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First Neutrality Act is Passed
On this day, President Roosevelt signed the Neutrality Act. He called it "expression of the desire...to avoid any action which might involve [the U.S] in war." Basically, this forbade American vehicles to carry fire arms without a license. This Act attempted to keep the U.S out of foregin affairs, of course it didn't work. -
Signing of the Rome-Berlin Axis
The signing of this agreement was between Italy and Germany bringing the two countries together. The whole thing was put together by Italy's foregin minister, Galeazzo Ciano. It was later formalized by the Pact of Steel in 1939. Also, Japan would also come into the picture and signing the Anti-Comintern Pact. -
Signing of the Anti-Comintern Pact
In 1936, Germany and Japan signed an agreement, (that later Italy would also join), saying that all three countries will aid each other if attacked. -
Hitler Invades Austria
German troops marched into Austria to annex the nation for the Third Reich. Austrian Chancellor, Schuschnigg gave into pressure from Hitler and resigned. After that, nothing stopped Germany from advancing into Austria. When Hitler made it to Austria with German troops, he was greeted with smiles and joy. He appointed a new Nazi government. -
The Munich Congerence
There was a settlement reached by Germany, Britain, France and Italy that gave Germany permission to annex Sudentenland in wester Czechoslovakia. Hitler has been wanted to conquer the Czech ever since he annexed Austria into German power. Very soon, he started making up a plan to how exactly he would take contol of the Czech. It succeeded. -
Germany Invades Czechoslovakia
Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia because it was a nation sacrificed on the altar of the Munich Pact. Italy, France, and Britain decided to hand over the Czech as an act of peace. The Czech government tried to appease Hitler by making negotiations but Hitler wasn't having it. The first chance he got he invaded Czechoslovakia. -
Mussolini Invades Albania
Mussolini initially saw what Hitler was doing with his conquest of Prauge. He was inspired to do the same thing in Albania. Albania was already depended on Italy for money, so when Italian troops invaded, there was little Albania could do. Ultimately, Albania had no shot at winning against Italy, so their King was forced into exile. -
Signing of the German-Soviet Non-Agression Pact
Right before WW2, Germany and the Soviet Union decided to sign the German-Soveit Non-Agression Pact (GSNAP), and stun the entire world. The GSNAP guaranteed that the two countries wouldn't take military action aganist each other for ten years. Stalin saw this as a way to keep the peace and buy time to build up his army. Hitler saw this as a temporary fix so he could plan something bigger to crush the Soviet Union. -
Germany Attacks Poland
Hitler wanted to regain all the territory he lost from the Treaty of Versailles, Poland happened to be one of them. The invasion of Poland was how Germany would now on wage war. This was known as the "blitzkrieg strategy". This strategy involved bombing to destroy the other countries air capacity, railroads, etc. This was often followed by massive land invasion. -
The Soviet Union Attacks Finland
In 1939 the Red Army crosses the Soviet-Finnish border with 465,000 men and 1,000 air crafts. The Soviet Union knew that invading Finland would be a breeze. The soilders even wore summer uniforms, despite the wintery weather. Helsinki was bombed and 61 Finns were killed in an air raid. -
Germans Invade Denmark and Norway
German warships entered Norwegian ports from Narvik to Oslo. Which meant that thousands of German troops occupied Norway. At the same time German troops were occupying other Danish cities. The German Minister is Oslo demanded that Norway surrender and the Norwegian government refused. So, the Germans responded with a parachute invasion. -
Churchill is Prime Minister of Britain
On this day, Winston Churchill is called to replace Neville Chamberlain as British Prime Minister. Chamberlain had signed the Munich Pact and promised peace for Britain. That was all shattered when Hitler invaded Poland. Chamberlain's leadership abilities started lacking and so Churchill, (who was known for being a leader), became prime minister. He gave his first speech before the House of Commons on May 13. -
Germany Invades the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg
2,500 German air craft bombed airfields in Belgium, Holland, France, and Luxembourg. At the same time, British and French Allied forces attempted to blockade the 136 German divisions forcing their way into Belgium and Holland. The Dutch and Belgian governments begged for British assistance. -
Dunkirk Evacuation
The Dunkirk Evacuatin was 198,000 Brit and 140,000 French troops evacuating Dunkirk and running to England. The operation was decided upon when Belgian, British, and French were surrounded by the German Army during the Battle of France. -
Mussolini Declares War On France and Britain
Italy's main reason for war was their lack of raw materials. Britain and France wanted no part of this and were actually "wooing" Mussolini with promises of colonies in Afria in exchange for neutrality. Italy started to mobilize its troops in France and easily took over. Britain started to recruit more Italians that were living in Britain. President Roosevelt showed his support by providing both countries with materials. -
Battle of Britain
In summer leading into fall German and British air crafts collided over the U.K. This was a huge turning point in WW2. The battle ultimately ended in Germany's defeat. The Royal Air Forces proved to be superior yet again, and prevented their country from being occupied by German forces. -
Japan Forms an Alliance with Germany and Italy
The Axis Powers are formed when Germany, Itally, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact in Berlin. The pact stated that mutual assistance would be given if any country attacks one of the Axis Powers. The signing of this pact was mainly directed towards "neutral" America. It was meant to make America think twice before messing with the Axis Powers. -
Rommel Takes Control of Libya
German General Erwin Rommel arrives in Libya to reinforce the Italian's position. Earlier in the year, Hitler established the Afrika Korps for the sole reason to help fellow Axis Power, Italy. Within three months, the Brits had pushed Italy out of Egypt and killed most of their men. In the famous battle of El Alamein, Rommel and his troops were defeated by Brit forces and forced to retreat. -
Germany Attacks The Soviet Union
In 1941, Nazi Germany decided to attack the Soviet Union in which would be the largest German military operation of WW2. Germany thought by eliminating the Soviet Union all Communist threat to Germany would disappear. Hitler always saw the German-Soviet nonagression pact as a temporary fix. -
Roosevelt and Churchill Sign the Atlantic Charter
During the war, the U.S and Great Britain issued a joint declaration that put out their vision of the post-war world. In January 1942, 26 Allied nations pledged their support of the charter. This was considered the frist step in establsihed the United Nations in 1945. -
Pearl Harbor
Around 8 a.m, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The bombing lasted for a couple of hours, but a lot of damage was done. Battle ships and air crafts were demolished and more then 2,000 Americans died in the lethal attack. -
U.S Declars War on Japan
As the devasting events of Pear Harbor the previous day, President Roosevelt gets approval from the House of Representatives to delcare war on Japan. "December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy..." This is the beginning of Japanese concentration camps. -
Wannsee Conference
This was the day Nazi officials met to discuss the details of the "Final Solution" to the "Jewish question". SS General Heydrich met with Adolf Eichmann and 15 other officials at Wannsee. Everyone basically put ideas on the table on how to kill all the Jews. Months later, gas vans went to Poland killing at least 1,000 people a day. -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was the succesful Soviet defense of the city of Stalingrad. Russians consider it to be the greatest battle of their Great Patriotic War. It stopped the German advance into the Soviet Union and marked the turning point, in favor of the Allies. It was also one of the bloodiest battles in history, with combined military and civilian casualties of 2 million. -
Bataan Death March
After the U.S surrender of the Bataan Peninsula on the main Philippine island of Luzon to the Japanese during WW2, 75,000 Filipino and U.S troops were forced to make an agonizing 65-mile march to prison camps. The weather was sunny and hot, not only that but the troops were subjected to harsh treatment by Japanese guards. The march claimed over 1,000 lives. -
Battle of Midway
Six months after the bombing of Pear Harbor, the U.S would return to destory Japan in one of the most decisive naval battles in WW2. Since there was some major advances in code breaking, the U.S was able to counter Japan's plan of ambush and destory the remaing Japanese Navy. This victory allowed the U.S to move to an offensive position. -
D-Day
The Battle of Normandy resulted in the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany's control. "Operation Overload" aka D-Day, American, British, and Canadian troops landed on five beaches along France's Normandy region. This invasion was one of the largest military assaults in history. By late August 1944, all of France had been liberated. Soon, The Allied Forces had defeated Germany. -
MacArthur Lands in the Philippines
MacArthur returns to the Philippines after he was forced to flee in 1942. He served as chief U.S military adviser to the Philippines before WW2. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Japan had its eyes on the Philippines, this forced MacArthur to flee. Which caused him to leave behind 90,000 American and Filipino troops on the Bataan Peninsula. -
V-E Day
Both the U.S and Britain celebrate "Victory in Europe Day." This day is formally known as the surrdender of Nazi Germany. German soilders finally laid down their arms and in Prauge they surrenderd to the Soviet Union. The German surrender was realized in a final cease-fire. THE WAR IS OVER! -
Postdam Conference
The Postdam Conference was held near Berlin and included American President Truman, British Prime Minister Churchill, and Soviet Premier Stalin. They established a Council of Foreign Ministers and a central Allied Control Council. "The Big Three" issued a "unconditional surrdender" from Japan. They also discussed how they would handle Germany's economy and country as a whole. -
V-J Day
On this day, Japan surrenderd to the Allied forces, this is what ended WW2. Ever since this day, August 14 and 15 are known as "Victoryover Japan Day". After the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Emperor Hirohito announced Japan's surrender over the radio. This was absolutley humiliating for him since no one has ever heard his voice.
