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Japan Invades Manchuria
The Japanese Empire wanted control of the entire province. With success, they would eventually encompass all of East Asia. -
Italy Invades Ethiopia
Ethiopia had the help of European powers. It had very valuable exports and a modern army. -
Hitler Re-Occupies the Rhineland
At the end of World War I Germany was forced to “accept the responsibility for causing all the loss and damage” of the war and disarm, give up land and pay reparations from the war. Adolf Hitler and the German people were left angry after this. He decided to violate it and send German military forces into the Rhineland, a demilitarized zone in western Germany. This is significant because it violated the terms of the Treaty, showing the beginning steps of Hitler’s plan to go to war. -
Stalin and Hitler sign a "Non-Aggression Pact"
This promised that the two would not come between each other's business (mind your own business and the other will do the same) -
Britain Signs a Pact with Poland
The Polish-British Common Defence Pact was signed, this meant that the two had mutual military assistance if either were attacked by another European country. -
Germany Invades Poland
Germany invaded from the north, south and west. The Germans advanced and the Polish moved to the east. The Germans gained a great advantage. -
Britain and France Declare War on Germany
Poland had just been invaded by Germany so Britain and France declared war on Germany because they had a Treaty with Poland. Poland was being threatened with force so they had to help. -
Hitler Invades France
The Germans invaded France and the low countries. This ended the Phony War. The Phony War was an eight month time period in which no major attacks happened on the Western Front. -
Miracle at Dunkirk
Many British troops defended France.Even with Britain's effort, the Germans advanced into France leaving both allied troops trapped. In May, 1940, British troops had to be evacuated from Dunkirk. 300 000 soldiers were rescued by boats. Many different boats that sailed across the British Channel to return the stranded troops safely back to Britain. Despite the “miracle” it was a terrible defeat, much of the heavy British war equipment had to be abandoned and France fell in six weeks. -
Germany invades the Soviet Union
Stalin was known to have trust issues, so if he was suspicious of someone he would kill them even if it was his best officers and troops. So when Germany invaded Stalin and the Soviets were not ready for war due to the low number of officers and troops. This is known as Operation “Barbarossa”. Germans drove into the Soviet Union and almost reached Moscow by October. When the severe Russian winter arrived the Nazi offensive broke down and the German attack was halted -
The Italian Government surrenders
When Italy surrendered the Italians separated into two camps. By September 26 the Allies had 189,000 men and 30,000 vehicles.The German Army took control of the defence of Germany. -
D-Day
This was a significant day in WWII. This day resulted in the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany’s control. 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches. The invasion was one of the largest attacks in history. -
Adolf Hitler's Suicide
Hitler commits suicide because he did not want the German people to capture him and torture him due to them being angry for losing the war. His wife also commits suicide with him. -
Germany Surrenders
Germany signed an unconditional surrender at Allied headquarters in France. This took effect the following day and ended World War II. -
Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
This happened during the final stages of WWII. The Allies dropped two atomic bombs on the two cities in Japan. This is the only use of nuclear weapons in war to ever happen.
