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Italy invades and conquores Ethiopia
October 1935 - May 1936 -
Germany and Italy sign a treaty to create the base of the Axis powers
November 1, 1936 - the Rome-Berlin Axis is announced -
Japan invades China, initiating World War II in the Pacific
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Germany invades Poland, initiating World War II in Europe
Honoring their alliances with Poland, Great Britain and France declare war on Germany. -
Soviet Union invades, Warsaw surrenders, and Poland is divided
Polish government flees into exile via Romania and Germany and the Soviet Union divide Poland between them. -
Winter War Begins
The Soviet Union invades Finland and initiates the WInter War. They take the northern shores of Lake Lagoda and the small Finnish coastline on the Arctic Sea from the FInns. -
Germany attacks western Europe (France and nuetral Low Countries)
Luxembourg is taken, the Netherlands and Belgium surrender, and France signs and armistice with Germany granting them the northern half of the country and the entire Atlantic coastline. -
Italy enters the war
Invade southern France on June 21, 1940. -
Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Triparite Pact
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Nazi Germany defeated in the Battle of Britain
air war -
Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania join the Axis
Hungary: November 20
Romania: November 22
Slovakia: November 23 -
Bulgaria joins the Axis
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Finland joins the Axis powers and they invade the Soviet Union
June 22, 1941 - November 1941: Germany and its Axis partners (except Bulgaria) quickly overrun the Baltic States, Leningrad, Smolensk, Kiev, and Rostov. A Soviet counteroffensive drives the Germans out of Moscow on December 6, 1941. -
Japan bombs Pearl Harbor
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United States enters the war
The U.S. declares war on Japan and enters World War II. By April 1942, Japan was in control of the Phillipines, Indochina, and Singapore. -
Axis powers declare war on the United States
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U.S. troops stop Japanese island-hopping
American troops stop Japanese island-hopping advances towards Australia at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. -
Axis forces surrender and North African Campaign ends
Axis forces in Tunisia surrender to the Allies and the North African Campaign comes to an end. -
Benito Mussolini is deposed
The Fascist Grand Council deposes Mussolini which allows the Italian marshall Pietro Badoglio to form a new government. The Badoglio government surrenders to the Allies on September 8 and the Germans seize control of Rome and northern Italy. Mussolini is freed from imprisonment by German commandos on September 12. -
British and U.S. troops open a second front
British and U.S. troops open a second front against the Germans on Normandy beaches. -
Romania switches sides
Soviet troops on the Prut river enduces Romanian opposition for overthrowing the Antonescu regime. An armistice is signed by the new government and Romania immidiately switches sides in the war. Bulgaria then surrenders on September 8 and the Germans evacuate Greece, Albania, and southern Yugoslavia by October. -
Finland leaves the Axis
An armistace is signed with the Soviet Union and Finland leaves the Axis partnership. -
Battle of the Bulge
The Germans launch a final offensive in the west to re-conquor Belgium and split Allied forces along the German boarder. The Germans were in retreat by January 1, 1945. -
Soviets launch final offensive
They encircle Berlin. -
Hitler commits suicide
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Germany surrenders
To the western Allies on May 7 and the Soviet on May 9. -
U.S. drops a bomb on Hiroshima
The United States dropped an atomic bomb on Japan's Hiroshima. -
Soviet Union declare war on Japan
And they invade Manchuria. -
U.S. drops a bomb on Nagasaki
The United States drops an atomic bomb on Japan's Nagasaki. -
Japan surrenders
Japan agrees to unconditionally surrender on August 14 and they formally do in September, ending World War II.
