-
Italy invades Ethiopia
In 1935, Mussolini expanded Italy’s territory when he invaded Ethiopia. Mussolini saw Ethiopia as an opportunity to gain mineral resources and as an attempt to recover from the left-over effects of the Great Depression. The invasion of Ethiopia was the first Nazi-Fascist aggression and triggered what would turn into the Second World War. -
Japanese invasion of China
In 1937, Japanese armies seized much of Eastern China to accomplish the goal of creating an empire. The invasion started the Second Sino-Japanese War, which accounted for the majority of civilian and military casualties in the Pacific War. The Japanese invasion of China was a major contributor to the start of World War II. -
Nazi-Soviet Pact
In August of 1939, Hitler agreed to nonaggression with Stalin in the Nazi-Soviet Pact. They agreed to nonaggression because Hitler feared communism, and Stalin feared fascism. The agreement led to Hitler’s invasion of Poland. -
German invasion of Poland
On September 1, 1939, German forces invaded Poland in an attempt to expand their territory. The invasion of Poland caused Britain and France to immediately declare war on Germany. The invasion of Poland was the official start of World War II. -
German Blitzkrieg
The German Blitzkrieg used improved tank and airpower technology to destroy the enemy. The German air force bombed airfields, factories, towns, and cities to defeat the Polish army. The German Blitzkrieg introduced new technology that would be used throughout the war. -
The start of the Holocaust
In 1941, Hitler devised a plan to rid Europe of Jews known as the “Final Solution to the Jewish problem.” The “Final Solution” was mass genocide of all Jews and those other than Hitler’s superior race. Nearly six million were killed as a result of the death camps. The Holocaust symbolized the massive damage caused by the Nazi’s in World War II. -
Creation of Axis Powers
Germany, Italy, and Japan agreed to fight Soviet communism in what was known as the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis. The nations also agreed to avoid interference with each other’s plans for territorial expansion. Germany, Italy, and Japan combined to become the Axis Powers of World War II. -
Lend-Lease Act
The Lend-Lease Act was passed in 1941 and allowed FDR to sell or led war materials to Allies to prevent the expansion of the Axis Powers. The United States could assist countries in the war in order to destroy the Nazis. The Lend-Lease Act allowed other countries to take part in the war because the United States could lend them materials. -
Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed American ships at Pearl Harbor. Many war ships were destroyed, and over 2,400 soldiers were killed in the attack. The attack on Pearl Harbor caused the United States to almost instantly declare war on Japan. -
Women in the War
Women around the world replaced men in essential war industry jobs when men left for the military. Women began to build ships and planes, drive ambulances, deliver airplanes, and decode messages. As a result, soldiers were helped to safety and supplied with needed materials throughout World War II. -
Battle of Stalingrad
In 1942, The Battle of Stalingrad was one of the costliest of the war. Hitler was determined to capture Stalin’s namesake city, and stalin was equally determined to defend it. The battle began when the germans surrounded the city. As winter closed in, a bitter street by street, house by house struggle raged. The germans fought for two weeks for a single building. -
Bataan Death March
In April 1942, the Japanese had gained control of the philippines, killing several hundred American soldiers and as many as 10,000 Filipino soldiers during the 65-mile march. The march was described a macabre litany of heat, dust, starvation, thirst, flies, filth, and murder. Many filipino civilians risked their lives to give food and water to captives. -
Battle of the Coral Sea
In May 1942, the japanese suffered their first serious setback at the Battle of The Coral Sea. The battle lasted for five days, the first time in naval history the enemy ships never even saw each other. Attacks were carried out by planes launched from aircraft carriers, ships that transport aircraft and accommodate the take off and landings of airplanes. -
D-Day
On June 6, 1944 known as D-Day the allies chose to invade France. Just before midnight on june 5, Allied planes dropped paratroopers behind enemy lines. Then, at dawn, thousands of ships ferried 156,000 allied troops across the english channel. In early august, a massive armored division under American General S. Patton helped the joint British and American forces break through German defenses and advance toward Paris. In paris, French resistance forces rose up against the germans. Under pressur -
Battle of the Bulge
In December 1944, the bloody Battle of the Bulge began, which lasted more than a month. Both sides took terrible losses. The Germans were unable to break through. The battle delayed the allied advance from the west, but only for six weeks. Meanwhile, the soviet army battled through Germany and advanced on Berlin from the east. Hitler’s support within Germany was declining, and he had already survived one assassination attempt by a senior officers in the German military. -
VE Day
May 8,1945, was proclaimed V-E Day (Victory in Europe). All over Europe, Axis armies began to surrender. In Italy, guerrillas captured and executed Mussolini. As Soviet troops fought their way into Berlin, Hitler committed suicide in his underground bunker. On May 7, Germany surrendered. -
Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima
On August 6, 1945, an American plane dropped an atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The bomb killed over 70,000 people instantly and many more in the following weeks. As a result, the Japanese were much closer to surrendering to end the war. -
Atomic Bomb on Nagasaki
On August 9, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki. Over 40,000 people were killed immediately, and many more died in the following weeks. The atomic bomb on Nagasaki caused Japan to sign a peace treaty on September 2, 1945 to end World War II. -
VJ Day
On August 14, 1945, it was announced that Japan had surrendered unconditionally. To the Allies, effectively ending world war 2. Since then, both August 14 and August 15 have been known as “Victory over Japan Day” or simply V-J Day. -
Berlin Aircraft
The former German capital was occupied by the allies, which caused Stalin to try to force the Western allies out by sealing off every railroad and highway into the city. The Western powers responded by using cargo planes to supply Berlin with food and fuel. As a result, the Soviets were defeated, but tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States increased.
