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Beer Hall Putsch
Hitler has recently become chairman of the Nazi party and on November 8th, they tried to take over the Bavarian government in the Beer Hall Putsch, but failed. This is the first act of Nazi aggression leading to WWII. -
Nazi Decrees of 1933
When Hitler became Chancellor of Germany, he and his Nazi party passed three laws. One restricted the rights of civilians, the second gave Hitler unlimited power, and the third outlawed every party but the Nazis. -
The Night of the Long Knives
On this day, Hitler orders the assassination of 200 people he views as a threat to his authority. This secures his place as an absolute German dictator, and he is almost ready to start taking over. -
The Creation of the Axis Powers
Mussolini creates the Rome-Berlin Axis Alliance with Hitler - the beginning of the axis powers, in hopes of expanding into Africa. -
Hitler's Troops Occupy the Rhineland
Breaking the Treaty of Versailles, Hitler reoccupies the Rhineland. -
Guernica Bombing
The Germans bomb Guernica during the Spanish civil war. This is one of the first civilian bombings in war history. -
Hitler Unifies Germany with Austria
Hitler facilitates the Anschluss (annexation of Austria). This too breaks the Treaty of Versailles. -
Hitler Takes the Sudetenland
Hitler threatens to take it with force, and later, through the Munich Conference, takes it. With this conference, they could take the Sudetenland, but leave the rest of Czechoslovakia alone. This was for the appeasement of Germany, and would "bring peace to our time". -
Kristallnacht
The Nazis use widespread force to assault Jews and their property for the first time. -
Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact
Hitler signs a pact with the Russians that allows them to split Poland and not attack each other, even though Hitler breaks it later. It also puts the Baltic states in the Soviet sphere of influence. -
Invasion of Poland
Germany invades Poland on this day, claiming it was for self defense. He really wanted it for Lebensraum(living space) and to keep his promise to the Soviet Union, which attacked East Poland a couple of weeks later. -
Battle of Britain
The German Luftwaffe begins air raids on Great Britain in hopes of wearing them out, but Hitler gives up in May 1941. -
Churchill Becomes Prime Minister
Neville Chamberlain resigns and Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister. He is a fantastic oralist and gives several speeches to increase moral. -
Operation Barbarossa
The Germans formally start the invasion of the Soviet Union, which will end horribly for Hitler. -
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
On this day The US's naval base on Oahu, Hawaii was bombed by 360 Japanese planes. A large amount of US property was destroyed/damaged and the day after, war was declared on Japan, as well as Italy and Germany. -
The Holocaust Begins
At the Wannsee conference, the Germans decide to move Jews all over Europe to concentration camps. -
The Battle of Stalingrad
The Germans attempt to take Stalingrad, and after nearly 2 million casualties, the Nazis surrender in the turning point of the war. -
The Storming of Normandy
On June 6, 1944, also called D-Day, 176,000 troops arrived on the beaches of Normandy. 155,000 troops celebrated the occupation of Normandy after D-Day, and the liberation of Europe started. -
Germany Surrenders
This is the day that the Axis Powers officially surrendered. There was a final cease-fire and POW's were rescued. -
End of WWII
Japan finally surrenders after a Russian attack to the north, and two US atomic detonations A peace treaty is signed by several countries in Japan.
