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Japan invades Manchuria
Japan invades Manchuria in order to get access to more natural resources. -
Italy invades Ethiopia
League of Nations and U.S were unwilling to take formal steps to punish Mussolini. -
Kristallnacht ("The Night of Broken Glass")
Thousands of Jewish businesses and synagogues were damaged. 100 Jews killed, 26,000 sent to concentration camps. Jews fined 1 billion marks, blamed for the damage. German Jews tried to leave the country, but it was difficult. -
Germany invades Poland
Hitler dressed up a German criminal as a Polish soldier and placed him at the border. He had him shot and accused Poland of invading Germany. Then, Germany invaded Poland. -
Britain and France declare war on Germany
Britain and France had allies that supported their decision to declare war on Germany. America sent goods to Britain in order to help them. -
Election of 1940
FDR runs for an unprecedented third term. He declares the U.S as "arsenal of democracy." -
Germany attacks France
Attacked through the Ardennes Forest in Northern France. By the end of June, France surrenders to Germany. -
Enigma broken by Allies
Gained vital information about Germany U-Boat formations. "Iron coffins" - 70% serving on U-Boats were dead by war's end. -
Japan bombs Pearl Harbor
Japan launches a surprise attack on America. 20 warships, 200 aircraft destroyed, and 2,400 Americans killed. -
The Doolittle Raid
Days after loss in Philippines, 16 American bombers attacked Tokyo, Japan. Although they didn't do major damage, it gave Americans something to celebrate. It did cause Japan's leaders to worry and make future blunders. -
Invasion of Sicily
The Allies invaded Sicily, Italy. Germany rushed to stop the allies. Mussolini was shot by Italian rebels. In the end, 300,000 Allied troops were kiled or wounded while fighting in Italy. -
FDR wins election
This was an unprecedented fourth term for him. -
Allies enter Rome
Invaded Rome after invading Sicily. Rome was the first Axis capital to fall. Mussolini was shot by Italian rebels. In the end, 300,000 Allied troops were killed or wounded fighting in Italy. -
D-Day
101th Airborne parachuted behind enemy lines. 150,000 Allied troops carried across the English Channel (led by Omar Bradley.) Hitler refused to send reinforcements for precious days because he feared the invasion was a trick. 10,000 Allies died, but they were sucessful! -
Recapturing the Philippines
Douglas MacArthur was ready to fulfill his promise and return by July 1944. After a fight with Japan, the Allies eventually enter Manila in Feb. 1945. -
Yalta Conference
Meeting between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin. Divide and occupy Germany, divide Berlin. Stalin promised to hold elections in Eastern European countries after the war. Soviets will join war on Japan 3 months after German surrender. Friction between the Allies. -
FDR dies
After FDR died, Vice President Harry Truman took over. -
Hitler commits suicide
After Germany lost the war, Hitler went into hiding and eventually killed himself. -
VE Day
VE Day marked the formal end of the war in Europe. -
Japan surrenders
The U.S bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. Japan's response? Surrender!
