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Hitler Becomes Chancellor
A strong Nationalist Party could now stand up to the Communist Party in Germany -
Kristallnacht
Nazis staged vicious, state-sanctioned riots against the Jewish community of Germany. Jewish-owned stores, community centers and homes were plundered and destroyed. -
Germany Invades Poland
The Polish army is beaten within weeks of the invasion. Warsaw surrenders to the Germans on September 27, 1939. -
Battle of Britain
The first major military campaign waged entirely by air. -
Japanese attack Pearl Harbor
A surprise military action to prevent the United States' Pacific naval forces from interfering with Japan's imperialist expansion in Southeast Asia. -
United States Declares War on Japan
FDRs Speech The Congress of the United States declares war on Japan within the hour of FDR giving his speech. This in turn causes Germany and Italy to declare war on the United States in accord with the "Tripartite Act". -
The Wannsee Conference
Nazi officials meet to discuss the "final solution of the Jewish question". This final solution became the code name for the systematic, deliberate genocide to be waged against European Jews -
The Battle of Stalingrad
Considered to be the turning point of WWII in Europe. After 199 days the Russians force the Germans into full retreat from their homeland. The battle resulted in over 2 million casualties. -
The Fall of Mussolini
Allied planes bomb Rome, killing 1400 people, bringing King Emmanuel and the Italian people to pursue peace. A day after the Grand Council meeting on July 24, Mussolini is deposed and arrested. Hitler has lost his ally in Italy. -
D-Day or the Invasion of Normandy
12 nation Allied attack , involving 3 million troops, against Hitler's Western front. by the end of the month the Allies has established a foothold on the European continent -
Liberation of Auschwitz
The largest of the Nazi concentration camps is liberated by Soviet troops. They manage to free the remaining 7000 prisoners. The world now knows about the final solution. -
Yalta Conference
Meeting of the "Big Three" to discuss postwar issues and strategy. Stalin has "home field" advantage as well as the presence of Soviet troops 40 miles from Berlin. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
One third of all Marine casualties in WWII occured in this battle. After a month of ferocious fighting the Americans were victorious and made a decisive step into Japan's heartland. -
Battle of Okinawa
The bloodiest battle of the war in the Pacific. Casualties on both sides outnumbers 250,000 and is the last major campaign of the war in the Pacific -
Germany Surrenders
Just days after Hitler's death Germany surrenders unconditionally. General Gustav Jodl, who signed the document, said they were giving themselves up "for better or worse into the victor's hands." -
Potsdam Conference
The meeting of the Allies in Europe attempted to confront the delicate balance of power of the opposing governmental structures. The Potsdam Declaration was released which called for Japan's immediate surrender, or face "prompt and utter destruction". -
Bombing of Hiroshima
The explosion wiped out 90 percent of the city and immediately killed 80,000 people; tens of thousands more would later die of radiation exposure. -
Bombing of Nagasaki
Another A-bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing an estimated 40,000 people. Japan's Emperor Hirohito announced his country's unconditional surrender in World War II in a radio address on August 15, citing the devastating power of "a new and most cruel bomb." -
Japanese Surrender
Six days after the bombing of Nagasaki, the Japanese surrender, accepting the Potsdam Declaration for unconditional surrender in a radio broadcast by Emperor Hirohito -
Nuremberg War Crimes Trials
The International Military Tribunal prosecutes 24 of the most important surviving members of the Nazi regime. Most are found guilty of war crimes and sentenced to death.
