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Japan Withdraws From the League of Nations
Japan invaded Manchuria because Japanese businesses had invested heavily there. This was the first direct challenge to the League of Nations. Members of the League protested, but Japan ignored them and soon left the League of Nations. The withdrawal of Japan from the League encouraged other European Fascists to make their own plans. -
Mussolini Attacks Ethiopia
Ethiopia had resisted an Italian movement during the 1890s. To avenge that defeat, Mussolini attacked Ethiopia once again. When the Ethiopians asked for help from the League of Nations, the members just condemned the strike. Otherwise, they did nothing in hopes to keep the peace in Europe. -
German Troops Storm Into Rhineland
When the League of Nations did not stop Hitler after he declared that Germany would not obey the restrictions placed by the Treaty of Versailles, he wanted to take things a step forward. Hitler ordered his troops to storm into a restricted area which divided France and Germany. The French were unwilling to risk a war, so when there was no reaction, Hitler felt as though he was gaining more power. -
The Third Reich
Hitler announced his plan to take over Austria and Czechoslovakia in the Third Reich, or the German empire. Hitler annexed the restriction that Austria and Germany must not interact, which was stated in the Treaty of Versailles. He raised pro-Nazi feeling in both countries and made them support his plans. -
The Munich Conference
France and Britain were preparing for a war with Italy, when Mussolini set up a meeting with Germany, France, Britain, and Italy in Munich, Germany. This was called the Munich Conference. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain thought that he could preserve the peace in Europe by giving in to Hitler. Winston Churchill, a member of the British Parliament, did not think that giving into Hitler would keep any peace. Six months later, it was apparent that the nation could not escape war. -
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht, or the Night of the Broken Glass was sparked by 17 year old Herschel Grynszpan. He had received a postcard while he was visiting his uncle in Paris. It stated that his father had been deported to Poland after 27 years of living in Germany. He got so angry that he shot a German soldier. After hearing this news, Nazi leaders launched a violent attack on the Jewish community. Many homes were broken and synagogues were taken down. It was a devastating time for the Jews. -
Germany's Surprise Attack
Joseph Stalin signed a nonaggression pact with Hitler. Since he was not invited to the Munich conference, Stalin did not want to join the West. However, in a secret part of the pact, Hitler and Stalin agreed to divide Poland amongst themselves. After signing this pact, Hitler was quick to act. He rapidly moved ahead with his plans, and he launched a surprise attack to conquer Poland. -
Stalin Was Defeated
On September 17, Russia started their move on Poland. After conquering Poland, Stalin started moving north of Poland and had easy victories in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Stalin thought that Finland would be an easy victory as well, but the Finns resisted very well. Russia did not expect to go into winter months, so they did not prepare for it. This was a terrible mistake. Stalin forced the Finns to accept his terms of surrender, and he could not conquer Finland. -
The Phony War
British and French troops were prepared for a war against Germany. The troops lined up along the Maginot Line, a system of fortifications along the border between France and Germany. They waited for Germany to attack first, but nothing happened because Germany was waiting for the French and British troops to attack first. This was known as the Phony War. The peace soon ended once Hitler launched a surprise attack on Denmark. Once Denmark fell, Norway surrendered as well. -
French Leaders Surrender
German troops started to attack France after they passed through the Maginot Line, a line of fortifications built by France. The Germans advanced towards France and the Allies are outnumbered, outgunned, and being pounded from the air. Once the French city of Dunkirk falls, France starts to crumble. on June 14, the Germans took over Paris, and the French were forced to surrender. -
The Battle of Britain
The Germans began bombing Great Britain, and their main targets at first were the British airfields an aircraft factories. To break Britain's morale, the Germans decided to attack cities, especially London. However, the British did not back down, but fought for their country instead. Both countries used the air raid technique to try and win against their opponents. After countless failed attacks by Hitler, he ordered his forces to retreat, and this became known as the Battle of Britain. -
The Germans Invade the Soviet Union
Germany continued on their plan to invade the Soviet Union. They attacked early in the morning, and the Soviets were not prepared. Although they did have the largest army, the Soviets were not well trained or equipped. In attempt to push Germany back, they used the scorched-earth policy, which they had also used on Napoleon. Many German soldiers starved after they ran out of their food supply. Hitler's advance on the Soviet Union gained nothing but it cost the German army 500,000 lives. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
While Hitler was expanding his regime, Japan was also expanding their empire. While trying to attack China, America cracked one of their secret codes. Since they knew what Japan was going to do will also threaten their territory, America sent forces into China to help them fight off Japan. Due to this, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii early in the morning. This event angered the Americans, and it dragged them into the War. -
The Battle of Midway
Japan now had its eyes set on Midway Island, the location of a key American airfield. The Allied code breakers helped the Allies figure out that Japanese troops were heading towards Midway. Admiral Yamamoto was in charge of the Japanese fleet, and he had hoped that the attack would draw the U.S. troops from Pearl Harbor to the islands. The Americans used a strategy where half of their army was hidden and they attacked the Japanese troops from the air. This strategy worked and Midway was saved. -
The Battle of Guadalcanal
The Americans had learned that Japan was building a huge air base on the island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. The Allies had to strike fast before the war got a lot more complicated and the base became another Japanese stronghold. At dawn, the Americans and the Australians landed on Guadalcanal and its neighboring islands. The troops had no trouble seizing the air base, but the battle for control was savage. After six months of fighting, the Allies won the fight. -
The Invasion of Italy
Italy had joined Germany in the beginning of the war. As the Battle of Stalingrad went on and many German soldiers died, Stalin urged British and American troops to invade France, but they decided to attack Italy before France. Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill discussed how they were going to attack, and took over Italy. About six months later, they also took over Sicily from Italian and German troops. -
D-Day
D-Day is short for Doomsday. It is the largest land and sea attack in history. During dawn, British, American, French, and Canadian troops made their way onto a 60-mile stretch of beach in Normandy. This war was set up do that the Germans would be prepared on the wrong area of the beach, giving the allied forces time to attack. Both sides took extremely heavy casualties, but in the end the Allied Powers won. This provided hope to many victims. -
Hitler And Eva Commit Suicide
On April 25, the city of Berlin was completely surrounded by Allied forces. Hitler had prepared for his end in an underground headquarters. On April 29, Hitler married his longtime companion, Eva Braun. The very next day, Eva and Hitler both committed suicide so that the could escape the charges that would be brought upon them in the trials after the war ended. When they were found, their bodies were taken outside and burned. -
V-E Day
On May 7, 1945, General Eisenhower accepted the unconditional surrender of the Third Reich from the German army. President Roosevelt unfortunately died before he got to see the end of war, so his successor, Harry Truman, officially signed the Nazi's surrender in Berlin. After six years of fighting, the war in Europe had finally come to an end. This day is now known as V-E Day, or Victory in Europe Day. -
The Japanese Surrender
On July 16, Japan dropped an atomic bomb in New Mexico. Harry Truman warned them to not strike anymore, so he threatened to shower Japan with with bombs if they do not stop. However, the Japanese did not listen, so America dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, a Japanese city. Three days later, on August 9, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, a city just as populated as the first. The Japanese finally surrendered, and the war was finally over.
