-
The Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles is the document that officially ended WWI. It imposed harsh reparations and penalties on Germany, who was accused of causing the war. These conditions caused resentment across almost all Germans, and helped to contribute to the hardships Germany experienced during the post-war period. -
The Rise of Hitler
Hitler legally took power in Germany when he was elected Chancellor in 1933. Soon after his election, he consolidated power and turned Germany into a strict totalitarian state. He used his leadership as a way to promote his strong anti-Semitic and other oppressive beliefs. Hitler's leadership showed the shift towards nationalism and militarism in Europe, helping to cause WW2. -
Hitler's violation of the Treaty of Versailles
Once he became chancellor, Hitler violated the punishments listed in the Treaty of Versailles. He rebuilt Germany's military, reoccupied the Rhineland, and began to attempt expansion of the country. When his actions weren't punished by other European powers, he continued to push the boundaries. His defiance of the resolution of WWI helped lead to the aggression that caused WW2. -
The Munich Agreement
The Munich Agreement was a deal between Germany, Britain, France, and Italy that allowed Hitler to annex the Sudetenland, without the consent of Czechoslovakia. Britain and France followed a policy of appeasement, hoping this would prevent a larger war caused by Hitler. The unwillingness of the Allies to stop Hitler led to WW2 by influencing him to continue his aggression. When he violated their agreement by occupying the rest of the country, tensions only continued to increase in Europe. -
Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
Germany and the Soviet Union signed a pact agreeing not to attack each other. In secret, they agreed to conquer and divide Eastern Europe, including Poland. This cleared the way for Hitler to invade Poland, which directly caused WW2. -
The Invasion of Poland
The invasion of Poland officially marked the start of WW2 when Hitler launched a surprise attack, quickly overwhelming the Polish military. Britain and France had agreed to protect Poland, so when Germany invaded they declared war on September 3rd, 1939. This ended their policy of appeasement and the conflict became a global war. -
Battle of Britain
This was the first major battle fought entirely by air forces. The Royal Air Force's victory prevented a German invasion of Britain and gave the Allies a base in Western Europe. This was Hitler's first major defeat during the war, which helped to boost the Allies' low morale. -
Fall of France
Germany's quick defeat of France proved how effective the Germany military and their practices were. The fast surrender of an Allied power left Britain alone to fight against Germany. France's fall also allowed Germany to occupy a lot of territory in Western Europe, using their resources as a help to their war effort. This also led to the creation of the Vichy regime, a German controlled puppet government, that helped their power grow. -
Operation Barbarossa
Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union opened up the Eastern Front for war. This broke the pact between Germany and the USSR, forcing the Soviet Union to join the Allies. This operation and the Union's unwillingness to give up led to extreme loss of German resources and a turning point in the East. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japan's attack on the United States is what truly turned WWI into a complete global war. Not only that, but it gave the Allies a strong new power to help defeat Germany. This attack not only caused the US to join the world war, but also to declare war on Japan. -
Battle of Stalingrad
Stalingrad is most well known for its mark of a turning point in the Eastern Front. The Soviet victory ended Germany's advance into the country and began pushing them west. This large defeat decreased Germany morale and helped to encourage the Allies. -
Battle of Midway
In this battle, the US destroyed four Japanese aircraft carriers, extremely limiting Japanese power. This stopped Japan's expansion across the Pacific and gave the US time to begin their island hopping campaign, which is one of the main events that led to the defeat of Japan. -
D-Day
D-Day was the largest amphibious invasion in history and was the beginning of the Allied liberation of Western Europe. It opened up the Western Front, forcing Germany to fight a two front war. The Allies' successful invasion allowed them to push through France and into Germany. This was a major step in ending the war. -
The Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The United states dropped atomic bombed on two Japanese cities, causing mass destruction and death across the area. Soon after this large loss, Japan surrendered to the United States, which brought WW2 to an end. -
The Paris Peace Treaties
These treaties were signed between the Allied powers and Axis aligned countries such as Italy, Hungary, Romania, and Finland. They officially ended WW2 and set the terms for peace. This included territorial adjustments, reparations, and new military restrictions. These were similar to the Treaty of Versailles in the way that they were meant to prevent future wars. However, they also helped cause the Cold War.