do hard labor. -
Battle of Midway
The Japanese hoped to real in the U.S naval fleet and destroy it and head back to Pearl Harbor. That message was intercepted and the code was broken so the U.S new exactly what the Japanese were going to do. The U.S was able to sink four of the Japanese carriers and we only lost the USS Yorktown. The other two carriers were out of the Japanese range. -
Invasion of Italy
On July 10, Sicily was invaded. Fighting slowed going towards Rome but in June 1944, the first Axis capitol crashed. This is also around the time Mussolini was executed. 300,000 Allied troops were either killed or wounded fighting in Italy. Shortly after that Italy bebame apart of the Allied powers. This attack was known as 'Operation Husky." -
D-Day
Allied soldiers began parachuting behind German lines to try to secure key sites. Ships rained shells on the coastline to destroy German defences. Germans were slow to respond because they thought it was s trick. In the end Allies got a taste of victory. -
U.S Marines Arrive at Iwo Jima
Japan and the U.S fight hard at Iwo Jima. Japanese had guns mounted on Mount Suribachi which made it harder for the U.S soldiers to capture the island. On February 23, a group Marines made it to the top of Mount Suribachi raising the American flag then later an even larger flag. Around 25,000 American soldiers were killed or wounded. -
Okinawa
This battle was the bloodiest battle that ever took place in the Pacific war. This island was 350 miles from Japan and with the U.S. taking over this island, it allowed them to start bombing Japan. -
The Death of FDR
FDR suddenly dies and Harry Trumen takes over. The Pracific war was the main target at that time and without anyone knowing, FDR was planning the atomic bomb. When Trumen takes over not knowing about the bombs, he had a big decision to make; use them, or not. -
Benito Mussolini was Executed
Mussolini did not want to be taken into British or American hands therefore he tried to flee with his Mistress. They were later discovered and executed then hung publically. -
Hitler commits Suicide
Hitler commits suicide with his wife by taking cyanide and taking a gun to his head. -
VE-day
Marked the official end of the war in Europe. -
The USS Indianapolis Sinks
The USS Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese Submarine and sank in twelve minutes. Due to communication problems, no one knew that the USS Indianapolis had sank until survivors were found from a passing aircraft on August 2. Only 316 men survived out of the 1,199 men that were on the ship. This ship sank 2 weeks before the official end of World War II. The USS Indianapolis was carrying the atomic bombs but had already dropped them off. -
Atomic Bomb at Hiroshima
The U.S. drops the atomic bomb in Hiroshima killing 80,000 people with one bomb. Some deaths were instant, others took time with the radiation. Because of the atomic bomb, radiation was a serious problem causing birth defects, cancer, and environmental problems. -
Atomic Bomb at Nagasaki
Just like the atomic bomb at Hiroshima, the bomb at Nagasaki killed 40,000 people. Their deaths were just like the ones from Hiroshima caused by radiation also leading to birth defects, cancer and environment problems. -
Japan Surrenders
Japan surrenders on the USS Missouri. This marks the official end of World War II
