World War II

Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany

Jan 30, 1933

Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany. His Nazi Party, or the Third Reich, takes power and Hitler is essentially the dictator of Germany.

Leading Up to the War

Period: Jan 30, 1933 to Mar 12, 1938

Rome-Berlin Axis treaty

Oct 25, 1936

Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy form the Rome-Berlin Axis treaty.

Anti-Comintern Pact

Nov 25, 1936

Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan sign the Anti-Comintern Pact. This was a pact against communism and Russia.

Japan Invades China

Jul 7, 1937

Anschluss

Mar 12, 1938

Hitler annexes the country of Austria into Germany. This is also called the Anschluss.

Germany invades Poland

Sep 1, 1939

WWII BEGINS

WWII Begins

Period: Sep 1, 1939 to Dec 8, 1941

France and Great Britain declare war on Germany

Sep 3, 1939

German invasion of Denmark and Norway

Apr 9, 1940

From April 9-June 9, 1940, Germany invades and takes control of Denmark and Norway

Germany begins using blitzkrieg

May 10, 1940

May 10 - June 22, 1940: Germany uses quick strikes called blitzkrieg, meaning lightning war, to take over much of western Europe including the Netherlands, Belgium, and northern France.

Italy enters war

Jun 10, 1940

Italy enters the war as a member of the Axis powers

Tripartite Pact/Axis Alliance

Sep 22, 1940

Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact creating the Axis Alliance.

Pearl Harbor

Dec 7, 1941

"A date which will live in infamy" The Japanese attack the US Navy in Pearl Harbor.

USA enters WWII

Dec 8, 1941

The day after Pearl Harbor, the USA enters WWII on the side of the Allies. They are the last major force to enter the battle.