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Hitler is named Chancellor of Germany
This marked a turning point in Germany and kick started the creation of Nazi Germany. If Hitler wasn't appointed it is likely WW2 wouldn't of happened as it did. -
The Rome-Berlin Axis is announced
This stated that in war Italy would stand by Germany's side. It is important, because Italy was a big power in the war and it is unsure if they would be as involved without this as they were. Either way it is a major reason why Italy was in the war. -
Germany and the Soviet Union sign the Non- Agression Pact
This "guarrenteed" (this pact was later on broken) that the two countries would not attack each other. This protected Germany from having to fight a two-front war. This helped Germany attack Poland, because it meant that the Soviet Union wouldn't come to the aid of Poland). -
Germany invades Poland
This happened during Germany's bliztkreig (lightning war), and it is the main event that sparked World War Two. -
France and Britain declare war on Germany
France and Britain declared war on Germany for invading Poland and World War Two started in Europe. -
Japan joins the Axis Powers
Japan signed the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy, which added them into the military alliance: the Axis Powers. -
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor
This, done trying to make the US stay nuetral, got the US into World War Two. Pearl Harbor was a major naval base for the US and after the Japanese decided to attack it the US joined WW2. -
Battle of Stalingrad Begins
The Battle of Stalingrad was when the Soviet Union successfully defended their city Stalingrad against the Germans. It stopped Germans from advancing into the Soviet Union and was one of the the bloodiest battles in history, with nearly 2 millinon deaths. It was a major turning point in the war (in favor of the Allies). -
Italy Surrenders
When Mussolini resigned from powere and when the facist governemtn collapsed, Gen. Pietro Badoglio, the man who took Mussolini's spot in power, began negotiating with Gen. Eisenhower for weeks until the surrender of Italy. This then took a major power out of the Axis side. -
D-Day
On this day 155,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy France to begin the liberation of Europe from the Axis powers. -
Battle Of the Bulge begins
German army launched a counter attack after D-day that was intended to split the Allies in 2 and then that would turn the tide of the war in Germany's favor. It was the last major Nazi offense agaisnt the Allies in World War 2. Germany lost. -
Germany surrenders
On May 7th they surrendered to the western Allies, and May 9th they surrendered to the Soviets. This got Germany, the starter of the war, out of the war. Now all the Axis powers in Europe were out. -
US drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan
US bombed Hioshima in attempt to get Japan to surrender, due to the fact it seemed they weren't going to surrender any other way that wouldn't cause many deaths from the US troops. -
US drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan
Whes Japan didn't surrender after the first atomic bomb, the US dropped another one to try again to get Japan to surrender and end the war. -
Japan formally surrenders
This marked the end of World War One. Japan finally surrendered after the 2nd bomb was dropped.