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Japan invasion of Manchuria
Japan invades China with the goal of expanding territory and collecting vital resources. This is significant because it signals the start of tension between Japan and other foreign powers because many countries dislike Japan invading it's neighbor China, one of the reasons the world goes to war with Japan. -
Stimson Doctrine
After the invasion of of Manchuria by the Japanese, the first response from the world came from the United States. The United States issued the Stimson Doctrine, a set of principles that stated that the US would not recognize any territorial changes that were produced by force. This is significant because it signals the start of major tension between the United States and Japan, which leads to America joining WW2. -
The Enabling Act of 1933
The Enabling Act of 1933 was an amendment to the German constitution. This act allowed Hitler to pass laws without parliamentary approval, even if they went against the German constitution. It was through this amendment that Adolf Hitler began his transformation from a democratic chancellor to a German dictator. This event was the start of the Nazi Party control of Germany as well as the start of tension between the different parties in Germany. -
Japan leaves the League of Nations
The Japanese delegation defied world opinion and withdrew from the League of Nations after the assembly had adopted a report that blamed Japan for events in Manchuria. The Assembly, sat in silence while the delegation, led by Yosuke Matsuoka, walked from the hall. This increased the tension between the Western powers and Japan, which is significant because it leads to the Western powers fighting Japan during WW2. -
Germany leaves the League of Nations
After Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany, the German government announced its official withdrawal from the League of Nations. The main reason for leaving was the refusal of the Western powers to allow in Germany demands to expand it's military. This increased tensions between the Western powers and Germany, which is significant because it leads to the Western powers going to war with Germany. -
Hitler becomes the Führer of Germany
Following the death of German President Paul Von Hindenburg, German Chancellor Adolf Hitler becomes the absolute dictator of Germany under the title of Fuhrer. The last remnants of Germany’s democratic government were destroyed to ensure the growth of Hitler’s Third Reich. This increased tensions between the Western powers and Germany due to the forced change of government structure. This is significant because it brings the west and Germany closer to war. -
Japan renounces the Washington London Naval Treaties
The Japanese Navy, felt deeply offended that Japan was not viewed as being equal with other world powers such as the United States and Britain. The treaty limited Japan to a certain size that the navy could not exceed. Japan refused to abide by the restriction, and refused to be treated as a second-rate power.This increased tension between the Western powers and Japan due to Japan throwing away the rules set in place to restrict their naval power, which brings the west closer to war with Japan. -
Germany violates the Treaty of Versailles
Hitler began to expand the army from the 100,000 man Versailles Treaty limit, to 300,000 men. Germany began developing large warships, way above the size allowed by the Versailles Treaty. Germany also began building submarines in secret, which also went against the Versailles Treaty. This increased tension between the Western powers and Germany due to the German's ignoring regulations meant to stop German military growth. This is significant because it brings the US and Germany closer to war. -
The Axis Powers are formed
The Axis originated from a series of agreements between Germany and Italy. This was followed by Japan joining the Axis through the German-Japanese Anti-Comintern Pact against the Soviet Union. The formation of this trio allowed for the Axis powers spread it's influence and ideas. The formation of the Axis powers forced the Allies to join together, which created tension between the Axis and the Allied powers. This is significant because it starts war between the Axis and Allies. -
Nazi Germany completes it's Annexation of Austria
Within Austrian, Nazis planned to seize control of the Austrian government through force and unite their nation with Nazi Germany. After naming several top Austrian Nazis to the Austrian cabinet, the Nazis took control of the government. Hitler took control and appointed a new Nazi government, making Austria a federal state of Germany. This increase in territory for the Germans violated the Treaty which increased tension between Germany and the Allied powers, forcing the world to war. -
Germany invades Poland
German forces storm Poland by land and from the air, as Adolf Hitler tries to regain Germany's lost territory and take control of Poland. The German invasion of Poland demonstrates the beginning of the “blitzkrieg” strategy. This increased tension between Germany and the Allied powers due to the invasion showing that Germany is willing to fight for territorial expansion. This is significant because it forces the west to fight Germany to stop expansion. -
Germany invades Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
Germany moved it's troops into the Netherlands and conquered the country. Then the German army moved into Belgium and began to take control of the country. Belgium and the Netherlands were both added to the long list of countries conquered by Germany. The German acquisition of the Netherlands and Belgium put a lot of pressure on the Allied powers, which increased the tension between Germany and the Allied powers. This forced Britain to fight Germany harder during the war. -
Yugoslavia is invaded by Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, and Italy
The Axis invasion, which involved the German and Italian military, The invasion, which started commenced on April 6, 1941, took eleven days. After the new government of Yugoslavia denounced the previous government's decision to join the Axis. The Axis powers invaded Yugoslavia and forced the country to surrendered. This use of military force to take control of a country increases tension between the Axis and Allied powers, which is significant because it forces an Allied offensive. -
Japanese attack Pearl Harbor
A surprise aerial attack on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor was conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy. They predicted the entry of the United States into World War 2 and sought to cripple our naval power. The vicious attack on the naval base started a decade of bad relations between the United States and Japan. Which is significant because it bring the US to war and starts the beginning of the end for the Axis. -
President Roosevelt signs the Executive Order 9066
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, Japanese Internment. The order started the removal of resident Japanese persons from parts of the West identified as military areas. This created tension between Japan and the United States due to the poor treatment of Japanese people living in the US. This is significant because it forces Japan to retaliate against POW's held in Japan as well as escalate the war. -
The United States surrenders the Philippines to Japan
The Allied troops could not stop the Japanese invaders from storming the Philippines. The General of U.S. armed forces in the Philippines offered to surrender the island, Corregidor, to the Japanese General Homma. However, Homma forced the United States to unconditionally surrender. This defeat created tension between the United States and Japan. This forced the US to begin island hopping in the Pacific. -
Battle of Midway
The United States was able to counter Japan’s planned ambush of the United States few remaining aircraft carriers. This battle inflicted permanent damage to the Imperial Japanese Navy. This was an important turning point in the Pacific campaign due to the offensive position it gave the Allies. This climaxed tensions between the United States and Japan. This was significant because it destroyed the naval capability of Japan. -
British and US troops invade Italy and land in Sicily
The Allies’ Italian Campaign began with the invasion of Sicily, Italy. The troops from the United States and Great Britain forced German and Italian troops out of Sicily, allowing the Allies to prepare to assault the Italian mainland. This increased tension between the Axis and Allied powers, also forced the Axis to retreat. This is significant because it shows that the war was coming to an end.
