World War II Timeline [Juana Flores]

World War I ends with German defeat.

Nov 11, 1918

German propaganda had not prepared the nation for defeat, resulting in a sense of injured German national pride. Those military and political leaders who were responsible claimed that Germany had been "stabbed in the back" by its leftwing politicians, Communists, and Jews. When a new government, the Weimar Republic , tried to establish a democratic course, extreme political parties from both the right and the left struggled violently for control. The new regime could neither handle the depress

Adolf Hitler becomes the leader of the National Socialist Party [Nazi Party]

Jul 29, 1921

Adolf Hitler joined this small political party in 1919 and rose to leadership through his emotional and captivating speeches. He encouraged national pride, militarism, and a commitment to the Volk and a racially "pure" Germany. Hitler condemned the Jews, exploiting antisemitic feelings that had prevailed in Europe for centuries. He changed the name of the party to the Nazi Party. By the end of 1920, the Nazi Party had about 3,000 members and a year later Hitler became the official leader.

Benito Mussolini becomes head of the Italian government

Oct 28, 1922

Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch

Nov 8, 1923

Adolf Hitler's attempt at an armed overthrow of local authorities in Munich [the Beer Hall Putsch] , failed miserably. The Nazi Party seemed doomed to fail and its leaders, including Hitler, were subsequently jailed and charged with high treason. However, Hitler used the courtroom at his public trial as a propaganda platform, ranting for hours against the Weimar government. By the end of the 24-day trial Hitler had actually gained support for his courage to act. The right-wing presiding

Hitler's Book "Mein Kampf" Is Published.

Jul 18, 1925

While Hitler was in prison he wrote volume one of Mein Kampf which means (My Struggle). It was published in 1925. This book talked detailed about Hitler's radical ideas of German nationalism, antisemitism, and anti-Bolshevism. Linked with Social Darwinism, the human struggle that said that might makes right, Hitler's book became the ideological base for the Nazi Party's racist beliefs and murderous practices.

German's Elect Nazis Making Them The Second Largest Political Group In Germany

Sep 14, 1930

Hindenburg created a new government, made up of a chancellor and cabinet ministers, to rule by emergency decrees instead of by laws passed by the Reichstag. So began the demise of the Weimar democracy. Heinrich Brüning was the first chancellor under the new presidential system. He was unable to unify the government, and in September 1930, there were new elections. The Nazi Party won an important victory, capturing 18.3% of the vote to make it the second largest party in the Reichstag.

President Paul von Hindenburg appointed Hitler Chancellor

Jan 30, 1933

First Concentration Camp Is Opened At Oranienburg Outside Berlin

Mar 12, 1933

Within months of Hitler's appointment as Chancellor, the Dachau concentration camp was created. The Nazis began arresting Communists, Socialists, and labor leaders. Dachau became a training center for concentration camp guards and later commandants who were taught terror tactics to dehumanize their prisoners. Parliamentary democracy ended with the Reichstag passage of the Enabling Act, which allowed the government to issue laws without the Reichstag.

Nazi Boycott Jewish Owned Shops/ Burn Book In Germany[May 10]

Apr 1, 1933

As part of a policy of internal coordination, the Nazis created Special Courts to punish political dissent. In a parallel move from April to October, the regime passed civil laws that barred Jews from holding positions in the civil service, in legal and medical professions, and in teaching and university positions. The Nazis encouraged boycotts of Jewish-owned shops and businesses and began book burnings of writings by Jews and by others not approved by the Reich.

"Night Of The Long Knives" [The Nazi]

Jun 30, 1934

The SA (Sturmabteilung) had been instrumental in Hitler's rise to power. In early 1934, there were 2.5 million SA men compared with 100,000 men in the regular army. Hitler knew that the regular army opposed the SA becoming its core. Fearing the power of the regular army to force him from office, Hitler curried their favor by attacking the leadership of the SA in the "Night of the Long Knives." Hitler arrested Ernst Rohm and scores of other SA leaders and had them shot by the SS , which now rose

Hitler Violates The Treaty Of Versailles

Mar 16, 1935

Hitler violates the Treaty of Versailles by introducing military conscription.

Olympic Games Begin In Berlin

Aug 1, 1936

In 1936, Berlin hosted the Olympics. Hitler viewed this as a perfect opportunity to promote a favorable image of Nazism to the world. Monumental stadiums and other Olympic facilities were constructed as Nazi showpieces. Leni Riefenstahl was commissioned to create a film, Olympia, for the purpose of Nazi propaganda. Some have called her previous film in 1935, Triumph of the Will, one of the great propaganda pieces of the century. In it, she portrayed Hitler as a god.

Germany Announces 'Aschluss' With Austria

Mar 12, 1938

As part of Hitler's quest for uniting all German-speaking people and for Lebensraum, Germany took over Austria without bloodshed. The Anschluss occurred with the overwhelming approval of the Austrian people. No countries protested this violation of the Treaty of Versailles

German Troops Occupy The Sudetenland

Oct 15, 1938

Then at the Munich Conference, Hitler prevailed upon Britain, France and, Italy to agree to the cession of the Sudetenland. The Western powers chose appeasement rather than military confrontation. Germany occupied the Sudetenland on October 15, 1938.

Kristallnacht- The Night Of Broken Glass

Nov 10, 1938

In Germany, open antisemitism became increasingly accepted, climaxing in the "Night of Broken Glass" (Kristallnacht) on November 9, 1938. Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels initiated this free-for-all against the Jews, during which nearly 1,000 synagogues were set on fire and 76 were destroyed. More than 7,000 Jewish businesses and homes were looted, about one hundred Jews were killed and as many as 30,000 Jews were arrested and sent to concentration camps to be tormented, many for months. With

Nazis invade Poland.

Sep 1, 1939

Hitler invaded Poland, officially starting World War II. Two days later, Britain and France, now obliged by treaty to help Poland, declared war on Germany. Hitler's armies used the tactic of Blitzkrieg, or lightning war, a combination of armored attack accompanied by air assault. Before British and French power could be brought to bear, in less than four weeks, Poland collapsed. Germany's military conquest put it in a position to establish the New Order, a plan to abuse and eliminate so-called u

Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand declare war on Germany.

Sep 3, 1939

Soviets invade Poland

Sep 17, 1939

As Soviet troops broke into Poland, they unexpectedly met up with German troops who had fought their way that far east in a little more than two weeks. The Germans receded when confronted by the Soviets, handing over their Polish prisoners of war. Thousands of Polish troops were taken into captivity; some Poles simply surrendered to the Soviets to avoid being captured by the Germans. The Soviet Union would wind up with about three-fifths of Poland and 13 million of its people as a result of th

Assasination Attempt On Hitler Fails

Nov 8, 1939

on the 16th anniversary of Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch, a bomb explodes just after Hitler has finished giving a speech. He was unharmed.

Star Of David On Armbands

Nov 23, 1939

General Governor Hans Frank issued an ordinance that Jews ten years of age and older living in the General Government had to wear the Star of David on armbands or pinned to the chest or back. This made the identification of Jews easier when the Nazis began issuing orders establishing ghettos.

Nazis invade Denmark and Norway

Apr 9, 1940

Holland surrenders to the Nazis.

May 15, 1940

Germans bomb Paris; Dunkirk Evacuation Ends

Jun 3, 1940

Germans enter Paris.

Jun 14, 1940

Hitler and Mussolini meet in Munich; Soviets begin occupation of the Baltic States

Jun 18, 1940

Battle of Britain begins

Jul 10, 1940

Hitler declares a blockade of the British Isles.

Aug 17, 1940

Italy Invades Greece

Oct 28, 1940

Germans bomb Coventry, England

Nov 14, 1940

Nazis invade Greece and Yugoslavia.

Apr 6, 1941

Greece surrenders to the Nazis

Apr 27, 1941

German attack on Tobruk is repulsed.

May 1, 1941

Heavy German bombing of London; British bomb Hamburg

May 10, 1941

Allies invade Syria and Lebanon

Jun 8, 1941

United States freezes German and Italian assets in America

Jun 14, 1941

Nazi SS-Einsatzgruppen begin mass murder.

Jun 25, 1941

Goring instructs Heydrich to prepare for the Final Solution.

Jul 31, 1941

Roosevelt and Churchill announce the Atlantic Charter.

Aug 14, 1941

Nazis murder 33,771 Jews at Kiev.

Sep 29, 1941

The United States declares war on Japan, entering World War II.

Dec 8, 1941

Germany and Italy declare war on the United States United States formally declares declares war on Germany and Italy.

Dec 11, 1941

Hong Kong surrenders to Japan.

Dec 25, 1941

Japan captures Manila in the Philippines

Jan 2, 1942

Anglo-Americans start bombing Germany

May 30, 1942

British and U.S. troops win back North Africa

Nov 8, 1942

Nazi Germany and its Axis partners declare war on the United States.

Dec 12, 1942

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in occupied Poland The largest single revolt by Jews against the Nazis during WW2.

May 19, 1943

April 19 - May 19

Italy swaps sides and declares war on Germany

Oct 10, 1943

Rome is freed by the Allies

Jun 4, 1944

British and U.S. troops successfully land on the Normandy beaches of France, opening a “Second Front” against the Germans. This day is known as D-Day

Jun 6, 1944

The first of Germany's terror weapons, the V1 (doodlebug), falls in England at Swanscombe in Kent

Jun 12, 1944

Warsaw Uprising in occupied Poland, the largest ever civilian revolt in history, by the Polish population against the Nazis. [August- September]

Aug 1, 1944

Allied forces land in southern France near Nice.

Aug 15, 1944

Allied troops reach Paris.

Aug 20, 1944

U.S. troops enter Germany

Sep 11, 1944

U.S. troops land in the Philippines

Oct 20, 1944

Battle of the Bulge

Dec 16, 1944

The Germans launch a final offensive in the west, known as the Battle of the Bulge, in an attempt to re-conquer Belgium and split the Allied forces along the German border.

The Soviets liberate Warsaw and Krakow in Poland.

Jan 12, 1945

The Soviets capture Budapest, capital city of Hungary

Feb 13, 1945

Hitler commits suicide

Apr 30, 1945

Hitler and his wife Eva then bid a final farewell to Bormann, Goebbels, Generals Krebs and Burgdorf, other remaining military aides and staff members. Hitler and his wife then went back into their private quarters while Bormann and Goebbels remained quietly nearby. Several moments later a gunshot was heard. After waiting a few moments, at 3:30 p.m., Bormann and Goebbels entered and found the body of Hitler sprawled on the sofa, dripping with blood from a gunshot to his right temple. Eva Braun h

Germany surrenders to the western Allies

May 7, 1945

Winston Churchill announces VE Day - Victory in Europe.

May 8, 1945

British people wave flags, sing and dance in the streets. WW2 ends in Europe

Germany surrenders to the Soviets

May 9, 1945

The first atomic bomb is dropped by The United States

Aug 6, 1945

It was in on Hiroshima killing 78,000 citizens and injuring 50,000 others. two days later the soviets declared war on japan and entered manchuria. On August 9th a second bomb was dropped on the japanese industrial and shipbuilding city of nagasaki. japan then surrendered unconditionally. The emperor was allowed to remain head of state but a u.s. army of occupation was established.

The Soviet Union declares war on Japan and invades Manchuria.

Aug 8, 1945

On this day in 1945, the Soviet Union officially declares war on Japan, pouring more than 1 million Soviet soldiers into Japanese-occupied Manchuria, northeastern China, to take on the 700,000-strong Japanese army.

Japan surrendered to the Allies after almost six years of war Victory in Japan Day/

Aug 14, 1945

The day marks the end of the Burma Campaign, the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Pacific War with the U.S., and other military conflicts in Asia. This is commemorated as Liberation Day in nations such as Korea, partly due to participation of her exiles in War against Japan over 40 years. See Surrender of Japan for historical circumstances surrounding Japan's surrender.

End Of World War 2

Sep 2, 1945

Having agreed in principle to unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945, Japan formally surrenders, ending World War II.