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Japanese Invasion of Manchuria
The Invasion of Manchuria happened because Japan was looking for raw materials to fuel its growing industries. The result of this invasion was that it greatly increased power of the Japanese army over the government. -
Hitler appointed Chancellor of Germany
Hitler became chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933, after Hindenburg formally apointed Hitler as the new chancellor of Germany which would change everything. -
Nanking Massacre/Rape of Nanking
The Nanking Massacre was a massacre done by Japan on Chinese civilians. The Japanese forces committed acts of extreme violence by mass murdering Chinese men and raping girls and women. The goal of these acts was to weaken their spirit. -
Munich Conference
The Munich Agreement was an agreement between Italy, Germany, Great Britain, and France. This agreement made Czechoslovakia surrender its border and defenses to Nazi Germany. -
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht was a tragic event. Nazis in Germany torched synagogues and vandalized Jewish homes, and Jewish businesses. This incident killed close to 100 Jews. -
Non-Aggression Pact is signed
The Non-Aggression Pact was signed on August 23, 1939, between Germany and the Soviet Union. The pact ensured that neither country invade one other. This was the first foreshadowing of an alliance in WWII. -
Germany's Invasion of Poland/Blitzkrieg
The Invasion of Poland was a joint attack on the Republic of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union which marked the beginning of WWII. -
Dunkirk
The Battle of Dunkirk was fought around the French port of Dunkirk during WWII. It involved the rescue of more than 338,000 British and French soldiers from May 26, 1940- June 4, 1940 -
Fall of Paris
“Paris fell to Nazi Germany on June 14, 1940, one month after the German Wehrmacht stormed into France. Eight days later, France signed an armistice with the Germans, and a puppet French state was set up with its capital at Vichy.”- History.com -
The Blitz
The Blitz was a series of bombings directed at Britain. These bombings were designed to strike terror in the people and lower morale. The Blitz resulted in 430 dead and an estimated 1600 injured. The bombings were unsuccessful due to a lack of survillence on the layout of major industries. -
Selective Training and Service Act is passed
The Selective Training and Service Act required all eligible men between the ages of 21 to 45 be required to register for the draft. This was significant because it was the first time in United States history that a drafty peacetime draft be ordered. The goal of the act was to have more men to have fight in the war. -
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the German invasion of the Soviet Union. This was a pivotal point in the war because it led to the Soviet Union declaring war on Germany and joining the Allies. Hitler was confident that he would be successful as he had been in invading other European countries. This led to him severely underestimating the condition in the Soviet Union resulting in a major loss. -
Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor
On December 7,1941 the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The attack came as a surprise leaving the Americans unprepared. The attack destroyed ans damaged 19 U.S. Navy ships, including 8 battleships. -
Bataan Death March
The first major land battle for Americans in WWll and one of the most devastating defeats in American history. The largest army under American command to ever surrender. -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was a major battle in the Pacific Theatre of World War ll. This battle killed 3,057 people. -
Battle of Stalingrad
This battle stopped the German advance into the Soviet Union and marked the turning of the tide of war in favor of the Allies. This battle killed approximately 1.2 million people. -
D-Day
This day brought together the land, air, and sea forces of the allied armies in what became known as the largest invasion force in human history. The invasion was successful in leading to Germany's surrender shortly after. -
Battle of the Bulge
This battle is also known as Ardennes Offensive and was the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front during World War ll. The battle began on December 16, 1944, and ended on January 25, 1945, killing 19,000 Americans. -
Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference was a postwar meeting held between the Allied forces of WWII. The meeting was held to determine how Germany would be reconstructed. There were mixed ideas on how Germany should be punished after the war. The Soviet Union wanted a harsh punishment while the United States and the United Kingdom wanted to avoid mistakes made in the Treaty of Versailles. It was decided that Germany would be divided into four zones controlled by each Allie country. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima was a major battle in the pacific between American troops and the Japanese Army. The battle started on February 19, 1945, to March 26, 1945. The battle allowed the Allies to capture the island and turn it into a landing strip. -
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa was a significant battle fought on an island called Okinawa between American forces and Japanese forces. The battle resulted in the Allies being able to take over the island converting it into an airbase. This allowed the Allies to be closer to their main target Japan. -
Adolf Hitler commits suicide
Adolf swallowed a cyanide pill and shot himself in the head. Hitler did this because he was going to be punished for the war. -
VE Day
VE Day is Victory over Europe Day. The day marks Germany's surrender bringing the war in Europe to an end. It stands to celebrate the end of Nazism. -
Dropping the Atomic Bombs
The United States was the first country to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombing resulted in mass amounts of casualties, with an estimated 220,000 people being killed. The bombing led to Japan surrendering shortly after. -
VJ Day
VJ Day is Victory over Japan Day. The day celebrates the day Japan surrendered. Japan's surrender would mark the end of WWII in the pacific.