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Treat of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was the treaty at the end of WW1. This treaty was considered very harsh on Germany, taking territory and imposing heavy reparations which Germany needed to pay. This led to German economic struggles eventually leading to the rise of radical parties including the Nazis. -
Stock Market Crash
The Stock Market Crash of 1929 triggered a global economic depression and led to a cancellation of American loans to Germany, unemployment and financial instability were already present in Germany and they were heavily reliant on American loans which they no longer would get resulting in hyperinflation, mass unemployment, and financial collapse. The deepened economic struggles fueled resentment and the rise of extremist parties like the Nazis. -
Hitler's rise to power
Adolf Hitler’s rise to power was driven by the crippling economic turmoil and national humiliation following World War I and the Great Depression. Exploiting the population's discontent with the economy and humiliation in WW1, Hitler used propaganda, rallies, and suppression of opposition to build the Nazi Party’s popularity. On January 30, 1933, he was appointed Chancellor with this power he transformed Germany’s democracy into a totalitarian regime. -
Remilitarization of the Rhineland
German troops re-entered the Rhineland, a region that had been demilitarized by the Treaty of Versailles. This move directly challenged the Treaty of Versailles and signaled Germany’s growing defiance. Largely unopposed by France and Britain, the remilitarization boosted national pride and provided Hitler with the confidence to pursue further expansionist policies, leading to aggressive actions that led to World War II. -
Anschluss and the annexation of the Sudetenland
German forces marched into Austria, known as the Anschluss, uniting Austria with Nazi Germany. Just a few months later, in September 1938, under the terms of the Munich Agreement, Germany was permitted to annex the Sudetenland, the border regions of Czechoslovakia populated largely by ethnic Germans. The minimal resistance from other European powers, showed Hitler that he was capable of doing what he pleased eventually leading Hitler to take more and more aggressive eventually leading to WW2. -
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and the invasion of Poland
On August 23, 1939, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, a non-aggression treaty that included a secret treaty dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence. This agreement cleared the way for Germany to launch its invasion of Poland without fear of Soviet intervention. German forces invaded Poland from the west and the Soviet Union invaded the east, partitioning the country. This invasion led to the involvement of France and Britain and the start of WW2. -
Battle of France
German forces launched the Battle of France with a rapid blitzkrieg that bypassed the Maginot Line by attacking through the Ardennes. This caught the French and their allies off guard, leading to a collapse of defensive lines and forcing a massive Allied retreat. German troops captured Paris on June 14, and on June 22, France signed an armistice dividing France into occupied and Vichy zones. The Battle of France showed the effectiveness of tank warfare in WW2 which was more used than ever. -
Dunkirk evacuation
From May 26 to June 4, 1940 over 330,000 British and Allied soldiers were evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk in an operation known as the Miracle of Dunkirk. Surrounded by advancing German forces during the Battle of France, the troops faced capture and defeat. Using a quickly assembled fleet of naval vessels and civilian boats, the Allies managed to rescue a large amount of their forces. Though it was a retreat, this maneuver allowed the Allies to continue fighting in the war. -
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain took place between July and October and was the first major military campaign fought entirely in the air. Following the fall of France, Nazi Germany attempted to gain air superiority over the United Kingdom as a prelude to invasion. The German Luftwaffe launched massive bombing raids on British airfields, infrastructure, and cities. However, the RAF, successfully defended Britain. This marked Hitler’s first major defeat and halted plans for a German invasion of Britain. -
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was Nazi Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union breaking the Molotov-Ribbentrop treaty. It was the largest military operation in history, involving millions of troops. Hitler aimed to conquer Soviet territory quickly, destroy communism, and gain control of vital resources. Soviet resistance, harsh winter, and logistical challenges slowed their progress. The failure to capture key cities marked a turning point in the war. This was one of the first signs of a shift in the war. -
Pearl Harbor
The Japanese military launched a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor. This aimed to cripple the U.S. Pacific Fleet and prevent American interference in Japan’s expansion across the Pacific. The attack resulted in significant damage to battleships and aircraft. However, key U.S. aircraft carriers were not in port at the time. The next day the United States declared war on Japan, officially entering World War II. The attack on Pearl Harbor turned the war to a worldwide conflict. -
Battle of Stalingrad
From August 1942 to February 1943, Nazi Germany tried to capture the Soviet city of Stalingrad to secure oil fields, but also it is believed that Hitler wanted to send a message by taking a city named after Stalin. Brutal fighting and a harsh winter led to massive casualties. After brutal urban fighting the Soviet Red Army surrounded and defeated the German 6th Army, marking a major turning point in the war. It ended Germany’s advance into the USSR and began the Soviet push westward. -
North African and Italian Campaign
The North African Campaign involved Allied forces fighting Axis powers for control of strategic territory in North Africa. After defeating Axis forces in North Africa, the Allies invaded Sicily and then mainland Italy in 1943. Italy surrendered, but German forces continued to resist, occupying their old ally. These campaigns diverted German resources from the Eastern front and helped open up a new front that contributed to the overall Allied victory in World War II. -
D-Day
On June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched D-Day, the largest amphibious invasion in history, landing on the beaches of Normandy, France with boats and paratroopers. The operation marked the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control. Despite strong German defenses lacking Rommel, the Allies secured the beaches and began pushing inland. This marked the beginning of the end for Germany now being pushed back from all directions -
Fall of Berlin
The Fall of Berlin occurred in April–May 1945. Soviet forces encircled and stormed the German capital. The city faced intense street fighting, intense bombardment, and heavy casualties, Hitler committed suicide on April 30 and ultimately Berlin fell on May 2. The fall of Berlin led to the unconditional surrender of Germany on May 7, marking the end of World War II in Europe. This also helped to solidifythe Soviet Unions control over Eastern Europe. -
Atomic Bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima
The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki occurred in August 1945, marking the first and only use of nuclear weapons in war. On August 6, the U.S. dropped the bomb Little Boy on Hiroshima, killing an estimated 140,000 people. Three days later, on August 9, Fat Man was dropped on Nagasaki, killing around 70,000. These bombings caused immense destruction, leading to Japan’s surrender on August 15, 1945, and ending World War II.