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First Neutrality Act is Passed
This banned the sale of weapons to nations involved in war. In addition, it restricted cash-only trade. This was all in attempt to keep the United States out of war. -
Signing of the Rome-Berlin Axis
This was signed between Italy and Germany, and it allianced the Italy and Germany. -
SIgning of the Anti-Comintern Pact
The signing of this pact in 1936 was between Germany and Japan. This pact was signed against the communist Soviet Union. Neither Japan nor Germany supported communism. -
Hitler declares Austria part of the Third Reich
Hitler calls an "Anschluss." This annexes Austria into Germany. -
Munich Conference
This was held between the Germans, French, British, and Italians. At this conference, Germany was granted permission to re-gain Sudentenland from Czechoslovakia. -
German troops invade Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia had basically already been given to Germany through the Munich Pact. Sudentenland was a part of Czechoslovakia, and Hitler wanted to regain that area of many German people. -
Mussolini invades Albania
Mussolini invaded Albania after he was inspired by HItler when he invaded Prague. Albania was a part of Italy's economy, and Mussolini wanted this area of the Balkans. -
German Soviet Non-Agression Pact Signed
This made both Germany and the Soviet Union agree to not attack each other with their military for 10 years. This had advantages for both sides. The Soviet Union believed they would have time to build up their army, and Germany didn't have any major opposition for when they would invade Poland. -
Germany attacks Poland.
Hitler invaded Poland beginning WWII. Hitler did this through his warfare technique, "Blitzkrieg." -
Soviet Union attacks Finland
The Soviet Union and the "Red Army" bomb Helsinki and kill 50+ Finland peopole. This showed how powerful the Soviet Union army was because it was a "cakewalk." -
Germans invade Denmark and Norway
Germany sent many troops to ports in Norway and Denmark before they fought on land and gained control of Copenhagen and Oslo. -
Winston Churchill is named Prime Minister of U.K.
Winston Churchill replaces Neville Chamberlain as the British prime minister. Chamberlain had resigned after promising peace to the British in WWII, but he failed after the Germans attacked. -
Germans invade Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg
The German air force bombed the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. German military troops invaded the mainland seizing territory and forts. -
Dunkerque is Evaquated
This was the evaquation of British and other Allie troops from a French seaport. In the end, over 350,000 French, Belgium, and British soldiers were saved. This was caused by a German invasion of France. -
Mussolini Declares war on France and Great Britain
Mussolini decided to declare war on Britain and France because the British and French had been teasing him on taking over territory in Africa and taking raw materials that the Italians needed. -
Battle of Britain
German and British air forces fought over London. Many young British children were forced underground. At first, it seemed as though the Germans would pull out a victory, but the British remained tough and pulled out a significant victory. -
Japan forms an Alliance with Germany and Italy
Hirohito of Japan, Mussolini of Italy, and Hitler of Germany form an alliance with each other known as the Axis Powers. -
German attacks Soviet Union
Over three million German soldiers went through the Balkan territories and invaded the Soviet Union. The Germans lost tons of soldiers in a turning point of WWII. This broke the peace that the Soviets and Germans had agreed upon just a few years earlier. -
Roosevelt and Churchill sign Atlantic Charter
The U.S and Great Britain sign this after talking about the postwar world. By 1942, a total of 26 Allied leaders had signed the Atlantic Charter. This led to the development of the United Nations. -
Pearl Harbor Attack
This attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii made the U.S declare war. Many Americans died in this surprise attack. -
US Congress declares war on Japan
This came in response to the Pearl Harbor attacks the day before. Franklin Roosevelt pushed for this. -
Wannsee Conference
German/Nazi officials met in Berlin, Germany to come up with a "final solution." Here they decided to gather all Jewish people and put them into labor camps. -
Bataan Death March
"Prisoners of war", including over 100,000 Americans, were forced to march 66 miles in the Phillipines by the Japanese. This march started in the Batann Peninsula. -
Battle of Midway
This battle was to control islands between Hawaii and Asia/Japan. This was important for planes that could only go a certain length. -
Erwin Rommel takes control of Libya
Erwin Rommel defeated the British Allies giving him control of Libya. This occured at a major-African port in Tobruk, Libya. -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Soviet Union was able to keep Stalingrad in the U.S.S.R up The city was saved. Soviets were able to defeat the Germans before they could take over this city. Over two million military soldiers died in this battle between the Germans and Soviets. -
D-Day
The Battle of Normandy allowed for the Allies to liberate Western Europe from the Nazis. The day this began, D-Day, occured when over 150,000 British and American troops came up on a beach in Normandy, France. -
MacArthur lands in Phillipines
MacArthur returns to Leyte, Phillipines after he was force to flee there two years before. He was a military adviser in the Phillipnes in WWII. -
V-E Day
This is known as "Victory in Europe Day." The British and Americans celebrate the Nazi defeat . -
Potsdam Conference
Harry S. Truman, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin met in Berlin, Germany to talk about possibly creating a Council of Foreign Ministers and imposing Allie control in Germany. They also wanted to make Japan officially "surrender." -
V-J Day
On this day, WWII ended after the Japanese surrendered.
