-
Great Depression
After the Great Depression, the world was in a really poor state and they were very vulnerable. The dictators used this to their advantage and got voted in by telling people what they wanted to hear. They then got an overload of power and gained too much control. -
Japan Conquers Manchuria in North China
In 1931, Japan used their forces to attack northern China as an attempt to gain power of the area (and eventually all of east Asia). This was known as the Manchurian incident. The event was one of the main causes of WWII. -
Hitler Becomes Chancellor of Germany
Hitler became the Chancellor of Germany from the vote of the people. All Germans were so desperate and once Hitler told them what they wanted to hear, they quickly let him in. He then had too much power and turned their country evil. -
Roosevelt became First Elected President of WWII
Franklin Deleanor Roosevelt was president from 1933-1945. FDR gave much financial support to Great Britain and China during the beginning of WWII. He wanted to keep his country a diplomacy and put in place the Lend-Lease Act (see below). He lowered unemployment, but also interned Japanese-Americans (up to 100,000). -
Nuremberg Laws
The Nuremberg laws supported Anti-Semitism and also gave power to the Nazis to racially discriminate the Jews. People were classified as German/Aryan (100%) or unwanted (people from at least 3-4 generations back of Jewish heritage). -
Hitler and Mussolini Form the Rome-Berlin Axis
Hitler (led Nazis) and Mussolini (from Italy, the leader) formed the Rome-Berlin Axis, or Axis Alliance to fight against the Allies during WWII. It was formed in 1936. -
Japan Invades China
The invasion was in 1937 on July 7. China received economic help from Germany, Soviet Union, and America during the fight. It eventually ended in 1945 when WWII ended. -
Germany Invades Austria
Germany invaded Austria in 1938. Austria, at the time, was mostly home to German speakers. After Hitler took over Austria, he wanted to go Sudentland (in Czechoslovakia) because they had mostly German speakers as well. Czech would not give up their land and they had received support from France and the Soviet Union. This also was another cause of the war ahead. -
Britain's Appeasement of Germany
This was in 1938 where Neville Chamberlain (British Prime Minister) met with Hitler to create an agreement. Hitler now got Sudetenland but had to promise to not take over any more territory. -
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht is a group of Anti-Jewish programs by Hitler put in place on November 9 and 10 of 1938. This was yet another Hitler program against Jews. -
Germany & Soviet Union have a Non-Aggression Pact
In August of 1939, Nazis and Soviets signed a non-aggression pact. It was later broken two years later on June 22, 1941. -
Germany Invades Poland-Blitzkrieg
In August of 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union had made an agreement not to attack each other, but, on September 1, 1939, Germany attacked Poland hard. Right after, Great Britain and France called war on Germany. Germany used a new war tactic called “Lightning War,” or blitzkrieg (speed and surprise war). -
Japan Joins the Axis Powers
Japan joined the Axis powers in 1940. They from then on sided with Hitler and Mussolini. -
Germany Invades Denmark, Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands
Right after attacking Poland, Germany attacked Denmark, Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands in 1940. German forces truly trampled all four countries. -
German air force (Luftwaffe) bombs London and other civilian targets in the Battle of Britain
In Summer and Fall of 1940, Hitler fought the British Royal Air Force (RAF). This allowed him to bomb London and other places. This was known as the Battle of Britain. Great Britain did not surrender to Germany. -
Lend-Lease Act
1941-Congress signed the Lend-Lease Act with the Allies. Roosevelt supported this highly and was glad something like it was coming in. The purpose of this act is the permission to lend resources and equipment with the Allies, which they could also lease. -
Germany Invades Soviet Union
In June of 1941 (on the 22nd), Germany implemented their largest military operation of all time on the Soviet Union. This broke their non-aggression pact signed 2 years ago. -
Pearl Harbor
After Japan joined the Axis alliance in 1940, a new leader (Hideki Tojo) had a different view on violence. On December 7, 1941, Japan bombed Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor. This caused the US to join the war against Japan. -
Tuskegee Airmen
African-Americans were given the opportunity to support the war effort by becoming pilots and crew members. They were treated with respect from North Africa and Europe. -
Rosie the Riveter
Women also supported the war effort by completing “men’s jobs” in factories and businesses. They did hard work and proved they were stronger than their previous image. This was a turning point for the role of women in society. -
Japanese-American Incarceration
After the Pearl Harbor incident, America thought all Americans from Japanese descent were criminals and against their nation. America incarcerated them in camps of small areas and took away all of their rights. This disobeyed the constitution and caused much controversy. -
Nazis Implement "Final Solution"
The Nazis for years have been trying to get rid of Jews once and for all. The Holocaust had been in place for a few years (since 1933). They had mastered killing tactics and tried to kill all people where weren’t Arian. About 20 million people were killed. -
British forces stop the German advance at El Alamein
In 1942, between Germany and Italy, they had a severe battle. The Allies stepped in and booted off Germany. Germany eventually surrendered in 1943 (May). -
Guadalcanal
This island in the British Solomon Islands was a location of cruel fighting between Japan and America from 1942-1943. This was where American planes crashed and the fighters were treated with care from the natives. American forces were victorious. -
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a top-secret plan to plant atomic bombs in Japan. They wanted to bomb Nagasaki and Hiroshima. This was led by J. Robert Oppenheimer. They worked for 3 years to make the weaponry. -
Bataan Death March
Starting on April 9, 1942, the Imperial Japanese Army was transferred trying to get to Camp O-Donnell. Most died on their way and never reached the camp. They were killed by murder and physical abuse as well as starvation. -
Battle of Midway
About 6 months after Pearl Harbor, America conquered Japan. Japan tried to lure American airplanes into a trap, to their loss. -
German Forces Surrender at Stalingrad
In 1942 (September), Germany attacked Stalingrad, Russia. Stalingrad is an important industrial center. Russia was a good fighter, but Germany didn’t surrender. In February 1943, the remaining German troops were forced to surrender. Soviet Union started to push German Armies west and back towards Germany. -
D-Day
On June 6, 1944, the Allies attacked 5 French beaches and were victorious. About 850,000 Allied troops came in. It was the largest invasion by sea in history. It stands for “’Designated day when operations are due to commence.” -
Battle of the Bulge
This was the last Germany assault in 1944 (December). It was in the Ardennes region of Luxembourg and Belgium. -
Iwo Jima
In February 1945, US Marines invaded Iwo Jima and planted the flag later that month at the top of Mount Suribachi. This signaled their victory, but they still fought for a few more days. -
Yalta Conference
This conference was when the Allies planned what would happen after the war. It was between Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin. Roosevelt was in poor health at this time and died a few months later. Stalin said he would declare war on Japan after Germany surrendered. They also discussed types of government in Europe that might change after war. -
Okinawa
In April 1945, US invaded Okinawa. They had victory here as well and used both islands to work on the atomic bombs. American deaths: 18,000+ Japanese deaths: 120,000+ -
Roosevelt Dies, Truman Becomes President
April of 1945 Roosevelt died because of his poor health. He was just sworn in for his 4th term, so his VP took over. -
Formation of the League of Nations
April 25, 1945-50 nations met in San Francisco to discuss a new peacekeeping organization to replace the weak and ineffective League of Nations. June 26, 1945-all 50 nations ratified the charter, creating a new international peacekeeping body known as the United Nations. President Roosevelt had urged Americans not to turn their backs on the world again. Unlike the league of Nations, the United States is a member of the United Nations. -
Allies held Potsdam Conference
From July 17-August 2, 1945, the Allies planned the war’s end. The final decision was made to put Nazi war criminals on trial. -
Atomic Bombs Dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
After the Manhattan project in 1942, the US decided to go through with their plan since Japan still didn’t surrender. On August 6, 1945, the B-29 bomber (Enola Gay) dropped and atomic bomb on Hiroshima (industrial city). It killed 75,000 people. Since Japan didn’t surrender STILL, so they were forced to drop another on April 9, 1945 in Nagasaki. This killed another 40,000 people. -
Japanese Surrender
Japan surrendered on August 14, 1945. They signed their official letter with Allied leader on September 2, 1945 in the US battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay. -
Nuremberg Trials
From November 20, 1945 to October 1, 1946, the Nuremberg Trials consisted of 24 defendants, including some of Hitler’s top officials. Hermann Goring was the top Nazi official and head of Gestapo (secret police). He was charged with crimes against humanity. 19 were found guilty and 12 were sentenced to death. -
Allied Forces Advance on Berlin, Germany Surrenders
In late 1945, Russia reached Berlin, Germany. Hitler committed suicide. On May 2nd, 1946, the Soviet Army took over Berlin and German leaders signed an unconditional surrender 5 days later. It was held at General Eisenhower’s headquarters in France. -
Marshall Plan
In 1948, Congress approved Secretary of State George Marshall’s plan to help boost European economies. They gave $13 billion to help the nations of Europe get back on their feet.
