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Period: to
World War Two
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Washington Conference
Leaders from Great Britain, France, Japan, the United States, and 5 other nations met in Washington D.C. The goal of the Washington Conference was to bring lasting peace to Asia. This goal is similar to that of the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. The Washington Conference ended Febuary 6, 1922. -
Forming of the Axis Powers
Italy invaded Ethiopia in October 1935 and annexed Ethiopia in May 1936. Hitler approved of Italy's actions against Ethiopia and in October 1936, Hitler and Mussolini forged the alliance know as the Rome-Berlin axis. Because of this alliange, Germany and Italy were known as the Axis Powers -
Munich Pact
The prime ministers from Great Britain and France met with Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler in Munich, Germany. British and French leaders were concerned that Germany's actions were leading Europe into a war. The British and French signed the Munich Pact with Germany, agreeing to their demands. The British prime minister and Hitler agreed to resolve other differences through consultation, rather than war. -
Nonagression Treaty
Despite the Nazis and Communists despising and distrusting each other, Hitler and Stalin signed the Non-Agression Treaty. This treaty served to both of their intrests. Hitler no longer had to worry about a war with the Soviet Union until he was ready for one, and Stalin got more power and secure borders. In order for Stalin's agreement not to attack Germany, Hilter secretly promised him part of Poland and a sphere of influence in Eastern Europe. -
Start of World War II
Hitler demanded the return of Danzig, a formaly German city in the Polish Corridor (Danzig was given to Poland after World War One). On September 1, 1939 Hitler announced that he was annexing Danzig. Two days later, on September 3, 1939, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany. -
Attack of Denmark and Norway
German forces lauched surprise attacks on Denmark and Norway. Weeks after, Germany had conquered these two countries. -
Tripartite Act
Hitler wanted to keep the United States out of the war, so Hitler expanded his alliance. On September 27, 1940, Germany, Italy, and Japan signed the Tripartite act, making Japan part of the Axis Powers. Germany, Japan, and Italy agreed to provide mutual support in the case that any of them are attacked by a country that isn't (yet) in the war. -
United States freezes Japan's assets
Japan wanted to expand their territory. They had taken control of Manchuria and had to return it to China. In 1937 Japanease troops clashed with Chinese forces outside of Bejing. After they captured Nanking, Japanease troops went on a six week rampage called the Rape of Nanking where they killed 100,000 civilians and raped 200,000 Chinese women. In 1940, the United States was so fed up with Japans schinanigans that they froze Japans resources and banned export of vital resources to Japan. -
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor
U.S. Pacific Fleet was anchored at Pearl Harbor when Japanease aircraft carriers approached. More than 300 bombers and fighter planes launched an attack on Pearl Harbor. In a little over two hours, Japanese damaged or destroyed 18 American warships and 300 military aircrafts. More than 2,400 Americans were killed and 1,200 wounded. -
FDR and Churchill meet in D.C.
Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill met in Washington D.C. to decise a strategy to help the Allies defeat the Axis Powers. They knew they couldn't afford to fight a war on two fronts (Europe and the Pacific), so they decided to focus on winning the war in Europe, while they faught only a defensive war against Japan in the Pacific.
