| Pre-1941
Timeline
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|
| September
1, 1939 |
Germany
invades Poland. The Allies had created Poland after the First World
War from parts of Germany and Austria-Hungary. Hitler used a national
resentment about lost territory to rally support for his conquest
of German speaking countries. |
| September
3, 1939 |
Britain
and France declare war on Germany in response to the German invasion
of Poland. |
| September
5, 1939 |
The
US declares its neutrality. Americans refuse to become involved in
another European war. Over 110,000 American service people died in
the First World War just 20 years before. |
| September
29, 1939 |
Hitler
gives the Soviet Union the eastern half of Poland in fulfillment of
the German-Soviet Friendship Treaty. The German leader aligns his
country with the Soviet Union to avoid a war on an eastern front.
Hitler intends to invade the Soviet Union after he defeats Great Britain. |
| February
21, 1940 |
Germans
begin construction of the Auschwitz concentration camp. Many Germans
believe Jews present a threat to their racial purity. The government
eventually adopts a policy of Jewish mass extermination called the
"Final Solution." Germans murder two million Jews at Auschwitz. |
| April
9, 1940 |
German
soldiers invade Norway and Denmark. Denmark accepts German occupation
the same day and Norway surrenders on June 9. Hitler's control of
these countries guarantee him a flow of raw materials such as iron
ore. |
| May
8, 1940 |
Winston
Churchill replaces Neville Chamberlain as Prime Minister of Great
Britain. Chamberlain resigned from office because the public questioned
his leadership in the war. |
| May
10, 1940 |
Germany
invades France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The Netherlands surrenders
on May 15, Belgium on May 28, and France on June 22. |
| June
10, 1940 |
Italy
declares war on Britain and France. Hitler's recent victories inspires
Mussolini to join Germany in a war against the Allies. |
| July
10, 1940 |
The
German air force attacks southeastern England, starting the "Battle
of Britain." Germany hopes to demoralize British citizens before
it begins a seaborne invasion. |
| August
1, 1940 |
Japan
calls for a "New Order" in East Asia. The country plans
to conquer nations held by western imperialist powers. |
| September
16, 1940 |
The
US Congress passes the Selective Service Act. The Act mandates the
registration of all men between the ages of 21 and 35. It starts the
first peacetime draft in American history. |
| September
22, 1940 |
Japan
stations troops in northern French Indochina to stop American supplies
from reaching Chinese soldiers. The US sends supplies to the Chinese
to help them fight Japanese expansion in China. |
| September
27, 1940 |
Germany,
Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact and call themselves the
Axis Powers. Each country promises to go to war if the other comes
under attack. The Axis Powers hope the agreement will keep the US
out of the war. |
| November
5, 1940 |
American
voters elect Franklin Roosevelt for a third Presidential term. |
| December
9, 1940 |
British
forces attack Italian troops in North Africa, starting the "Desert
War." Britain wants to protect the Suez Canal because it acts
as a major shipping route for oil convoys coming from the Middle East.
|
| December
10, 1940 |
The
US restricts iron and steel exports to Japan in response to Japan's
aggressions in French Indochina. |
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