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Attack of Manchuria
The Empire of Japan's Kwantung Army invaded Manchuria in search for natural resources not found in Japan. They set up a puppet state- also known as Manchukuo. They remained in Manchuria until the end of WWII. -
Nuremberg Laws
These were antisemitic laws in Nazi Germany. They were introduced at the annual Nuremburg Rally of the Nazi Party. These laws pointed out racial superiority, a major step in Hitler's plans for the Jews. -
Alliance with Italy and Germany
The alliance between these two countries during WWII was also known as the "Pact of Steel". It linked the two countries politically and militarily. -
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht literally translates into "The Night of Broken Glass". It was a massive attack on Jews throughout the German Reich, and was all coordinated. -
Invasion of Poland
Also known as the September Campaign or the Defensive War in Poland, the Nazis invaded and took control of Poland. They were able to do this without fear of the Soviet Union by signing the German-Soviet Pact of August 1939. -
Soviet Union invaded E. Poland
This was a joint invasion of Poland by the two new allies Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. When the Polish started retreating east when the Nazis invaded, they ran into the USSR. -
France surrenders
The Nazis already had Paris captured and the invasion was still continuing, so the Prime Minister of France's only choice was to sign an armistice with the Nazis. This surrendered the country to the Nazi Germans completley. -
Lend Lease Act
In the Lend Lease Act, congress authorized the lease of arms and supplies to any country the president deems vital to the defense of the United States. This greatly increased Britain's military aid in the war. -
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain was a defemce of Britain by the Royal Air Force against the Luftwaffe. This was a major turning point in the war, as Germany failed to achieve air superiority over Britain despite months of targeting their air bases. -
German invasion of Soviet Union
In the largest military operation of WWII, the Germans invaded the Soviet Union. This was in an attempt to "provide living space for the Germans", as well as a chance to destroy one of the most powerful countries in the war as well as the threat of communism in Germany. -
Atlantic Charter
The Atlantic Charter was a joint declaration of the President and Prime Minister following a meeting of the two in Newfoundland. This provided a bold statement of the United State's and Britain's war aims. -
Pearl Harbor
Early Sunday morning, the Japanese pulled off a massive attack on the American Naval Base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. They managed to sink half our war ships and badly damage the rest of them. The margain of death heavily favored the Japanese. -
Japanese internment (in US)
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States feared infiltration by other Japanese. In retaliation, the rounded up up to 120,000 Japanese living on the Pacific coast and put them into internment camps. 62% were U.S. citizens. -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway occured about 6 months after Pearl Harbor, with the U.S. navy being attacked by a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy. This ended up being one of the most decisive battles of WWII, but the United States defeated Japan. -
Allied invasion of Italy
On the 3rd of September, the Allies invaded the Italian Penninsula. They did so via an amphibious invasion. They secured North Africa and Sicily, the stepping stone of Italy, before expanding the invasion. -
D-Day
On June 6th, more than 160,000 troops stormed the beaches of Normandy in which proved to be the largest amphibious attack in history. It was a crusade which lasted until August, but resulted in the liberation of Westerm Europe from the Nazi's control. -
Geman surrender
The Germans were up against the Allied force and the Soviet Union at the end of WWII. They had no choice but to surrender, as the stood no chance. This ended WWII in Europe. -
Bombing of Hiroshima
With the consent of the United Kingdom, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. This is the first time an Atomic bomb was ever used in war, and was unleashed on unarmed and innocent civilians. The U.S. claimed it was faster, took less lives, and helped avoid a land invasion to end the war. -
Bombing of Nagasaki
Shortly after the U.S. dropped the first atomic bomb, Nagasaki suffered the same fate as Hiroshima. With Japan already on it's knees, the U.S. delivered the last major act of WWII. Although many say it was unnecessary, Japan surrendered within days. -
Japanese Surrender
Japan was crippled after 2 atomic bombs. The Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting major operations, and there would have been an Allied invasion for sure. With the Japanese surrender, all hostilities were brought to an end.
