World War II

  • MaoZedong heads Long March

    MaoZedong led the Communists on a long march away from the nationalists, led by Chiang Kai-shek, who were ordered to kill them.
  • Germany invades Poland; France and Great Britain declare war on Germany

    Germany suprise attacks Poland with a quick moving army called blitzkrieg. England and France resond by declaring war on Germany. This is the start of WWII.
  • Japan attacks Pearl Harbor

    Japan launches a surpise attack against the US at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This brings the US into the war.
  • United Nations formed

    The United Nations is formed and attempts to replace the former League of Nations. It is headquartered in New York City.
  • Germany surrenders

    Germany, after Berlin being destroyed and Hitler having committed suicide, finally surrenders to the Allies.
  • Allies use atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki

    The US, wanting to end the war on the Pacific front, realizes their only way to defeat the Japanese without suffering massive casualties is to drop the atomic bomb on Japan. First they drop it on Hiroshima, and then three days later they drop the second on Nagasaki.