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Mussolini Takes Over Italy's Government (March on Rome)
The March on Rome was Mussolini's plan to take over the Italian government and replace it with his Fascist party. This is important because Mussolini will later serve as an inspiration and friend to Adolf Hitler in his quest for power.
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Beer Hall Putsch
The Beer Hall Putsch was a failed government takeover in Bavaria carried out by Hitler and his followers. This is very significant as Hitler was sentenced to prison because of this act. Not only was he released from prison early, but his political position was higher than ever.
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Kellogg-Briand Pact
The Kellogg-Briand Pact was an agreement signed on August 27th, 1928 with the intention to prevent future war. Like many other actions taken to help prevent another World War, this agreement had little effect and failed.
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U.S. Stock Market Crash
The U.S. Stock Market Crash of 1929 was a sharp decline in stock prices. This is significant because it greatly contributed to the Great Depression. Effects of the Great Depression included high unemployment, decreased international trade, money inflation, and more.
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Japan Invades Manchuria
On September 19th, 1931, Japan invaded and attacked Manchuria due to their growing population issues. This is important because this led to the U.S. boycotting Japanese materials and eventually attacks on Pearl Harbor, the Phillipenes, Hong Kong, and Wake Island.
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Hitler Becomes German Chancellor
Hitler is named Chancellor of Germany by President Paul von Hindenburg. This is significant because this was a very big turning point for the world. Hitler began his quest to unify Germany as a one party state and it would be very difficult to stop him.
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First Anti-Semitic Law is Passed in Germany
Germany passes the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service. This law worked to exclude Jews (and the ¨unreliable¨) from participating in government. This is important because this will become the basis of the Nuremberg Race Laws of 1935. These laws worked against Jews based on ancestry.
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The Night of the Long Knives (Rohm Purge)
Under the control of Adolf Hitler, the Nazi Party purged leadership of those Hitler distrusted. Primarily the SA organization led by Ernest Rohm. This is significant because it solidified the agreement between Hitler and Germany which allowed Hitler to rise to complete power.
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Hitler Openly Announces to His Cabinet He Will Defy the Treaty of Versailles
Hitler assembles a cabinet meeting and announces that Germany would openly defy the limits set by the Treaty of Versailles by re-militarizing. This was a turning point because Hitler had just gambled against Germany's enemies, and won! This helped Hitler in his next move in defying the Treaty of Versailles.
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Creation of the Nuremberg Laws
Jews of Germany were stripped of their rights and were now considered "subjects" of the state. This was significant because it led to other actions and consequences that would be placed on the Jews in the future. Similar laws were also placed by governments in surrounding countries.
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Italy Invades Ethiopia
On this day, the Italian government invaded Ethiopia and sparked the Italo-Ethiopian War. This was seen as one of the events that led to the beginning of WWII because it showed the League of Nation’s inability to make decisions without the influence of greater powers.
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Hitler Militarizes the Rhineland
Adolf Hitler violates the Treaty of Versailles, again, by militarizing into the Rhineland. This certainly proved that it would be challenging for the Allies to defend its treaties. Germany, and Hitler, began to become more powerful.
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Rape of Nanking
Beginning in December of 1937, the Japanese military invaded the Chinese city of Nanking and murdered 300,000 civilians and soldiers. Many women were also sexually assaulted. These 6 weeks would become known as the worst horror of World War II. The events at Nanking were used for propaganda by the Japanese.
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Germany Annexes Austria
Germany invades Austria and gives Hitler the cover to Annex Austria. This helped "set the stage" for future plans to be taken out by Hitler and the Nazi party, specifically the annexation of Czechoslovakia. Through the annexation, Germany formed "Anschluss" (a union) with Austria.
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Munich Conference
At the Munich conference, an agreement was reached by multiple countries regarding Germany's annexation of portions of Czechoslovakia, known as the Sudetenland. This agreement was important because it assisted in preventing war with Germany.
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Kristallnacht
The Nazi government responds to the murder of a Nazi official, who was killed by a young jew boy, by killing over 1,000 Jews. After the attack, Jews were forced to pay for the damage and sent to concentration camps. Many refer to Kristallnacht as the beginning of the Holocaust.
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Hitler Demands the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia was invaded and occupied by Hitler's forces on this day. After the invasion, it was clear that Hitler had lied about his intentions at the Munich Conference and could no longer be trusted.
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Einstein’s Letter to FDR, “The Manhattan Project”
Albert Einstein's letter contained information on "fission" and the power produced by it. When the power created by fission is harnessed, it has the potential to create extremely powerful bombs. This was significant because it prompted President Roosevelt to explore the values of atomic energy and create the first atomic bombs.
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Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
This pact between Nazi Germany and Russia was a promise not to go to war with each other. This was significant because the pact was also a plan to invade Poland and split it between the two countries.
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Nazi Invasion of Poland
On this day, Germany begins to invade Poland. The Polish army is defeated within weeks of the attack and surrenders to Germany on September 27th. This invasion allowed Hitler to annex the former Polish territory along the German border.
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Evacuation of Dunkirk
British and French troops evacuate from Dunkirk to England. This was significant because more than 300,000 troops were saved, and British opposition at Dunkirk was now stronger.
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France Surrenders
France surrenders to Germany and is greatly humiliated. France's surrender left the balance power in Europe a mess. Britain would now have to fight Hitler on its own.
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Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain was fought in the skies between Germany and British forces. When Germany's air force failed to defeat the Royal Air Force. This British win prevented German invasion and occupation.
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The Tripartite Pact
This agreement between Germany, Italy and, Japan consisted of articles all designed to provide mutual assistance to one another. This agreement formed the alliance known as the Axis powers.
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Lend Lease Act
Proposed in 1940 and passed in March of 1941, this act allowed the United States to provide military aid to foreign countries. This allowed the United States to aid Britain in its war while also bringing the U.S. out of isolationism.
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Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was another name for the Nazi Invasion of Russia. This was significant because the Nazi's had failed in their plan for invasion. This became a crucial turning point in the war.
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Bombing of Pearl Harbor
The United States naval base, located in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is attacked by Japanese planes. This was very significant because the United States would declare war on Japan and the alliance known as the "Axis powers" would declare war on the U.S. This event is said to have officially brought the U.S. into war.
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The Wannsee Conference and the “Final Solution”
The Wannsee Conferences was held to discuss and coordinate the "Final Solution", which consisted of the Nazi's murdering all of the Jewish population (over 11,000,000 people). While systematic killing of Jews began in 1941, this plan was to further wipe out the Jewish population.
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Bataan Death March
76,000 prisoners of war, including Americans and Filipinos, were forced by the Japanese government to march 66 miles to prison camps. The United States found out about the march and released this information. The Japanese commander responsible is later convicted for the crime.
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Doolittle Raid
The Doolittle Raid was the first attack on Japanese homeland initiated by the United States. This proved that the Japanese and Japanese islands were vulnerable to U.S. attacks.
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Battle of Midway
In this battle, fought almost entirely with war crafts, the United States was able to gain a victory while gaining dominance in the Pacific. This battle ended any threat of further Japanese invasion.
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Battle of Stalingrad
On this day, German's bomb the Soviet city of Stalingrad. This was significant because the Nazi's had failed in their plan for invasion. This became a crucial turning point in the war.
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Operation Torch
Operation Torch was an invasion on French North Africa, carried out by America and Great Britain. This was important because it was yet another success for the Allies.
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Island Hopping
In order to capture key islands and gain air control, the United States launched an offensive on the Japanese known as "island hopping". The U.S. would gain control of small islands until the Japanese were close enough to be reached by U.S. bombs. This offensive would ultimately lead to Japan surrendering.
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D-Day and Operation Overlord
The Allies attack the Axis powers in Western Europe in the Battle of Normandy. D-Day, June 6th, 1944 is the beginning of this battle. This was significant because the landings at Normandy have been called the beginning of the end of the war.
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Operation Valkyrie
Operation Valkyrie the plan to keep the Nazi Party in control if the Allies were to intervene. Several Germans modified this plan and plotted to kill Adolf Hitler. However, this plan did not succeed and Hitler survived. Operation Valkyrie had failed.
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Discovery of Majdanek
On this day, Majdanek was liberated by the Russians. Majdanek was just one of the many Nazi death camps. This was the first camp to be liberated and provided governments with evidence of what was actually going on at these camps.
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Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge was the last major German offensive on the Allies. Despite the Allies experiencing heavy casualties, they were still able to win a victory.
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Hitler’s Suicide
On this day, Hitler kills himself in his underground bunker by taking a cyanide capsule and shooting himself. As a result of his suicide, the Third Reich will fall.
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V-E Day
V-E day stands for "Victory in Europe day". Both the United States and England celebrate their victory on this day by raising flags in their cities. V-E day obviously represents the end of the war and Nazi rule.
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Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
On this day, the United States drops two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. After the bombs were dropped, Japan's Emperor Hirohito announces his country's surrender from the war.
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V-J Day
Japan surrenders to the allies on this day and August 14th and 15th, become known as Victory Over Japan day, or V-J Day. Japan's surrender would result in the end of the war.
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Creation of the United Nations
On this day, nations who had previously been at war with the Axis powers, met in Washington to form the United Nations. By signing the declaration of the UN, nations agreed to a formal act of opposition against the Axis powers. Maintaining peace was the UN's main responsibility.
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The Nuremberg Trials
The Nuremberg Trials were a series of trials held by the Allies with the purpose of bringing Nazi war criminals to Justice. These war criminals included German officials, industrialists, doctors, and lawyers. These trials were a breakthrough in the international court and crimes against humanity.
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The Japanese War Crime Trials
Like the Nuremberg Trials, these trials were held to bring war criminals to justice. These trials were held instead for the Empire of Japan. These trials furthered the breakthrough in the international court and crimes against humanity.
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