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Period: to
World War II
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Aldolf Hitler becomes leader of the Nazi party
An extreme nationalist, Aldolf Hitler, was one of the many angry about Germany's defeat in World War I. The Nationalist Socialist, or Nazi party, elected Adolf Hitler as their leader in 1921. Hitler told Germany that they were a master race that was meant to rule over the Slavs, Gypsies, and especially, the Jewish people. -
Benito Mussolini becomes the prime minister of Italy
After World War I, Italy faced economic problems which lead to unrest. Benito Mussolini promised the Italian people that he would restore the order with his leadership. In 1922 Mussolini threatened to overthrow the government, forcing the king to elect him as Prime Minister. -
Joseph Stalin becomes sole dictator of Soviet Union
Elected in 1929, Joeseph Stalin turned the Soviet Union into a totalitarian state, in other words, a nation controled by a single party. Stalin took great measures to control agiculture and industry, and rule with an iron fist. -
Japanese Army invades Manchuria China
Without the governments permission, the Japanese army seized control of Manchuria China. The league of Nations tried to stop the aggression, but did nothing but protest. The Japanese treated the chinese brutally and more than a quater of million people were massacred. -
Hitler is made the Chancellor of Germany
The great depression increased Hitler's popularity and in 1933 he was named chancellor of germany. Once in power he quickly created a totaltarian state that outlawed all other parties. -
Neutrality acts passed by congress
The neutrality act pssed by congress in 1935 was the first of many designed to keep the United States at peace. It forbade the President from selling weapons, giving loans, and giving other assistance to any nation in war. -
Italian Army invades Ethiopia
Italy invades Ethiopia In 1935, the Italian armies led by Mussolini, invaded Ethiopia. The Ethiopians gave their best but couldn't stop the Italian army. Haile Selassie, Ethiopia's emperor, asked the League of Nations for aid, but they did nothing. -
Militarists takes control of Japanese Government
By 1936, the Japanese Government was fully under control of Militarists. They, like the Nazis, preached rascism and thought they were superior to other countries and races. -
Hitler sends troops to Rihneland violating the versaille treaty
Hitler wanted to create an empire that united all German speaking people, even those that didnt live in Germany. He began enlarging Germany's army, and futher broke the treaty of Versaille by invading the rhineland section of Germany. -
Japanese pillage Nanjing China
For six weeks Japanese forces pillaged and attacked the city of Nanjing China. The Japanese had just recently upped their aggression in China, and treated the chinese people brutally. As a result of the attack nearly a quarter of a million chinese people were massacred. -
Munich pact signed
France and Britain agreed to let Germany occupy the Sudentenland, which was a portion of Czechoslovakia populated mainly by German speaking civilians. Hitler promised to not seek further territory in return, but of course, in only a few months later, Hitler seized the remaining portions of Czechoslovakia. -
Nazis begin rounding up Jews for labor camps
Germany passed anti-semitic laws that banned jews from schools and certain professions such as law and medicine. Jewish communities began being attacked and soon the nazis began gathering jews to put in slave labor camps. -
Nazi-Soviet pact signed by Stalin and Hitler
In August 1939, the world was shocked to learn that two enemies had signed a non-agression act. Dictators Hitler and Stalin, of Germany and Russia, agreed to not attack each other's countries. Also secretly, they had divided up Poland between them. -
Nazis invade Poland and France and Britain declare war on Germany
On the first of September 1939, Nazi forces invade Poland, and then 16 days later Soviet armies invaded eastern Poland. Two days after Hitler invaded Poland, both France and Britain declared war on Germany, World War II had begun. -
Nazis invade Denmark, Luxembourg, Belgium, Norway and the Nethertlands
In the early days of the war, Hitlers forces were seemingly invincible, and moved north to conquer Denmark and Norway. Then went west to gain contol over the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium. -
Germany forces France to surrender
After gaining control of Belgium and many other countries, Germany moved on to France. Even with the British troops sent to help the French, they were easily overpowered by Hitler, and were forced to retreat to Dunkirk on the English channel. German armies then marched to the capitol, Paris. Not 6 weeks later, on June 22, Hitler accepted the surrender of France. -
Royal Air Force stops German Air Force from invading
In hopes to invade Britain, Hitler ordered an air assault on them. Even after relentless attacks on their cities, the British spirit never broke. The Royal Air Force fought invading planes, and eventually Hitler gave up on the idea of invading Britain. -
First American Peactime Draft
The peactimedraft passed by congress in 1940, required all 18 year old men to sign up for the selective service. It didn't mean that military service was required at the time of registration, but put the men on a list in case a military draft is needed. -
Hitler breaks pact and invades the Soviet Union
On June 22nd, 1941, Hitler ordered a large German Force to cross into the Soviet Union. This action violated the act Stalin and Hitler Signed. The Soviets were now forced to fight with the British against their common enemy. -
Japanese invade French Indochina
It was this event in Asia that helped spur America into war. In July 1941, the Japanese Army invaded he French Colonies of Indochina(present day Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia).
Because of this action, FDR stopped American exports of resources such as iron, steel, and resticted sale of oil to Japan. -
FDR and Churchill issue the Atlantic Charter
In August of 1941, British prime minister, Winston Churchill, and FDR issued the Atlantic Charter, outlining their goals for the world after the war. They agreed that neither of their nations would seek territory after the war, and thought that it was the right of the people to choose their own type of government. -
US drawn into the war when Pearl Harbor, Hawaii is attacked by the Japanese
On December 7th,1941, a surprise attack was launched on Pearl Harbor Hawaii, by Japanese Bombers. Over 2,400 Americans died, and destroyed many of the island's military forces. The attack surprised American leaders, they weren't expecting an ambush. Congress declared war on Japan, and then Germany and Italy declared war on the US, we were in another world war. -
Philippines fall to Japan- Bataan Death March
A few weeks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese land on the Main Philippine island, Luzon. There, an American-Filipino did there best to defend the country. As the Japanese grew closer to the Capitol, the defending force retreated to the Bataan Peninsula. The force finally surrendered on April 9th. The Japanese took nearly 70,000 prisioners and forced them to walk 65 miles to a prision camp. So many soldiers died, that it was known as a death march. -
Japanese Americans put in isolation camps
In the begining of 1942, shortly after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese were starting to be interned at isolation camps. 62% of all internees were american citizens, forced there by their own government. -
Battle of Midway- Turning point of the war in the pacific
In June 1942, the Japanese sought to destroy another key American base in the island of Midway. But their attempt was futile. During the Japanese invasion the Americans destroyed 4 of their aircraft carriers, 322 aircrafts, and greatly reduced the number of Japanese highly trained pilots. -
Soviets resist nazi offensive- battle of Stalingrad
In mid-1942 the Soviets made a stand against the German offensive. It had been a bitter cold russian winter and the Nazi force was still recovering from the hit they took. With the Germans just miles away from Moscow, Hitler mounted another assault around the city of Stalingrad. After months of fighting, the Soviets had clearly taken the victory, and began to drive the Nazis back westward. -
British and US forces defeat Nazis in North Africa
After a number of quick victories in North Africa, German General Erwin Rommel, was defeated in Egypt by British forces in October 1942. As British began driving the Germans westward towards Tunsinia, the first American force arrived in November and occupied Morroco. Faced with a threat on both sides, Rommel surrendured in May 1943. -
Zoot suit riots in 1943
During the war American companies werein need of workers, and many hired mexicans, and mexican-americans. As more of these people moved north they faced prejudice and mistreatment for their differences. Many of the young mexican-americans would wear flashy out fits known as zoot-suits. In the june of 1943 sailors on shore leave began clubbing and attacking young mexican-americans. This voilence sparked rioting that went on for days. -
Italy Surrenders, Mussolini no longer Prime Minister
In the July of 1943, American and British troops coming from Tunsinia, crossed the Mediterranean sea. Quickly, they took control over the Italian island of Sicily, and soon in the fall they were fighting their way northward in Italy. Most likely ashamed of his countries effort, the King dissmissed Mussolini from the position of Prime Minister. Then on September 8th, the allies gladly accepted Italy's surrender, but their problems were not over. -
D-Day invasion on Normandy France
By 1944 the allied country's forces were ready to take back France. Under the command of General Eisenhower, the allies planned their invasion of France at Normandy. On june 6th 1944, now know as D-Day, 155,000 British, American, and Canadian troops crossed the English channel and landed in France. Of the five beaches where they landed, four quickly defeated the German forces waiting for them. -
Allies reach Paris France
On August 25 1944, allied forces finally marched into Paris, the capitol of France. After the allies D-Day invasion about a month ago, almost a million soldiers were now in Paris. After four years of German rule, the French men, women, and children, were happy to finally be releived of their punishment. -
Part one-Battle of the Bulge- Last German Offensive
After the liberation of Paris, allied forces continued to move eastward. determined to reach Berlin. But on December 16th1944 the Germans counterattacked in Belgium. Hitler was determined and poured his remaining troops into the attack. In the first week of the battle, bad weather kept American planes on the ground, which allowed the Germans to make a "bulge" in the American force. The Nazis nearly broke through Allied lines, but near the end their attack seemed futile. -
Battle of the Bulge- continued
The Nazis were running dangerously low on supplies, especially fuel. During the balttle, both sides lost tens of thousands of men, but the allies had reserves, the German didn't. During the coldest winter of Europe in 40 years was where the Allied forces won the Battle of the Bulge. Germany was now exposed. -
US takes back the Philippines
In January 1945, as he promised, Douglas MacArthur returned to the Philippines. US trrops landed in Luzon, and then began to advance on Manila. After about a month of urban wrfare, the city was secured. Overall however, the Philippine campaign cost the lives of 14,000 Americans, 350,000 Japanese, and 100,000 Filipino civilians. -
FDR dies and Harry Truman becomes President
On April 12th, 1945, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt died of a stroke. His death was terrible on American Citizens. FDR had gotten them through the most of the war ,and through the deppression, without him they seemed lost. FDR's vice President, Harry S. Truman was given the role of president with almost no experience, and many people wondered if he would be sufficient enough to get through the end of the war. -
V-E Day Victory in Europe
Germany was colapsing before the Nazis eyes. On April 16 1945 the Soviets reached Berlin and began their assualt. Hitler took shelter in a bunker underneath the city as he watched his country fall to ruin. Later that month, on the 30th, Hitler committed suicide. A week later Germany's armed forces surrendered at General Eisenhowers headquarters in France. On May 8th, the Allies finally celebrated victory in Europe, V-E Day. -
First Atomic Bomb Dropped
The new President Truman wanted to make plans to Invade Japan but was told it would cost too many American lives. So Truman thought of another suloution. The atamic bomb was a secret weapon the US had been successfully testing in the New Mexico desert. This new weapon was powerful enough to destroy an entire city. -
FIrst Atomic bombs Dropped- Continued
Hiroshima Bomb So on August 6th, the first atomic bomb was dropped on to the Japanese town of Hiroshima. Then three days later on the 9th, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. The destruction was like nothing the world had ever seen. At Hioshima 130,000 peopel died the moment of Impact. Another 30,000 died on impact at Nagasaki. Many people would die of radiation poisoning over the next weeks, months, and years. -
V-J Day Japan surrenders
Finally on August 14th, 1945, Japan's Emperor annonced that Jaan would surrender to the allies. That would be known as victory over Japan day or V-J Day. Douglas MacArthur formally accepted their surrender on September 2nd from aboard the the USS Missouri that was anchored in Tokyo Bay. The war was over. -
Nuremburg War Trials
For the first time ever, Allied Victors took another step, due events such as the Holocaust. The victor countries persecuted leaders of the losing side of the war for War Crimes. War Crimes were actions of large amounts of creulty, brutality, and actions that go beyond the limits of human behavior. In Nuremburg Geramany 12 defendants, Nazis who started the war and the holocausr, were hung for their wrongs. Similar trials happened in Manila and Tokyo, to try the leaders of Japan.
