-
13. Attack of Manchuria
In 1931 Japan seized Manchuria and started setting up mines and factories. Japan wanted to build an empire in the Pacific. They needed the natural resources in China to try and reconstruct their economy. -
14. Alliance with Italy and Germany
As Hitler's strength and power increased, he advised Mussolini to join forces. In October 1936 Mussolini and Hitler became Allies in a pact know as the Rome-Berlin Axis. One month later the Axis Powers were formed and Germany, Italy and Japan offically all became Allies. -
11. Kristallnacht
Herschel Grynszpan shot an employee of the German Embassy in Paris. Two days later Nazi's began taking over all Jewish aspects of life including their homes, businesses and synagogues. It is considered the "Night of Broken Glass" due to all the glass in the streets. This event started a major movement to persecute Jews. -
1. Invasion of Poland
On September 1, 1939 Germany's Hitler made a surprise attack on Poland. German artillary including 1.5 million soldiers along with tanks, planes and trucks began attacking Warsaw which is Poland's capital. As a result Poland crumbled and WWII started. -
2. Soviet Union Invaded E. Poland
On September 17, 1939 after a secret meeting with Hitler, Stalin invaded the Eastern half of Poland. The Soviet Union started capturing Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Stalin forced Finland to surrender in March of 1940. -
3. France Surrenders
On June 10, 1940 Hitler and Mussolini joined forces to declare war on France and Great Britain. Four days later Germany captured Paris, France. Completely overwhelmed by enemy forces France surrendered on June 22, 1940 -
5. Lend Lease Act
Under the Lend Lease Act the President could lend or lease supplies to any country that was allied to the United States. Throughout the summer of 1941 the U.S. helped escort British ships with supplies back to Britain. -
4. Battle of Britain
Hitler attacked Great Britain in the summer of 1940. Germany began bombing the cities of Britain especially London to try and break up British morale. The Battle of Britain lasted until May 10, 1941 when Hitler called off the attacks due to massive British resistance movements. -
7. German Invasion of Soviet Union
On 22, 1941 Hitler performed his plan Operation Barbarossa .He used the Blitzkrieg tactic to quickly move German tanks and aircrafts into Russia. Russians quickly used the scorched earth tactic to try and push back the Germans. Hitler had surrounded the city of Leningrad and destroyed all their warehouses that contained food. Hitler was never able to fully capture Leningrad so he went on to capturing Moscow. Germany attacked Moscow during the winter months causing German artillary to freeze. -
6. Atlantic Charter
The leaders of Britain and the U.S. met on a ship off Newfoundland. The Atlantic Charter upheld free trade amongst nations and the citizens had the right to choose their own governments. After the war the charter was used to make a peace pact. -
15. Pearl Harbor
On Decemeber 7, 1941 Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in an attempt to destroy all the U.S. ships stationed in the Pacific. The United States lost 18 ships, 2,400 men were killed and another 1,000 were wounded. The attack on Pearl Harbor was the force that caused the U.S. to enter the war. -
20. Japanese Internment
After the attacks on Pearl Harbor the Americans feared Japanese people living within U.S. borders. The U.S. began using propaganda to turn all Americans against the Japanese. On February 19, 1942 President Roosevelt declared all Japanese living in the U.S. be sent to camps that were heavily guarded by the military. The goal was that if the Japanese military invaded the U.S. then none of the Japnese citizens already living in the U.S. could help Japan. -
16. Battle of Midway
By June 1942 Japan was planning on attacking Midway Island, west of Hawaii. However the U.S. intercepted a Japanese message and knew the attack was coming. This gave American ships time to plan for the incoming attack. On June 4 the battle began when American planes bombed Japanese artillary. America was able to destroy all the Japanese aircraft carriers and 332 planes. This truly avenged the defeat of Pearl Harbor for America. -
8. Allied Invasion Of Italy
On June 10, 1943 180,000 Allied soldiers captured Sicily from the Italians and Germans. This invasion put and end to Mussolini's power. Italy surrendered on September 3. However fighting countinued in Italy until May 1945 when Germany was at last driven out of the area. -
9. D-Day
American General Eisenhower came up with the plan named to perform a massive invasion on the beaches of Normandy by Allied forces. At the same time the Allies performed a fake attack on the French seaport of Calais to try and split up the Axis army. The attack of D-Day cost the Americans 3000 soldiers and wounded thousands more. -
10. German Surrender
After many years of war the Soviets broke the German lines at Berlin. Along with the Allied troops they were completely able to surround the Germans. Hitler sensed the end of the war and shot and killed himself on May 7, 1945. It was not until the next day on May 8, 1945 that Germany officially surrendered. -
18. Bombing of Hiroshima
As a result of the Japanese failing to surrender at the end WWII, President Truman ordered an atomic bomb to be dropped on Hiroshima. The bomb caused 73,000 deaths. -
17. Bombing of Nagasaki
On August 9, 1945 the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Nagasaki. The bomb killed more the 37,500 Japanese citizens. -
19 Japanese Surrender
After the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki the Japanese surrendered to General Douglas MacArthur on September 2. The Japanese surrendered in Tokyo Bay to the U.S. ship Missouri. This marked the end of the U.S. involvment in the Pacific part of the war. -
12. Nuremberg Laws
Throughout 1946 a committee of 23 nations put Nazi criminals on trial. Nazi leaders were charged with waging war of aggression and crimes against humanity. Many Nazi leaders escaped trial by committing suicide. However only 12 of the 22 defendants were sentenced to die.
