World War 2 timeline

Stalin takes power in the USSR

January 21,1924

Stalin taking power in the USSR was one large driving factor toward the war. Hitler and Stalin had signed a “Nonaggression pact” which hitler then violated by invading the USSR. This betryal caused these two large, powerful countries to fight against each other, adding to the problems in WWII.

1924

Mussolini takes power in Italy

January 3, 1925

1925

Mussolini taking power in 1925 negatively affected the allied nations in the war. Mussolini signed the “pact of steel” with Hitler, which showed that Italy and Germany had allied. This made the axis forces in the war very dominant, which contributed to the grueling length and overall effort that had to be put into the war.

Japanese militarism/imperialism rises

1930-1931

Japanese Imperialism rising led to a rise in Japan's power and size. Japan began causing conflict with great powers such as the US during pearl harbor, which made them a relevant nation in the war. Without their rise in militarism (their air force strives) and imperialism, it is hard to say they would have been relevant during WWII.

1930

Japanese invasion of Manchuria/beginning of invasion of China

September 18, 1931- Febuary 27, 1932

1931

The Japanese invasion of Manchuria was a result of imperialism rising in Japan, and Japans want for raw materials. The invasion led to the second Japanese war, causing strong uprisings in tensions. This contributed to the beginning of WWII.

Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany

January 30, 1933

President Paul von Hindenburg gave Hitler the title, Chancellor of Germany. The Fascist dictators then took power in Germany, Italy, and Japan. This led to the start of Hitlers Nazi dictatorship.

1933

The Reichstag Fire

February 27, 1983

The Reichstag fire was when the German Parliament building was burned to the ground. The Nazis used this fire as evidence that the communists were planning an uprising. This event was important to the war because it lead to the Nazi dictatorship.

1933

Japan, Germany and Italy withdrawal from the League of Nations

June 1933

After becoming Facists states, Japan, Germany, and Italy withdrew from the League of Nations because fascists beliefs went against the League of Nations beliefs. This led to the creation of the axis nations.

1933

Hitler establishes himself as "Fuhrer”

August 1934

After the death of of Paul von Hindenburg, Hitler became the absolute dictator of Germany. The title fuhrer, meaning leader, gave Hitler control over all of Germany and its military. This was imporant to the war because it gave Hitler the power to attack other countried using Germany's resources.

1934

Passage of the Neutrality Acts

1935-1937

The passing of the neutrality acts prohibited exports of weapons, ammunition, and other war supplies. This made it difficult for the US to transport weapons to allied countries in Europe, which in turn hurt allied nations. Had these acts not existed, Allied nations may have been able to wear down Europe a little more than they did, although in the end it worked out.

1935

The Invasion Of Ethiopia

October 3, 1935-1936

Mussolini invaded Ethiopia in 1935 in hopes to expand into Italy. Mussolini's plan worked; Italy expanded into Africa. This was an important event to the war because it tested the power of the League of Nations while also providing many jobs for Italians.

1935

The Spanish Civil War

July 17, 1936 – April 1, 1939

The Spanish Civil War started because of labor strikes. When a leftist party was voted in during an election, fascists and right forces started a war between the parties. This event was important to WWII because Hitler supported the fascists in Spain causing a relationship between Spain and Germany.

1936

The Rape of Nanking

December 13, 1937

The wholesale massacre of Chinese citizens in Nanjing is known as "The Rape of Nanking." The culprits also engaged in additional war crimes such looting, arson, and mass rape. Huge tensions resulted from this, and other countries began to watch out for Japan.

1937

Enaction of the policy of appeasement towards Germany

1937

Britain tried to avoid war in the form of appeasement, but this was not the right way to go about things. Due to Britain's appeasement policy, Germany was able to expand their territory with ease. Because they grew in size, they also grew in power, making them a huge power in the war.

1937

Germany annexation of Austria (“Anschluss”) and Czechoslovakia/Sudetenland

March 15, 1938

Germany wanted to make the war easier on itself, so expanding and gaining power was one way to effectively do so. Therefore Germany invades the sudetenland, or czech, to help begin gaining size, power, strength, and resources. This then gave Germany the power to continue taking control of other nations with ease, helping it grow rapidly.

1938

Germany Invades Poland

September 1, 1939- October 6, 1939

1939

Germany goes against the non aggression pact they had previously signed with the soviet union by invading poland. As a result, allied forces are brought into the picture. Great Britain and France, allied forces, declared war on Germany in response. This event effects WW2 because it provokes the involvment of multiple other countried.

The Miracle at Dunkirk

May 27, 1940

1940

The evacuation of Dunkirk was a very important event that helped keep the war stabilized. This event was the evacuation of thousands (338,000) of British and French troops from a French Port. If Britain's soldiers and their ships had been captured, that would've meant Britain was out of the war. This loss for Britain would have been devastating to many allied forces.

Germany sweeps across Europe

May 1940

Germany sweeping across Europe changed Germany's power during the war. So many countries falling under Germany's control changed the size and power of germany. As a result, the Holocaust spread rapidly, and germany became by far the most feared, powerful force in the war.

1940

The Batte of Britain

July 10, 1940 - October 31, 1940

The Battle of Britain was between Germany and Britain in 1940. The battle was won by Great Britain's Air Force; preventing Germany from invading Britain. Britain surviving this war contributed to not only the defeat of Germany, but Britain simply maintaining their presence in the war helped the survival of many other allied countries.

1940

Selective Service and Training Act is passed

September 16, 1940

The Selective Service and Training Act was passed in the US. Men between the ages 21 and 45 were required to sign up for the draft which gave the US more than enough soldiers, and even provided a sense of nationalism to the country. Being a fresh country in the war, Germany and other axis nations stood no chance against the US, and in turn greatly helped end the war.

1940

Italy, Germany and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact

September 27, 1940

1940

Signing the Tripartite Pact meant that Italy, Germany, and Japan were allied axis nations. This was done to prevent the US from entering the war, which in turn worked, but not forever. This being done only delayed the US from entering the war, and was part of the reason acts like the lend lease act, and most acts where the US helped allied nations were passed.

Germany invades the USSR

June 27, 1941

Germany invades the Soviet Union in 1941, which lead to mass murder of the Soviets Jews. Germany killed many, however, they did not plan on a long term attack. They thought it would be a quick and easy invasion. This attack cost Germany many soldiers, supplies and money, as they went into the war underestimating their opponent.

1941

Congress passes the Lend-Lease Act

March 11, 1941

1941

The US passed the Lend Lease Act, which lended weapons and other supplies to allied countries in the war. This helped keep countries' strength, supplies, and overall wellness up during the war. This also helped wear down axis nations as the supplies of these allied nations kept coming. This was fairly effective until Germany's submarines started making delivery of these supplies hard.

The U.S. and Great Britain sign the Atlantic Charter

August 14, 1941

1941

The Atlantic Charter being signed officially showed the US and Great Britain were allied nations. This in turn, forced Axis countries to show some respect to Great Britain as they were allied with the strongest force in the world. This being done helped keep Great Britain in the war,which was a vital country to the US, and other allied countries' survival.

General Hideki Tojo rises to power in Japan

October 17, 1941

1941

General Hideki Tojo was Japan's leader for most of the Pacific War. He had many successful campaigns during his rule that benefited his country. The prosperity of his country had a negative effect towards the allied nations because Japan was an axis nation.

Pearl Harbor is Bombed

December 7, 1941

Pearl Harbor was one of the most significant events for the US during WWII. Japan's bombing of pearl harbor killed around 2500 US people, and damaged or destroyed 19 Naval Ships. This event is significant to the war because it was the United States' main reason for entering WWII.

1941

Japan sweeps across the Pacific

December 1941-1942

After Japan's surprise attack on the US at Pearl Harbor, they began to attack many places along the Pacific, such as the Philippines, Guam, Midway Island, Wake Island, Malaya, and Hong Kong. This was possible for Japan because they had the strongest Army, Navy, and Airforce in the East. These attacks were substantial to the war because the Japanese took control over many countries, growing their power.

1941