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Japan invades Manchuria
Japan invaded Machuria in the Republic of China due to their lack of raw materials. They also left the League of Nations. -
War between Japan and China
Rape of Nanjing: 200,000-300,000 Chinese killed. -
Germany and Soviet Union Non-Agression Pact
Peace treaty between Germany and Soviet Union. -
Germany invades Poland
Quick victory by Germany using the Blitzkrieg tactic (attacked in waves). -
Britain and France declare war on Germany
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Germany attacks France
Attacked through the Ardennes Forest in Northern France. Fremch troops surrender by the end of June; Germany controls southern France (Vichy France). -
Battle of Britain
Battle of air froces: RAF (Royal Air Force) vs. the Luftwaffe. Britain prevails. -
Hideki Tojo takes over Japan
Prime minister of Japan resigned; Tojo replaces him. -
First US soldiers die in the war
11 soldiers die when the Kearny is sunk -
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
Japan bombed Pearl Harbor; 2,400 Americans were killed. -
US enters WWII
United States declare war on Japan in response to Pearl Harbor. -
Japanese Navy stopped
British and US navies defeat Japan's navy in the Central Pacific. -
Axis Forces defeated in Egypt
British defeat Germans and Italians; they retreat across Libya. -
Soviet counterattack
Axis troops surrender in Stalingrad. -
North African Campaign Ends
Axis forces surrender in Tunisia. -
D-Day
First day of the invasion of Normandy, France by the Allied troops. -
Battle of the Bulge
German's last ditch effort in the west; they retreat by January 1st. -
Harry Truman assumes presidency
FDR dies suddenly and vice president Truman takes over. -
Hitler commits suicide
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V-E Day
End of World War II in Europe; Allies won. -
Bombing of Hiroshima
80,000 killed -
Nagasaki atomic bomb
40,000+ killed. -
Surrender of Japan
The war officially ends with Japan's surrender. This was less than a month after the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan.
