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Japan Invades Manchuria
Japan invaded Manchuria, part of China's Eastern seaboard. Japan had been becoming more crowded and they had a very low view of the Chinese. This led to Japan invading Manchuria to gain more land. -
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Italy Invades, Conquers, and Annexes Ethiopia
Italy, under fascist control of Benito Mussolini, invaded Ethiopia. The conflict began with a border incident between Ethiopia and Italy. This conflict gave Mussolini a reason to invade and annex the only country not dominated by European powers. -
Treaty of Cooperation
Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy sign a treaty of cooperation. This is the first time that these countries have been allies. They hope to gain power and conquer land. -
Anti-Comintern Pact
Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan sign the Anti-Comintern Pact. It was directed against the Soviet Union. It was also against the international Communist movement. -
Japan Invades China
Japan continues to expand into East Asia. They continue with invading China which started with Manchuria. This was the beginning of World War II in the Pacific. -
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Austria
Germany invades Austria without a single shot fired. Hitler believed that Austria should be part of the Nazi empire. Austria was thus included in the Anschluss. -
Munich Agreement
Germany, Italy, Great Britain, and France sign the Munich Agreement. This forced the Czechoslovak Republic to cede the Sudetenland to Nazi Germany. They also had to cede key military defensive positions to Germany. -
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Slovak Independence
Under pressure from Nazi Germany, the Slovaks declare independence. This forms the Slovak Republic. Germany then invades Czech lands which violates the Munich Agreement. -
Polish State
France and Great Britain guarantee the integrity of the borders of the Polish state. After Germany's violation of the Munich Agreement, Poland was worried. Britain pledged to defend Poland if and when Germany attempts to invade. -
Nonaggression Act
Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union sign an nonaggression act. They also signed codicil dividing eastern Europe into spheres of influence. The agreement did not make Germany and Russia allies, but it guaranteed peace between the two. -
Germany Invades Poland
Germany invades Poland. This begins World War II in Europe. Adolf Hitler intended to regain land which they lost in World War I. -
Declaring War on Germany
Honoring their guarantee of protecting Polish borders, Great Britain and France declare war on Germany. This began conflict almost immediately. The first casualty was not German, but instead was the British ocean liner Athenia. -
Soviet Union Invades Poland
The Soviet Union begins to invade Poland from the east. The USSR declares that Poland no longer exists. This is due to the fine print of the nonaggression clause between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. -
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Poland Surrenders
Warsaw surrenders on September 27. The Polish government escapes to Romania. Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union divide Poland between them as agreed in the nonaggression act. -
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Denmark and Norway
Germany invades Denmark and Norway. Denmark surrenders the day of the invasion. Norway holds out until June 9. -
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Germany Attacks Western Europe
Germany invades France, along with several lower neutral countries. Luxembourg is occupied on May 10; the Netherlands surrenders on May 14; and Belgium surrenders on May 28. On June 22, France signs an armistice agreement by which the Germans occupy the northern half of the country and the entire Atlantic coastline. -
Italy Joins the War
Italy invades southern France. Mussolini was wary of entering the war due to lack of raw materials. German occupation of France made invasion much easier. -
Italy Invades Egypt
Italy invades British-occupied Egypt from Italian-controlled Libya. This achieves what the Duce calls the "glory" of Italy. Mussolini turned down German support in taking Egypt. -
Tripartite Pact
Japan, Germany, and Italy sign the Tripartite Pact. This forms the Axis powers. Should any of the Axis powers be attacked, other members would defend that country and offer support. -
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Axis Powers
Hungary (November 20),Romania (November 22), and Slovakia (November 23) join the Axis. This helps to gain more power for the Axis powers. It also gives more allies for defense and invading. -
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Axis Powers Invade Soviet Union
Nazi Germany and its Axis partners invade the Soviet Union. The Germans quickly overrun the Baltic States and, joined by the Finns, lay siege to St. Petersburg by September. In the center, the Germans capture Smolensk in early August and drive on Moscow by October. In the south, German and Romanian troops capture Kiev in September and capture Rostov on the Don River in November. -
Russian Counteroffensive
The Soviet Union launches a counteroffensive against Axis troops. This drives the German troops from the Moscow suburbs. Germany retreats in chaos. -
Pearl Harbor
Japan bombs Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Much of the U.S naval fleet was harbored here. 2,000 American soldiers were killed and another 1,000 were wounded. -
United States Declares war on Japan
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the angered United Stated declare war on Japan. Japanese troops land in the Philippines, French Indochina, and British Singapore. This is the beginning of Japan's involvement in the war. -
Battle of Midway
British and US navies halt the Japanese naval advance in the central Pacific at Midway. This was a very decisive battle. It stopped Japan's advancement and showed the military force of the Allied powers. -
D-Day
British and US forces land on the beaches of Normandy. This opens a second front against the Germans. It was important because it liberated all of Western Europe from Nazi Germany. -
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Battle of Okinawa
Allied troops stop at Okinawa to regain it. This is the last stop before reaching the islands of Japan. During this battle, the Japanese changed their tactics making the battle much more dangerous. -
Soviets Surround Berlin
The Soviet Union launches a final offensive to capture the capital of Germany, Berlin. This is an important part of the war and will most likely lead to the surrender of Nazi Germany. The Soviets encircle Berlin. -
Hitler Commits Suicide
With the Soviet Union advancing and no way to escape, Adolf Hitler takes his life. He consumed a cyanide pill then shot himself with a pistol. His body was then cremated. -
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Germany Surrenders
After losing Berlin and their Fuhrer, Nazi Germany surrenders to the Allies (May 7). Also to the Soviet Union (May 9). This removed Germany from the war, but left the other Axis powers. -
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Manhattan Project
The United States dropped two nuclear bombs on Japan. One on Hiroshima. The other on Nagasaki three days after the first bomb. -
Japan Surrenders
Having previously agreed to unconditional surrender in August, Japan formally surrenders. If Japan had not surrendered, they would have been invaded and had a large amount of casualties. This ends World War II and is the start of rebuilding. -
Battle of The Bulge
Germans launch a final offensive in the west. This was an attempt to re-conquer Belgium. It was also to split the Allied forces along the German border.
