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Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was a peace document signed at the end of World War I by the Allied and associated powers and by Germany in the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles. This document limited the German Army and Navy in size, and allowed for the trial of Kaiser Wilhelm II and a number of other high-ranking German officials as war criminals. Also, under Article 231 of the Treaty, Germans accepted responsibility for the war and the liability to pay financial reparations to the Allies. -
Hitler Voted to Power in Germany
The German people voted on whether or not they thought the two offices should be merged and if they should confirm Hitler's role as Fuhrer. 95.7% of the population voted and 89.93% voted in favor of Hitler. Also, since Hindenburg was now gone there would be nothing stopping Hitler's rule. Hitler pledged to to restore prosperity and restore peace however, ironically enough, the Nazi Party transformed from a small, violent, revolutionary party to the largest elected party in Reichstag. -
Tripartite Pact Signed
A year after World War II the Tripartite Pact was an agreement formed between Germany, Italy, and Japan, which are leaders of the Axis Powers. This Pact created a defense alliance between countries and was meant to resolve issues and stop the United States from entering conflict, such as wars. -
Nazis Establish Gas Chambers at Auschwitz
The Nazis first began using poison gas as a means for mass murder. In December 1939, Sonderkommando unit previously used carbon monoxide to suffocate Polish mental patients. However, in 1941 the Germans started using this gas in a way that would murder the Jews quickly and efficiently. Historians estimate that around 1,1 million people perished in Auschwitz during the less than 5 years of its existence. The majority, around 1 million people, were Jews. -
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor was a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base on Pearl Harbor at Oahu Island, Hawaii by the Japanese that caused the entry of the United States into World War II. The strike climaxed a decade of worsening relations between the United States and Japan. -
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Japanese Americans Sent to Internment Camps
During WWII, the US forcibly put Japanese descent in concentration camps operated by War Relocation Authority (WRA). The reason they did this was due to the rising suspicion and fear of the Japanese after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Essentially all Japanese Americans were forced to leave their homes and property and live in camps for most of the war. -
1st Axis Power Surrendered: Italy
On September 8th, 1943, Gen Dwight Einsenhower announced that Italy had surrendered to the Allies. Germany then reacted to this news with Operation Axis, while the Allies reacted with Operation Avalanche. Operation Axis was the occupation of Italy and Operation Avalanche was the codename given to the Allied landings on mainland Italy between 9-18 September 1943. -
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Iwo Jima
The US Marines invaded Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945, after months of naval and air bombardment. The Japanese defenders of the island were dug into bunkers deep within the volcanic rocks. Approximately 70,000 U.S. Marines and 18,000 Japanese soldiers took part in the battle. -
2nd Axis Power Surrendered: Germany
The unconditional surrender (a surrender with guarantees, assurances, or promises) of Germany was signed on May 7th, 1945. at Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) at Reims in northeastern France. -
Atomic Bombs Dropped on Japan
The United States detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively. The bombings killed between 150,000 and 246,000 people, most of who were civilians. Both cities were leveled from the bombs and this, in turn, forced Japan to surrender to the United States. The war was finally over. -
3rd/Last Axis Power Surrendered: Japan
After the defeat of all its Axis allies, Japan fought alone during the summer of 1945. Soviet forces entered Berlin in April 1945, causing Hitler to commit suicide. After that, following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Japan surrendered, marking the end of the Axis and the war itself. Not to mention, one of the reasons Japan was the last to surrender was because it was an island surrounded by water making it much harder to envade.