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Japanese Invasion of China
Military leaders and ultranationalists in Japan believed Japan should have an empire equal to the Western Powers. To pursue their goal Japan seized Manchuria. Japan would soon withdraw from the League of Nations (who did not approve of their actions), and easily overran Eastern China. -
Spain Collapses into civil war
The tension in Spain started when the old order forced the king of Spain to leave the country, and a republic was forced to replace him. The new republic passed a set of controversial laws, taking privileges from the citizens while rejecting change. Spain got upset with these changes and a conservative general named Francisco Franco led a revolt that started the bloody civil war. -
Italy Invades Ethiopia
In Italy, Mussolini decided to act with his own ambitions. Italy invaded Ethiopia, located in northeastern africa. Even though the Ethiopians had heavy resistance they were outdated with weapons, and technology, and eventually lost. The Ethiopian king Haile Selassie pleaded to the League of Nations for help they did not have the power to do so. -
Nazi-Soviet Pact
Also known as the non-aggression pact, the Nazi-Soviet pact was a truce signed by Hitler and Stalin stating that neither enemy would ally or aid the enemy of the Germans or Russians. The pact remained until Germany broke it on June 22 1941 by launching an attack on the Soviet positions in Eastern Poland. -
German Invasion of Poland
A week following the Nazi-Soviet Pact German forces seeked to invade Poland. Several days after Germany invaded Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany. This was the beginning of Germany and World War II. -
Invasion of Poland
In the non-aggression pact Poland gained a few German provinces. Germany did not agree with this decision but decided to sign the pact anyways. Hitler resented Poland and on September 1, 1939 Germany invaded poland and by October 6, 1939 Poland was in the Germans control. -
German Blitzkrieg
Nazi forces went into Poland revealing blitzkrieg also known as lightning war. Eventually Germany had pushed their way into the Polish army forcing them to surrender. With the help of the Soviet Union (Soviet Pact) Poland ceased to exist. -
The Miracle of Dunkirk
The Dunkirk evacuation was a plan to rescue allied prisoners of war from the dunkirk beaches. By the end of the evacuation on the eighth day 338,226 men were rescued. -
Operation Sea Lion
Operation sea lion was a code named operation for the invasion of the United Kingdom. The operation was seen as a last resort if Britain decided not to sign a peace treaty. The Operation was supposed to be carried out on July 16, 1940 but was never carried out. -
Europe Plunges Toward War
Exactly what Churchill said, Europe spiraled straight toward war. Hitler broke his promise and took the rest of Czechoslovakia over. When the Europeans heard about this news they swore to protect Poland which was likely Hitler's next target to take over. At this point Europe was basically just volunteering to enter World War 2. -
Germany Launches The Blitz
The Blitz is short for Blitzkrieg which was a strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany. Over a period of days Britain suffered many tons of bombs dropped on them during the German launch of the Blitz. -
Pearl Harbor
Early on December 7, 1941 General Tojo ordered a surprise attack. Japanese pilots bombed Pearl Harbor (in Hawaii). The attack killed around 2,400 Americans and destroyed many battleships/aircrafts. This event led to Germany and Italy declaring war on the United States. -
The Axis Advances
When Nazi forces marches into poland showing the enormous power known as the blitzkrieg. As time progressed Germany rapidly took more and more of Poland. By the end of the war Poland ceased to exist and the axis continued to advance. -
Germans Defeat at Stalingrad
A major turning point in the Soviet Union's favor occurred when Hitler sent an attack against Stalin's namesake city of stalingrad. The battle lasted about 6 months until the Soviets trapped the basis in the city without food or ammunition. The nazis finally surrendered in January 1943. -
D-Day
The Allies teamed up for the invasion of France on June 6, 1944. The Allies sent about 156,000 troops to seize German forces. Germany would soon retreat and France would be free within a month. -
Battle of the Bulge
A while after freeing France, the Allies were making their way towards France when Germany launched an enormous counterattack against them. Both the Allies and Germans suffered great losses. Germany failed to break through, but stopped the Allies from advancing from the West for six weeks. Germany’s defeat seemed to be closing in on them. -
VE Day
Allies went deeper into Germany and Axis armies began surrendering. Guerillas captured and killed Mussolini, also Hitler took his own life in an underground bunker. Germany surrendered on May 7th and the next day the war in Europe finally came to an end. -
Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima
The United States warned Japan to surrender or they would face “complete destruction.” Japan never would surrender and knowing it would save numberless American lives, Truman chose to drop the first atomic bomb. The bomb instantly killed 70,000 citizens. -
Atomic Bomb on Nagasaki
The U.S dropped their second atomic bomb on Nagasaki. 40,000 pedestrians were killed immediately when the bomb dropped. Faced with devastation from bomb, Japan surrendered. A formal peace treaty was signed on September 2, 1945 among the Missouri anchored in Tokyo Bay. -
VJ Day
“Victory in Japan,” took place following the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki. A formal surrender ceremony took place among the U.S ship Missouri on September 2, 1945. President Truman announced this day as VJ Day.
