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German Parliament Passes Enabling Act
An Amendment to the Weimar Constitution passed in March 24, 1933 by the German parliament “diet” (Reichstag) allowing the German Cabinet (Adolf Hitler) power to pass laws without the involvement of the Reichstag. This effectively gave him full dictatorial reign of Germany from 1933 until his death in 1945. This amendment was passed to quickly override the standing chancellor of Germany’s power, fully absorbing responsibility and to remove all other competition for power to lead the nation. -
The Gestapo is Born
Gestapo is an abbreviated term for Geheime Staatspolizei. This agency was founded on April 26, 1933 by Hermann Goring acting as the secret police of Nazi Germany. This was achieved by combining local law enforcement groups into a single organization. It acted to silence opposition to the Nazi party within German territory and later began rounding and deporting Jews to extermination camps along with the SS (security service). -
Nuremberg Laws Announced
Laws written by Adolf Hitler and approved by the Nazi Party on September 15, 1935 were designed to strip Germany inhabitant Jews of all rights; they lost both common law and later, human rights. Any relationships between Jews and German Kind or “kindred” was no longer acceptable. “German Kind” and “Jew” were later defined and put into categorical tiers in relation to heritage and religious practice. The law was passed in and named after Nurnberg, the location of the convention. -
Rome Berlin Axis Announced
On November 25, 1936, the foreign minister of Italy and a representative of Germany informally agreed to linking the two countries. Later, in 1939, the bond was made formal with the Pact of Steel. The agreement was made to strengthen relations and help build the groundwork for the rising facist nations. No military was shared or bolstered by each other until the Tripartite Pact in 1940. -
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Japan Invades China
Battle began with the Marco Polo Bridge incident which would allow Japanese military to occupy deeper Chinese territory. Motivation to possess and expand southwest China was furthered by US embargoes; an action by F.D.R. in retaliation for their occupation in French Indo-China. However, Japan's expansion would be thwarted by Chinese forces repeatedly in 1939, causing a stalemate. After the allied victories in Eurasia and the two atomic bombs were dropped, occupation forces formally surrendered. -
Germany’s Anschluss with Austria
The annexation (unification) of Austria into Germany on March 12, 1938. This idea was attractive to both Germans and Austrians who inhabited and settled during German ownership in WWI. This action was directly against the Treaty of Versaille. Hitler of Nazi Germany did this by holding a referendum which resulted in a popular vote of 99.73% in favor from both Germans and Austrians to merge into one greater Germany. An easy target for Hitler’s nationalist expansion and domination was Austria. -
Munich Agreement Signed
Hitler continued his campaigns until they could no longer watch as their neighbor expanded militarily without repercussions. Therefore leaders of Great Britain, France, Italy, and Germany congregated to rectify the issue and allowed Germany to obtain Czechoslovakian land in an act of appeasement, and warned Hitler to cease expansion, in hopes of eliminating the chance of war. Hitler agreed yet later, continued to capture more territory, betraying the League of Nations. -
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Kristallnacht
Also known as the November Pogrom, Jewish businesses, homes, schools, and synagogues were burned and destroyed by semi-military Germans and civilians. 100 Jewish people were left dead in the aftermath and over 30,000 Jews were detained and put into concentration camps. The incident spanned from November 9 - 10. Kristallnacht translates to Night of Broken Glass as there was much destruction (broken glass) and chaos in the streets. -
Yellow Stars Required to be Worn by Polish Jews Over Age 10
Following the invasion of Poland, Reinhard Heydrich suggested Jews should be required to wear identifying badges. Polish Jews in newly captured German territories began following the new law. By the end of 1939, the mandatory identification piece had been imposed on all Jews in all territories. This is one of the first major effects of the slow dehumanizing process of Jews in Nazi Germany. -
Non-Aggression Pact Signed Between Germany and USSR
On August 23, 1939, a 10 year neutrality pact between Germany and the Soviet Union, also known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, was formed. The pact allowed Germany to invade Poland on September 1, 1939 without fear of Soviet intervention as they were in the League of Nations as well. The location of signature was in Moscow, Russia written in both German and Russian. -
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Germany Invades Poland
Germany attempts to use the Blitzkrieg (lightning war) strategy utilizing a constant barrage of air (planes) and ground (tanks) machines to quickly dominate Poland. Hitler successfully and swiftly captured Poland on October 6, 1939. Some argue this is the true beginning of WWII. Hitler did this to expand Germany and regain lost territory during WWI. This acted as a primer for Germany’s series of overwhelming victories of European countries and growth of power throughout WWII. -
Great Britain and France Declare War on Germany (WWII Begins)
During the invasion of German forces in Poland, a nation allied with Great Britain and France, an official speech was delivered officially declaring war against Germany by the British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain. The speech was delivered in Westminster, London despite declaring war on behalf of both nations. The speech was delivered on September 3, 1939. This is regarded as the true beginning of WWII by many. -
Poland Surrenders to Germany
Poland surrendered to Germany on September 27, 1939. Germany, whose nation boarded Poland on the west, used the novel Blitzkrieg strategy to overpower Polish forces. Previous alliances to Great Britain and France enabled military action and before the wars end, an official war declaration had been announced; some say this is the true beginning of WWII because a variety of militarily large nations had assembled in large scale opposition for the first time since WWI. -
Germany Attacks France
On September 3, 1939, France declared war along with Great Britain and soon after launched a preemptive strike called the Saar offensive. However, allied combative positions were not able to be furthered resulting in a temporary stalemate. France could no longer sustain a defense and withdrew. Germany was then able to capture France among other less powerful European nations in 6 weeks, starting from May 10, 1940. This quick transformation of European dominance was a global shock. -
Italy Enters WWII
As the soon to be axis victory in France had solidified Italy’s decision to cooperate with Germany in their conquest. The nation joined WWII on June 10, 1940 on the axis side. Benito Mussolini envisioned the defeat of Great Britain by Germany as a possibility to fill the power gap once it opened. -
Germany Defeats France
June 22, 1940, France ended their battle with an Armistice soon after Germany’s invasion of Werstern Europe. The Battle of France or the Fall of France lasted 6 weeks in total. A surprise attack by Germans utilizing terrain deemed impossible for tanks progressed German victory manyfold, famously known as the Manstein Plan or Sickle Stroke move. Germany now possessed a larger grasp on European resources and began considering world domination. -
Battle of Britain Begins*
After the fall of France, Great Britain was the next target insight for Nazi Germany. The battle was mostly airborne, the 2 combatant forces being the Royal Air Force and the Luftwaffe. Germany ran incessant bombing campaigns which lasted months. The geographical advantage of Great Britain, isolated from all directions, proved impossible for the Luftwaffe to sustainably surmount and ground troops be deployed. The battle started on July 10, 1940 and was the first of many battles throughout WWII. -
Tripartite Pact Signed
This pact was signed by 3 parties, Japan, Germany, and Italy on September 27, 1940. The 3 signatures belonged to representatives of each nation, Saburo Kurusu, Joachim von Ribbentrop, and Galeazzo Ciano. The pact formally allied the nations as the axis powers and supported each other throughout the war. Unlike previous alliances and agreements formalized the use of military aid to signatory countries. -
Battle of Britain Ends*
The Germans had discontinued their bombing campaigns and retreated on October 31, 1940: an allied victory. Germany had sought to provide air power alone was enough to defeat a nation however there were many disadvantages, including geography and the strategies used by the British to confuse bombers, that made airborne battle significantly more arduous and unsustainable for the Luftwaffe. Germany lost more men than predicted and had to concede. -
Operation Barbarossa Begins
An axis invasion into west soviet territory, code named Operation Barbarossa (originally named operation Fritz), started on June 22, 1941. Germany’s goal was to repopulated western Russia with Aryan blood. Contradictory to the previous non-aggression pact between the two nations, the battle ended when unequipped German soldiers for the climate had suffered and lost to the cold. Their defeat signaled a turning point in WWII and pointed towards an end sooner than expected. -
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Battle of Moscow
Combatants of this conflict are the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. The battle was between September 30, 1941 to April 20, 1942. Soviet victory lead to the end of Operation Barbarossa; a German military operation to capture Russian territory under 4 months using blitzkrieg tactics. Victory of the Soviets showed global powers Nazi Germany’s weakness; strategy was a key factor in the success of Soviet defense. -
Operation Barbarossa Ends
The Nazi invasion into Russia, under the code name “Operation Barbarossa,” ended on December 5, 1941. Following the battle of Great Britain, defeat for the Germans was now a common result for invasions into other countries. Battles in Moscow, Leningrad, Stalingrad and others. Even before the first thaw of spring, German generals had surrendered (against Hitler’s orders) and the surviving 2,500 men returned to their home nations. -
Pearl Harbor attacked by Japanese*
On December 7, 1941, Japanese air forces launched a surprise attack on a US naval base in Honolulu, Hawaii. Due to the nature of the attack, vessels and other crafts were in poor position and could easily destroy themselves in a chain reaction when fired upon by aircraft bombs and other weaponry. US aircraft carriers, though not all were destroyed, were and still are, an important center of war-based operations, especially on a global scale. -
US Declares war on Japan
Because of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii, by the Japanese Air Force on December 7, 1941, the US officially declared war on Japan one day later on December 8, 1941. This allowed the US to join their allies: Great Britain and France, in their combined effort in both the European and Pacific Theatres. War was declared by the Congress of the US after FDR’s Infamy Speech an hour prior. -
Wannsee Conference/Final Solution*
The conference was held on January 20, 1942. This was a congregation of Senior and Schutzstaffel leaders in the suburb of Wannsee (where the name is derived). “Final Solution of the Jewish Question” (Judenfrage). Since this point in history, many attempts at discriminating against Jews and use as a scapegoat for societal/religious problems. A means or justification for war and object of unity for all but the Jewish people. -
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Battle of Midway*
The battle was from June 4, 1942 to June 7, 1942. This was six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. The naval battle took place on the Pacific Theatre, using the remaining US aircraft carriers and decisive leadership. The US was victorious and allowed for further military advancement into Japanese territory. After losing 4 carrier vessels, 1 cruiser, and 292 aircrafts (significantly more than the US) Japan conceded defeat. -
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Battle of Stalingrad
Nazi defeat was imminent following the record cold winters which only one nation was prepared for (the Soviet Union). The rate at which Russia was militarizing and industrializing largely helped aid their victory, but it was also through utilizing any citizens capable of holding a rifle that the Soviets were able to defend one of their major cities (named after their dear leader). Most historians say Russia was the main engine for Nazi defeat in Europe. -
US Begins “Island hopping” campaign*
The campaign to traverse the pacific islands by “hopping” from one to another was initiated around November, 1943. This was done to isolate possible beneficial islands and destroy others from Japan. Each island controlled had its own unique benefit for the US in the Pacific War. Islands with strategic value carried military bases and allowed for a sea supply chain. This guaranteed Japanese forces would not reclaim all captured islands in one fell swoop. -
D-Day*
This famous event in history was on June 6, 1944. The allied landing operations in Normandie, France were the largest seaborne invasion in history. The invasion was a coastal site where semiaquatic vehicles beached while fired upon from the top of a cliff further inland. Over 10,000 died on that day. This resulted in allied victory of Nazi-occupied France. This was the beginning of a long lasting campaign to liberate western europe. -
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Allied Troops free Paris
The Liberation of Paris was battle that took place from August 19, 1944 to August 25, 1944. This event took place in Paris, France. The German Garrison surrendered the capital after a series of bombing and ground troop campaigns. Since D-Day, the “liberation” of France was now considered complete. As allied forces began to gather militarily, lower and lower went the chances of German victory and domination of Europe, much less the world. -
US Troops land on Philippines
US troops landed on the Philippines on October 20, 1944. MacAurthur did this to liberate the Japanese occupied peoples of the Philippines since 1942. This was done on the island of Leyte. The battle of Leyte ended on December 26, 1944. This battle is known to be the largest naval battle in regards to the number of soldiers involved. The Leyte Gulf (another term for the Battle of Leyte) is estimated to the 19th most lethal American battle in WWII. -
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US captures Iwo Jima*
The battle to capture the island of Iwo Jima began on February 19, 1945 and ended on March 26, 1945. The battle was considered to be one of the bloodiest and most costly battles in American Marine Corps history. Japanese troops had surrounded the contact point along the coast and had the height advantage for the initial, surprise bombardment of artillery fire from seemingly indestructible pill boxes; only direct fire from a destroyer could penetrate its secure construction. -
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US captures Okinawa*
The battle began on April 1, 1945 and ended on June 22, 1945. Codenamed Operation Iceberg, the naval battle is considered one of the bloodiest in the Pacific War. It is also known as the typhoon of steel after the ferocity of the battles; the unimaginable amount of amphibious ships and fighters on each side produced that name. Both sides suffered heavy losses; more than 160,000 on each side. Japanese Kamikaze program struck American vessels. -
Hitler commits suicide
Adolf Hitler commited suicide in the Fuhererbunk, located in the heart of Berlin, Germany. Testing the effectiveness of the cyanide pill given to him on his dog before consuming it himself along with his wife. True to his distrustful philosophy, he pushed a gun to his head just to be sure he would not be taken alive by the Red Army under any circumstances. The body was burned along with any remains but later recovered dental remains which was identified in 1979. -
VE Day
VE is an acronym for Victory in Europe. This day celebrates the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany’s forces on May 8, 1945. This commemorates the end of WWII in Europe. Currently, this day is mostly celebrated and recognized in European countries. After attempting to fight a two fronted war with Allied forces on the south-west and Soviet Union from the east, Germany fought a battle it could not win with the limited resources they possessed. -
Atomic Bomb dropped on Hiroshima*
On August 6, 1945, an American military aircraft dropped a nuclear bomb over Hiroshima Prefecture nicknamed “Little Boy.” The detonation was not so little as the name entails however. 70,000 Japanese people had died instantly while 140,000 later would die due to extreme radiation exposure. The radius of the blast was 1.6 km and left large amounts of radiate still able to be measured to this day. -
Atomic Bomb dropped on Nagasaki*
Nagasaki was not the original choice of bomb location but weather conditions in Kokura were sub-optimal. 3 days after “Little Boy” was dropped on Hiroshima, like Pres. Truman promised, “Fat Man” was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. August 9, 1945, the bomb killed more than 40,000 people instantly and killing 80,000 later due to extreme radiation exposure. 6 out of 7 five-star US generals were convinced Japanese surrender was imminent and dropping further bombs was not necessary. -
Japan Formally Surrenders to US
V-J Day, or Victory over Japan Day was celebrated in the streets of the US after Japanese Emperor, Hirohito publicly broadcast Japan’s surrender. The announcement brought the global war to an end. August 15, 1945, WWII officially ended. The surrender was made official on paper on September 2, 1945. By the end of July, 1945, Japan was incapable of carrying out major naval or air operations and could no longer resist the imminent allied invasions.
