-
The Treaty of Versailles Ends World War I
The Treaty of Versailles ended World War I. This treaty would force Germany to take full blame for starting World War I, pay war reparations, and strip them of valuable territory. Germany would go into a deep economic depression shortly afterwards. -
Treaty of Versailles Germany
-
Period: to
World War II 1919-1945
-
Hitler becomes leader of the Nazi Party
-
Mussolini becomes fascist dictator of Italy
Facism became a new form of government during this time period. Benito Mussolini was the first fascist leader. Adolf Hitler would model some of his forms of nazism after this system of government. People are completely stripped of their rights under this form of government and are to do as their leader says. Opposition will be met with deadly force. -
Hitler writes Mein Kampf
Hitler will attempt to overthrow the German government in a failed military coup. He will then go to prison to write his popular autobiography called Mein Kampf where he will spell out his Nazi belief system. The book will have a major impact on Hitler's rise to power. -
Japan invades Manchuria
-
Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany
-
Germany occupies the Rhineland
Hitler promises the people of Germany that he will take back the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles. He starts to do this by invading former German territory in the Rhineland. No one responds to Hitler's actions. -
Italy and Germany form the Axis Powers
-
Japan launches a full scale invasion into China
-
Germany annexes Austria
-
The Munich Agreement
Hitler gets appeased and "promises" Great Britain and France that he will not take any more territory after seizing the Sudetenland. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain hails this as the "peace of our time". -
Germany invades Czechoslovakia
Hitler breaks the Munich Agreement by invading Czechoslovakia. -
Hitler and Stalin sign a Non-Agression Pact
Hitler and Stalin make a secret alliance that they will not invade each other in exchange for sharing control of Poland. Hitler once again makes a "promise". -
Germany invades Poland
Using the form of blitzkrieg or lightning warfare, Hitler invades the country of Poland with great speed and size of force. -
Britain and France declare war on Germany
World War II is underway at this point. -
Germany invades Denmark and Norway
-
Germany invades France and the lower countries
-
France surrenders to Germany
-
Germany attacks Britain
The people of Britain with the help of the Royal Air Force valiantly defend their island from the German Luftwaffe. British radar is able to detect German planes and shoot them down with great success. -
Germany, Italy, and Japan form the Axis Powers
-
Lend Lease Act is Passed
The Lend Lease Act will give financial and military aid to countries at war with the Axis Powers, particularly, Great Britain. -
Germany invades Russia
Hitler breaks the Non-Agression Pact and invades Russia. -
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor
Japan launches a surprise attack on the U.S. Naval Base Pearl Harbor. This is the greatest attack against Americans since 9/11. -
The U.S. declares war on Japan
-
Germany and Italy declare war on the United States
-
The U.S. defeats Japan at the Battle of Midway
This is a turning point battle of the Pacific theater in World War II. -
Germany defeated at the Battle of Stalingrad
This is a turning point battle in Eastern Europe during World War II. -
D-Day invasion of Western Europe
This is the largest amphibious invasion in military history and is a turing point battle in Western Europe during World War II. Many American, British, and Canadian soldiers will give their lives storming the beaches of Normandy allowing for a continous march towards Berlin. -
Germany defeated at Battle of the Bulge
This is Hitler's final counter-offensive against the Allies in Western Europe. It was so named because the Allied lines bulged but did not break as Hitler was hoping for. -
Hitler commits suicide
-
Germany surrenders to the allies
-
VE Day or Victory in Europe is officially announced
-
Bombing of Hiroshima
This dropping of this atomic bomb will kill more than 90,000 Japanese civilians. The controversial decision was made to drop the bombs because president Truman felt that a mainland invasion of Japan would have costed hundreds of thousands of American lives. -
Bombing of Nagasaki
More than 60,000 Japanese will be killed from the dropping of this atomic bomb. A third bomb is positioned to be dropped over Tokyo. -
Japan surrenders to the Allies, VJ Day
Japan will announce their surrendur to the people of Japan as the Emperor will give for the first time ever give a public address to the people of Japan. -
Japan formally signs their surrender to the Allies
