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Hitler Becomes Chancellor
President Paul von Hindenburg names Adolf Hitler, leader or fÜhrer of the National Socialist German Workers Party (or Nazi Party), as chancellor of Germany. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/adolf-hitler-is-named-chancellor-of-germany -
Neutrality Act
FDR signs the Neutrality Act of 1935 in order to prevent the U.S. from being further involved in the war. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fdr-signs-neutrality-act -
Mussolini Invades Ethiopia
A border incident between Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland that December gave Benito Mussolini an excuse to intervene. Rejecting all arbitration offers, the Italians invaded Ethiopia on October 3, 1935. https://www.britannica.com/event/Italo-Ethiopian-War-1935-1936 -
Marco Polo Bridge Incident
The Japanese defeat China, and take possession over Northern China. https://www.britannica.com/event/Marco-Polo-Bridge-Incident -
Mussolini Joins Hitler
In a speech in Rome, Benito Mussolini, fascist leader of Italy, promises to fight the democracies alongside Adolf Hitler's should war break out.
http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/hitler-and-mussolini-meet-rome -
Naval Expansion Act of 1938
United States legislation enacted this;"mandated a 20% increase in strength of the United States Navy". It represented the United States' response to the Japanese invasion of China and the German annexation of Austria. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Act_of_1938 -
Hitler Named Time "Man of the Year"
Time releases the 1938 edition of their "Man of the Year", but his face is not represented on the cover. http://content.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19390102,00.html -
Hitler Annexes Czechoslovakia
Hitler’s forces invade and occupy Czechoslovakia–a nation sacrificed on the altar of the Munich Pact, which was a vain attempt to prevent Germany’s imperial aims. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nazis-take-czechoslovakia -
Stalin and Hitler Sign Nonaggression Pact
Germany and the Soviet Union agree to a nonaggression pact leaving the Soviets free to strengthen their western frontier, and Hitler free to attack Poland. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-hitler-stalin-pact -
Nazi Germany Invades Poland
One of the main contributions to the start of WWII. Hitler conducted a military technique known as "blitzkrieg", which consisted of extensive bombing to destroy railroads, air capacity, etc. of the enemy's territory. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-invades-poland -
FDR "Four Freedoms" Sppech
President Franklin D. Roosevelt addresses Congress in an effort to move the nation away from a foreign policy of neutrality. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/franklin-d-roosevelt-speaks-of-four-freedoms -
U.S. Seizes Axis Ships
President Franklin D. Roosevelt orders the United States Coast Guard to seize German ships that sail into American ports. 65 Axis ships are held in "protective custody." http://www.britishpathe.com/video/u-s-seizes-axis-ships -
U.S. Defends Iceland
President Franklin D. Roosevelt announces that the United States will take over defense of Iceland for the duration of the war. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/u-s-occupies-iceland -
The Bombing of Pearl Harbor
The Japanese bombed US territory (Oahu, HI), forcing the United States to join WWII. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pearl-harbor-bombed -
U.S. At War
Adolf Hitler declares war on the United States, bringing America, which had been neutral, into the European conflict. The United States declares war on Germany, Italy, and Japan. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-declares-war-on-the-united-states -
The Tehran Conference
During the Conference, the three leaders coordinated their military strategy against Germany and Japan and made a number of important decisions concerning the post World War II era. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/tehran-conf -
D-Day
The day the allied powers crossed the English Channel, and landing on the beaches of Normandy, France, beginning the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/d-day -
Hitler Commits Suicide
Adolf Hitler commits suicide by swallowing a cyanide capsule and shooting himself in the head. Soon after, Germany unconditionally surrendered to the Allied forces, ending Hitler’s dreams of a “1,000-year” Reich. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/adolf-hitler-commits-suicide -
Victory in Europe
This date marks the date that the German troops scattered throughout Europe finally laid down their arms http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe -
Japan Surrenders
Aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Japan formally surrenders to the Allies, bringing an end to World War II. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/japan-surrenders
