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Period: to
World War Two
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Rhineland
German troops moved into the Rhineland. The Treaty of Versailles forbidden German troops to enter a 30-mile-wide zone on either side of the Rhine River. This made France stunned but they were unwilling to risk war. -
Rome-Berlin Axis
Hitler and Mussolini reached an agreement that became known as the Rome-Berlin Axis. A month later, Germany also made an agreement with Japen. Germany, Italy, and Japen came to be called the Axis Power. -
Third Reich
Hitler annouced to his advisers his plans to absorb Austria and Czechoslovakia into the Third Reich or German Empire. The Treaty of Versailled prohibited Anschluss, or an union between Austria and Germany. -
Munich Conference
France and Britain were preparing for war when Mussolini propsed a meeting of Germany, France, Britain, and Italy in Munich, Germany. Britain, and France agreed that Hitler could take the Sudetenland. In exchange, Hitler pledge to respect Czechoslovakia's new border. -
Night of Broken Glass (Kristallnacht)
A jewish man was very mad after hearing his father was deported to Poland. Out to avenge his father, he shot a german diplomat living in Paris. When Nazi leaders heard the news, they launched a violent attack on the Jewish community. Nazi storm troopers attacked Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues across Germany and murdered close to 100 jews. -
Nonagression Pact
Stalin and Hitler reached a 10 year agreement. Once bitter enemies, Fascist Germany and Communist Russia now publicly pledged never to attack one another. -
Surprise Attack on Poland
German tanks and troop trucks rumbled across the Polish border. This surprise attack took place at dawn. At the same time, German aircraft artillery began a merciless bombing of Poland's capital, Warsaw. This invasion was the first test of Germany's newest military strategy, the blitzkrieg, or 'lightning war.' -
Surprise Attack on Denmark and Norway
Hitler launched a surprise invasion of Denmark and Norway. In just four hours after the attack, Denmark fell. Two months later, Norway surrendered as well. -
France Falls
By June 14, the Germans had taken Paris. Accepting the inevitable, French leaders surrendered on June 22. Germans took control of the northern part of the country. They left the southern part to a puppet government headed by Marshal Philippe Petain. -
British Bombed
Germany's airforce began bombing Great Britain. At first, the Germans targeted British airfield and aircraft factories. Then they began focusing on the cities, especially London, to break British morale. -
Battle of Britain
The bombing of Britain had stopped. Hitler was stunned by the British resistance, he then decided to call off his attacks. -
Hitler Invades the Soviet Union
German tanks and aircraft announced the beginning of the invasion. The Soviet Union was not prepared for this attack. Although it had the largest army in the world, its troops were neither well equipped nor well trained. -
Pearl Harbor
The Japanese attacked Hawaii's U.S. fleet. Within two hours, the Japanese had sunk or damaged 19 ships, including 8 battleships, mourned in Pearl Harbor. More than 2,300 Americans were killed, with over 1,100 wounded. -
Japanese Americans Internment
The bombing of Peral Harbor frightened Americans. This fear encouraged by government propaganda, was turned against Japanese Americans. They were suddenly the enemy. President Roosevelt issued an executive order calling for the internment of Japanese Americans because they were considered a threat to the country. -
Battle of Midway
American forces were hidden beyond the horizon, Nimitz allowed the Japanese to begin their assault on the island. As the first Japanese planes got into the air, American planes swooped in to attack the Japanese fleet. American pilots destroyed 332 Japanese planes, all four aircrafts carriers, and one support ship. By June 7, 1942, the battle was over. -
D-Day
This invasion of Normandy was the largest land and sea attack in history. British, American, French, and Canadian troops fought their way onto a 60-mile stretch of beach in Normandy. The Germans had dug in with machine guns, rocket launchers and cannons. They sheltered behind concrete wall three feet thick. The allies took heavy casualties. The American forces alone, more than 2,700 men died on the beaches that day. Despite heavy losses, the Allies kept going strong. -
The Battle of the Bulge
German tanks broke through weak American defences along a 75-mile front in the Ardennes. Although caught off guard, the Allies eventually pushed the Germans back. The Germans had little choice but to retreat, since there were no reinforcements available. -
President Roosevelt Dies
President Roosevelt did not live to witness the long-awaited victory of the war. He died as the Allies army was advancing toward Berlin. -
V-E Day
The Nazis had surrender and it was officially signed in Berlin. The United States and other Allied powers celebrated V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day). After nearly six years of fighting, the war in Europe had ended. -
Atomic Bomb
The atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima, a city on the Japanese island of Honshu. The bomb destroyed the whole city. When the bomb hit the ground, the temperature got up to 7,000 degreese fahrenheit, There was winds of 980 miles per hour. There was 62,000 buildings destroyed. 70,000 people were killed immediately, and by the end of 1945, 140,000 people had died.