-
Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
-
Germany Invades Poland
After already annexing Austria in 1938 and Czechoslovakia in earlier in the year, Hitler set his sights on Poland. With the newly signed Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression pact, Germany invaded one front and the Soviets invaded the other of Poland. After enough appeasement, the Allies (Great Britian and France at this point) would declare war two days later. -
Period: to
World War II
-
Great Britian and France Declare War on Germany
-
Germany Invades France, Belgium, & the Netherlands
After already successfully annexing Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Austria without any large military obstacles, Hitler decides to begin the next leg of his campain and invade France, Belgium, and the Netherlands using Blitzkrieg war tactics. All of these countries fall rather quickly. France surrenders to Germany just one month later. -
Italy Declares War on Great Britian & France
-
France Surrenders to Germany
-
Lend-Lease Act
-
Operation Barbarossa
-
Pearl Harbor
While WWII began to rage on in Europe, the United States had taken a policy of isolationism and refused to get involved much if at all in the war. Japan planned a secret attack bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii in December 1941. Four days later, the United States would officially enter WWII, and would be the biggest power in the war along with Germany. -
Period: to
US Involvement in WWII
-
Executive Order 9066
-
Battle of Midway Begins
After a string of Japanese wins in the Pacific theatre, the U.S. finally won the Battle of Midway. This was a major turning point in the war for the United States. Additionally, it prevented the unchecked spreaf of Japanese power in the Pacific. -
Battle of Stalingrad Begins
-
Germany Surrenders at Stalingrad
Earlier in the war Hitler double-crossed his ally, Stalin, to gain the Soviet territory. However, his troops, for once, faced nothing but major setbacks. After a long, cold, deadly winter, Germany surrendered at Stalingrad to put an end to a two-front war. -
Mussolini Resigns
-
Italy Surrenders
-
D Day
WWII was many years and lives in by D Day. Finally, the Allies made a major European landing in Normandy, France, surprising Germany. This eventually led to the liberation of France and is seen as the turning point in the European theatre of war. -
Allies Liberate Paris
-
Battle of the Bulge Begins
-
Yalta Conference
-
Hitler Commits Suicide
-
US Drops 2nd Atomic Bomb on Nagasaki
After dropping the first atomic bomb in history three days earlier in Hiroshima, Japan had still refused to surrender. Though the war in Europe was over, war in the Pacific raged on. The United States decided to drop a second atomic bomb, which would lead to the end of WWII and the surrender of Japan.
