Japan annexes Korea, further paving the way for the invasion of Manchuria in 1931.

Tags: Japan, Korea, Annexation, Imperialism, East Asia, Colonialism, Manchuria, Precursors to WWII

The October Revolution occurs in Russia where members of the Bolshevik Party led by Vladimir Lenin seize power in the Russian capital of Petrograd (Sa...

Tags: Russia, Revolution, Bolsheviks, Lenin, Communism, Civil War, World War I, Political Upheaval, Ideology, Soviet Union

The German Revolution begins. It is sparked after the Imperial German Navy orders to send the High Seas Fleet to confront the British navy in a last s...

Tags: Germany, Revolution, World War I, Mutiny, Political Instability, Weimar Republic, Post-War, Military

The Aster Revolution occurs establishing the First Hungarian Republic.

Tags: Hungary, Revolution, World War I, Post-War, Republic, Political Change, Central Europe

The Armistice with Germany marks the end of World War I. German troops are given 72 hours to evacuate occupied territories and Allied troops subsequen...

Tags: World War I, Armistice, Germany, Allies, Ceasefire, Treaty of Versailles, End of War, Europe

The Hungarian–Romanian War begins.

Tags: Hungary, Romania, War, World War I, Post-War, Territorial Disputes, Eastern Europe

Start of the Greater Poland Uprising against German rule.

Tags: Poland, Uprising, Germany, World War I, Post-War, Nationalism, Territorial Disputes

The Spartacist uprising takes place and is crushed by the German government.

Tags: Germany, Uprising, Spartacists, Revolution, Weimar Republic, Political Violence, Communism, Post-War

Opening of the Paris Peace Conference to negotiate peace treaties between the belligerents of World War I.

Tags: World War I, Paris Peace Conference, Treaty of Versailles, Diplomacy, Post-War, Germany, Allies, International Relations

The Polish–Soviet War begins with border clashes between the two states.

Tags: Eastern Europe, War, Poland, Russia, Conflict, Borders, Soviet Union

Battle of George Square takes place in Glasgow, the British Army is called in by the city authorities to quell a riot during a strike for a 40 hour wo...

Tags: UK, Glasgow, Strike, Riots, Labour, British Army, Social Unrest, Post-War, Political Violence

Japan issues the Racial Equality Proposal during the Paris Peace Conference. The proposal would abolish racial discrimination but it founders on oppos...

Tags: Japan, Diplomacy, Paris Peace Conference, Racial Equality, International Relations, Discrimination, United States, Australia

Foundation of the Third International, or Comintern in Moscow. Comintern's stated aim is to create a global Soviet republic.

Tags: Russia, Communism, Comintern, Soviet Union, Ideology, Global Politics, Revolution

The Austrian Constituent National Assembly demands Austria's integration to Germany.

Tags: Austria, Germany, Unification, Nationalism, Politics, Constituent Assembly, Weimar Republic

Proclamation of the communist Hungarian Soviet Republic.

Tags: Hungary, Communism, Soviet Republic, Revolution, Eastern Europe, Politics, Short-lived

The Turkish War of Independence begins as Greek troops land in Smyrna.

Tags: Turkey, War of Independence, Greece, Conflict, Nationalism, Middle East, Smyrna

A majority of the German fleet is scuttled at Scapa Flow in Scotland. The ships had been interned there under the terms of the 1918 Armistice while ne...

Tags: Germany, Scapa Flow, Navy, World War I, Armistice, Treaty of Versailles, Military, Scuttling

Germany and the Allied powers sign the Treaty of Versailles after six months of negotiations. The German armed forces are limited in size to 100,000 p...

Tags: Germany, Treaty of Versailles, World War I, Reparations, War Guilt, Allied Powers, Politics, Weimar Republic

An unknown corporal named Adolf Hitler infiltrates the German Workers' Party (the precursor of the Nazi Party) at the behest of the German Reichswehr.

Tags: Germany, Hitler, Nazi Party, German Workers' Party, Politics, Reichswehr, Rise of Fascism, Early Career

Fall of the short-lived Hungarian Soviet Republic. The Hungarian People's Republic is reestablished.

Tags: Hungary, Communism, Soviet Republic, Revolution, Politics, Eastern Europe, Short-lived

The Hungarian–Romanian War ends.

Tags: Eastern Europe, War, Hungary, Romania, Conflict, Treaty

The Hungarian People's Republic is dissolved.

Tags: Hungary, Republic, Government, Political Instability, Eastern Europe, Revolution

German-Austria signs the Treaty of Saint-Germain. The peace treaty with the Allies regulates the borders of Austria, forbids union with Germany, and r...

Tags: Austria, Treaty, WWI, Borders, International Relations, Peace Treaty

Gabriele D'Annunzio leads a force of Italian nationalist irregulars in the seizure of the disputed city of Fiume (Rijeka).

Tags: Italy, Nationalism, Fiume, Rijeka, Irredentism, Territorial Disputes

Bulgaria signs the Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine. The peace treaty gives Thrace back to Greece which was gained by them through the First Balkan War dur...

Tags: Bulgaria, Treaty, WWI, Greece, Borders, Reparations

The Paris Peace Conference comes to an end with the inaugural General Assembly of the League of Nations. Although one of the victors of World War I, t...

Tags: League of Nations, WWI, International Organization, Peace, Diplomacy, United States

The National Socialist German Workers' Party (better known as the Nazi Party) is founded in Munich.

Tags: Nazi Party, Germany, Political Parties, Nazism, Ideology, Rise of Fascism, Munich

The failed right-wing Kapp Putsch takes place against the German government. The German military remains passive and the putsch is defeated by a gener...

Tags: Germany, Putsch, Coup d'état, Political Instability, Weimar Republic, Revolution, Right-wing

The German Ruhr Uprising, spurred by the general strike against the Kapp Putsch, is crushed by the German military

Tags: Germany, Ruhr, Uprising, Revolution, Weimar Republic, Conflict, Political Violence

Hungary signs the Treaty of Trianon with the Allied powers. The treaty regulated the status of an independent Hungarian state and defined its borders....

Tags: Hungary, Treaty, WWI, Borders, Territorial Changes, Peace Treaty, Nationalism

Żeligowski's Mutiny, a Polish force led by General Lucjan Żeligowski, capture Vilnius, officially without support from the Polish state.

Tags: Poland, Lithuania, military conflict, border dispute, interwar period, Żeligowski

The Ottoman Empire signs the Treaty of Sèvres with the Allied powers (except the US, which never declared war on Turkey). The treaty partitions the Ot...

Tags: treaty, Ottoman Empire, Middle East, post-WWI, territorial changes, Sèvres

Franklin D. Roosevelt is defeated for the office of Vice President of the United States by Massachusetts Governor Calvin Coolidge.

Tags: US politics, election, vice president, Roosevelt, Coolidge

The Free City of Danzig is established in accordance with the Treaty of Versailles, as a contentious compromise between the generally nationalist Germ...

Tags: Danzig, Treaty of Versailles, territorial dispute, German minority, Poland, interwar period

Bloody Christmas: Italy occupies Fiume after five days of resistance from Gabriele D'Annunzio's legionnaires.

Tags: Italy, Fiume, occupation, territorial dispute, post-WWI, D'Annunzio

Red Army mutineers and Russian civilians seize the strategic city of Kronstadt in the Kronstadt rebellion, demanding expanded civilian rights and an e...

Tags: Russia, Soviet Union, Kronstadt, rebellion, Bolsheviks, civil war, political dissent

The Polish–Soviet War ends with the Peace of Riga.

Tags: Poland, Soviet Union, peace treaty, territorial changes, interwar period, Riga, war

The Fiuman electorate approves the idea of a Free State of Fiume.

Tags: Italy, Fiume, Free State, elections, territorial dispute, post-WWI

The U.S.–German Peace Treaty and the U.S.–Austrian Peace Treaty are signed, marking the formal end of the state of war between the two states and the ...

Tags: US, Germany, Austria, peace treaty, post-WWI, Versailles, Saint-Germain

The U.S.–Hungarian Peace Treaty is signed, marking the formal end of the state of war between the two states instead of the Treaty of Trianon that was...

Tags: US, Hungary, peace treaty, post-WWI, Trianon

Foundation of the Sturmabteilung (SA), the paramilitary wing of the German Nazi Party.

Tags: Nazi Party, Paramilitary, Sturmabteilung, Brownshirts, Political Violence, Weimar Republic, Rise of Fascism, Militia

Foundation of the Italian National Fascist Party by Benito Mussolini during the Third Fascist Congress in Rome.

Tags: Fascism, Benito Mussolini, Italian Politics, Political Party, Rise of Fascism, Third Fascist Congress, Nationalism, Ideology

The first German officers travel to the Soviet Union for the purposes of military cooperation between Germany and the Soviet Union.

Tags: Military Cooperation, Germany, Soviet Union, Weimar Republic, Secret Agreements, Military Training, Defense, Reparations, Treaty of Rapallo

The Washington Naval Conference ends with the signing of the Washington Naval Treaty by the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, France, and Ital...

Tags: Naval Treaty, Arms Limitation, International Relations, United States, United Kingdom, Japan, France, Italy, Diplomacy, Treaty

Germany and the Soviet Union sign the Treaty of Rapallo, re-establishing diplomatic relations, renouncing financial claims on each other, and pledging...

Tags: Treaty of Rapallo, Germany, Soviet Union, Diplomacy, Economic Cooperation, Reconciliation, Weimar Republic, Post-WWI, Isolationism

The Russian Civil War (ongoing since 7 November 1917) ends in Bolshevik victory with the defeat of the last White forces in Siberia.

Tags: Russian Civil War, Bolsheviks, White Army, Soviet Union, Civil War, Communism, Revolution, Red Army

Armistice of Mudanya is signed in the Turkish War of Independence.

Tags: Armistice, Turkish War of Independence, Turkey, Greece, Treaty, Post-WWI, Middle East, Conflict Resolution

Fascist leader Benito Mussolini is appointed prime minister of Italy by king Victor Emmanuel III following the March on Rome.

Tags: Benito Mussolini, Fascism, March on Rome, Italian Politics, Prime Minister, King Victor Emmanuel III, Political Power, Dictatorship, Totalitarianism

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey abolishes the Ottoman Sultanate.

Tags: Ottoman Empire, Sultanate, Turkey, Grand National Assembly, Post-WWI, Modernization, Political Change, Revolution

France and Belgium occupy the Ruhr in an effort to compel Germany to step up its payments of war reparations.

Tags: Occupation, Ruhr, France, Belgium, Germany, War Reparations, Inflation, Weimar Republic, Post-WWI, Economic Crisis

In the great inflation of 1923, the value of the German mark is destroyed.

Tags: Germany, Inflation, Weimar Republic, Economic Crisis, Currency, Economic Collapse, Hyperinflation

The Nationalist Kuomintang party and the Chinese Communist Party form the First United Front to end warlordism in China.

Tags: China, Communism, Nationalism, United Front, Warlords, Civil War, Political Alliance

The Treaty of Lausanne, settling the boundaries of modern Turkey, is signed in Switzerland by Turkey and the Entente powers. It marks the end of the T...

Tags: Turkey, Treaty, Boundaries, Ottoman Empire, War of Independence, Middle East, Nationalism

The Corfu incident: Italy bombards and occupies the Greek island of Corfu seeking to pressure Greece to pay reparations for the murder of an Italian g...

Tags: Italy, Greece, Corfu, Military Action, Occupation, International Relations, Reparations

The Corfu incident ends; Italian troops withdraw after the Conference of Ambassadors rules in favor of Italian demands of reparations from Greece.

Tags: Italy, Greece, Corfu, Withdrawal, International Relations, Reparations, Diplomacy

The Hamburg Uprising occurs.

Tags: Germany, Uprising, Communism, Revolution, Weimar Republic, Political Violence

Turkey officially becomes a Republic following the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire.

Tags: Turkey, Republic, Ottoman Empire, Political Change, Nationalism, Modernization, Government

The Beer Hall Putsch takes place, in which Adolf Hitler unsuccessfully leads the Nazis in an attempt to overthrow the German government. It is crushed...

Tags: Germany, Nazi Party, Hitler, Putsch, Failed Coup, Political Violence, Weimar Republic, Rise of Fascism

Leader of the Soviet Union Vladimir Lenin dies, and Joseph Stalin begins purging rivals to clear the way for his dictatorship.

Tags: Russia, Soviet Union, Lenin, Stalin, Power Struggle, Dictatorship, Purge, Communism, Totalitarianism

The United Kingdom extends diplomatic recognition to the Soviet Union.

Tags: UK, Soviet Union, Diplomatic Recognition, International Relations, Foreign Policy, Communism, Cold War (foreshadowing)

Italy annexes the Free State of Fiume.

Tags: Italian Expansionism, Territorial Acquisition, Irredentism, Adriatic Sea, Post-WWI, Fiume

Adolf Hitler is sentenced to 5 years in prison for his participation in the Beer Hall Putsch (he serves only 8 months).

Tags: Adolf Hitler, Beer Hall Putsch, Weimar Republic, Nazi Party, Political Imprisonment, Early Nazi History, Bavaria

Fascists win the 1924 Italian general election with a 2/3 majority.

Tags: Fascism, Italian Politics, Benito Mussolini, Italian Government, Political Victory, Authoritarianism, Two-Thirds Majority

Italian Fascists kidnap and kill socialist leader Giacomo Matteotti in Rome.

Tags: Fascism, Political Violence, Giacomo Matteotti, Assassination, Italian Politics, Political Crisis, Mussolini, Socialism

The Dawes Plan is accepted. It ends the Allied occupation of the Ruhr and sets a staggered plan for Germany's payment of war reparations.

Tags: Dawes Plan, Reparations, Germany, Weimar Republic, Economic Recovery, Post-WWI, Allied Occupation, Ruhr

France begins withdrawing its troops from the Ruhr in Germany.

Tags: France, Germany, Ruhr, Occupation, Post-WWI, Withdrawal, Reparations

Signing of the Soviet–Japanese Basic Convention that normalizes relations between Japan and the Soviet Union.

Tags: Soviet Union, Japan, Diplomacy, International Relations, Asia, Treaty, Normalization

Foundation of the paramilitary Nazi party organization the Schutzstaffel (SS). Originally intended as a personal bodyguard unit for party leader Adolf...

Tags: SS, Nazi Party, Adolf Hitler, Paramilitary, Security Force, World War II, Elite Unit, Schutzstaffel

Retired Field marshal Paul von Hindenburg is elected President of Germany.

Tags: Paul von Hindenburg, Germany, President, Weimar Republic, Political Leadership, Military Figure, Conservative

Hitler's autobiographical manifesto Mein Kampf is published.

Tags: Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler, Nazi Ideology, Propaganda, World War II, Political Manifesto, Autobiography, Racism, Antisemitism

The Locarno Treaties are signed in London (they are ratified September 14, 1926). The treaties settle the borders of western Europe and normalize rela...

Tags: Treaty, Diplomacy, Germany, France, UK, International Relations, Borders, Post-WWI

Theodoros Pangalos declares himself dictator of Greece. He would be elected president on April 4.

Tags: Greece, Dictatorship, Politics, Government, Authoritarianism, Europe

British and Belgian troops leave Cologne, Germany.

Tags: Germany, Occupation, Post-WWI, Military, Withdrawal, Europe

The Treaty of Berlin is signed by Germany and the Soviet Union, which declares neutrality if either country is attacked within the next five years.

Tags: Germany, Soviet Union, Treaty, Neutrality, Diplomacy, International Relations, Europe, Russia

Germany joins the League of Nations.

Tags: Germany, League of Nations, International Relations, Diplomacy, Europe, Post-WWI, Multilateralism

Emperor Taishō dies, and is succeeded by his son Hirohito as the Emperor of Japan.

Tags: Japan, Emperor, Hirohito, Succession, Monarchy, Asia, Politics

The Shanghai massacre of 5,000-10,000 communists, perpetrated by the Kuomintang, marks the end of the First United Front and the beginning of the Chin...

Tags: China, Civil War, Communism, Kuomintang, Violence, Proxy War, Asia

Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom sign the Treaty of Jeddah.

Tags: Saudi Arabia, UK, Treaty, Middle East, Diplomacy, International Relations, Africa

Peter Voikov, Soviet ambassador to Warsaw, is assassinated by a White movement activist.

Tags: Soviet Union, Assassination, Poland, Violence, Diplomacy, Russia, Europe

Leon Trotsky is expelled from the Soviet Communist Party, leaving Joseph Stalin with undisputed control of the Soviet Union.

Tags: Soviet Union, Trotsky, Stalin, Politics, Purge, Communism, Russia

Iraq gains independence from the United Kingdom.

Tags: Middle East, Colonialism, Independence, Nationalism, United Kingdom, Treaty

The Jinan incident begins, a limited armed conflict between the Republic of China and Japan.

Tags: China, Japan, Conflict, Military, Asia, Warlords, Nationalism

Foundation of the Chinese Red Army.

Tags: China, Communism, Civil War, Military, Asia, Mao Zedong, Guomindang

Huanggutun incident: Japanese agents assassinate the Chinese warlord Zhang Zuolin.

Tags: China, Japan, Assassination, Warlords, Asia, Military, Political Instability

Italy and Ethiopia sign the Italo-Ethiopian Treaty, pledging cooperation and friendship.

Tags: Italy, Ethiopia, Treaty, Africa, Colonialism, Diplomacy, Imperialism

The Kellogg–Briand Pact is signed in Paris by the major powers of the world. The treaty outlaws aggressive warfare.

Tags: Diplomacy, Treaty, Peace, War, International Relations, France, United States, Europe

The Soviet Union launches the first five-year plan, an economic effort to increase Industrialisation.

Tags: Soviet Union, Russia, Economy, Industrialization, Communism, Five Year Plan, Stalin

Herbert Hoover wins the 1928 US president election defeating Al Smith.

Tags: United States, Politics, Election, Hoover, Great Depression

Litvinov Protocol is signed in Moscow by the Soviet Union, Poland, Estonia, Romania, and Latvia. The Pact outlaws aggressive warfare along the lines o...

Tags: Soviet Union, Diplomacy, Peace, Treaty, Europe, International Relations

Italy and the Holy See sign the Lateran Treaty, normalizing relations between the Vatican and Italy.

Tags: Italy, Vatican, Treaty, Religion, Politics, Europe, Fascism

Japan withdraws troops from China, ending the Jinan incident.

Tags: Japan, China, Withdrawal, Military, International Relations, Asia

Persia signs Litvinov's Pact.

Tags: Persia, Iran, USSR, Pact, International Relations, Non-Aggression

The Lateran Treaty is ratified, making the Vatican City a sovereign state.

Tags: Italy, Vatican, Treaty, Sovereignty, Catholic Church, Church and State, International Relations

The Kellogg–Briand Pact goes into effect.

Tags: US, France, International Relations, Peace, Treaty, Diplomacy, War

The Young Plan, which sets the total World War I reparations owed by Germany at US$26,350,000,000 to be paid over a period of 58½ years, is finalized....

Tags: Germany, Reparations, World War I, Finance, Economic Crisis, Dawes Plan, Debt

The Great Depression begins with the Wall Street crash.

Tags: US, Great Depression, Economic Crisis, Stock Market, World Economy, Finance, Global Impact

The United Kingdom, United States, France, Italy and Japan sign the London Naval Treaty regulating submarine warfare and limiting naval shipbuilding.

Tags: UK, US, Japan, Italy, France, Naval Treaty, Arms Limitation, Warships, Submarines

France withdraws its remaining troops from the Rhineland ending the occupation of the Rhineland.

Tags: France, Germany, Rhineland, Occupation, Military, International Relations, Withdrawal

German election results in the Nazis becoming the second-largest party in the Reichstag.

Tags: Germany, Nazis, Politics, Reichstag, Rise of Fascism, National Socialism, Political Parties

Launching of the first Deutschland-class cruiser, Deutschland. The construction of the ship causes consternation abroad as it was expected that the re...

Tags: Germany, Navy, Warship, Deutschland-class, Military, Arms Race, Weimar Republic, Naval Technology

Mukden incident: the Japanese military stage a false flag bombing against a Japanese-controlled railroad in the Chinese region of Manchuria, blaming C...

Tags: Japan, China, Manchuria, False Flag, Invasion, Pretext, Military, Escalation, Imperialism, Asia

Using the Mukden Incident as a pretext, the Japanese invade Manchuria and create the Manchukuo puppet state.

Tags: Japan, China, Manchuria, Invasion, Military, Expansionism, Puppet State, Imperialism, Asia, War

The Stimson Doctrine is proclaimed by United States Secretary of State Henry L. Stimson in response to Japan invading Manchuria. The Doctrine holds th...

Tags: US, Diplomacy, Non-Recognition, Manchuria, Japan, International Law, Foreign Policy, Asia, China

January 28 incident: using a flare-up of anti-Japanese violence as a pretext, the Japanese attack Shanghai, China. Fighting ends on March 6, and on Ma...

Tags: Japan, China, Shanghai, Military, Conflict, Ceasefire, Demilitarized Zone, Asia, War, Escalation

Fighting between China and Japan in Manchuria ends with Japan in control of Manchuria.

Tags: Japan, China, Manchuria, Occupation, Military, Victory, Expansionism, Asia, Imperialism, War

Japan creates the puppet state Manchukuo out of occupied Manchuria.

Tags: Japan, China, Manchuria, Puppet State, Government, Imperialism, Asia, Expansionism, Control, War

Paul von Hindenburg is reelected President of Germany, defeating Adolf Hitler in a run-off.

Tags: Germany, Election, Politics, Hindenburg, Hitler, Weimar Republic, Political Opposition, Europe, Fascism, Nazism

The Soviet–Estonian Non-Aggression Pact is signed. It will enter into force on 18 August 1932 and will remain in force until 31 December 1945.

Tags: Russia, Estonia, Pact, Non-Aggression, Diplomacy, Europe, Baltic States, Soviet Union, International Relations, Treaty

Chancellor of Germany Heinrich Brüning resigns. President Hindenburg asks Franz von Papen to form a new government.

Tags: Germany, Politics, Government, Chancellor, Brüning, von Papen, Weimar Republic, Europe, Political Instability, Crisis

Soviet–Polish Non-Aggression Pact is signed with it being initially effective for three years.

Tags: Russia, Poland, Pact, Non-Aggression, Diplomacy, Europe, Eastern Europe, Soviet Union, International Relations, Treaty

Hermann Göring is elected chairman of the German Reichstag.

Tags: Germany, Reichstag, Politics, Weimar Republic, Nazi Party, Government, Hermann Göring

Japan starts a counterinsurgency campaign in Manchukuo, known as the Pacification of Manchukuo.

Tags: Japan, Manchukuo, China, Counterinsurgency, Military, Invasion, Expansionism, Asia

Franklin D. Roosevelt defeats Herbert Hoover in the 1932 presidential election.

Tags: US, Presidential Election, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, Politics, Great Depression, New Deal, Democracy

President Hindenburg begins talking to Hitler about forming a new government.

Tags: Germany, Hindenburg, Hitler, Politics, Weimar Republic, Nazi Party, Chancellor, Government

Hindenburg names Kurt von Schleicher Chancellor of Germany.

Tags: Germany, Chancellor, Kurt von Schleicher, Politics, Weimar Republic, Government

Defense of the Great Wall: Japan attacks the fortified eastern end of the Great Wall of China in Rehe Province in Inner Mongolia.

Tags: Japan, China, Military, Invasion, Expansionism, Asia, Great Wall, Rehe Province

Hitler is appointed Chancellor of Germany by President Hindenburg.

Tags: Germany, Hitler, Chancellor, Nazi Party, Politics, Weimar Republic, Hindenburg, Seizure of Power

Germany's parliament building the Reichstag is set on fire.

Tags: Germany, Reichstag, Fire, Nazi Party, Politics, Seizure of Power, Propaganda

Using the Reichstag fire as a pretext, the Reichstag Fire Decree is issued by President Paul von Hindenburg, nullifying many German civil liberties an...

Tags: Germany, Reichstag Fire Decree, Civil Liberties, Nazi Party, Politics, Seizure of Power, Hindenburg, Dictatorship

Franklin Delano Roosevelt is inaugurated as President of the United States. He launches the New Deal economic program, intended to counteract the effe...

Tags: US, President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, New Deal, Great Depression, Economy, Politics, Inauguration

Germany's first concentration camp, Dachau, is completed.

Tags: concentration camp, Nazi Germany, persecution, political prisoners, early Nazi regime, oppression, Dachau

The Reichstag passes the Enabling Act, making Adolf Hitler dictator of Germany.

Tags: Enabling Act, dictatorship, Nazi regime, Hitler, Reichstag, political power, authoritarianism, Germany

1933 anti-Nazi boycott

Tags: boycott, anti-Semitism, Nazi Germany, Jewish businesses, discrimination, economic warfare, early persecution

Japan leaves the League of Nations over the League of Nations' Lytton Report that found that Manchuria belongs to China and that Manchukuo was not a t...

Tags: Japan, League of Nations, Manchuria, Lytton Report, expansionism, international relations, militarism

Germans are told to boycott Jewish shops and businesses.

Tags: anti-Semitism, boycott, Nazi Germany, Jewish businesses, discrimination, persecution, propaganda, economic warfare

The Gestapo secret police is established in Germany.

Tags: Gestapo, secret police, Nazi Germany, repression, surveillance, terror, internal security, political control

President Hindenburg and Chancellor Hitler appear before a crowd of 500,000 in Berlin as International Workers' Day is declared as "Day of National La...

Tags: National Labor Day, Nazi propaganda, workers, regime, Hitler, Germany, propaganda

Hitler outlaws trade unions.

Tags: trade unions, Nazi Germany, labor rights, suppression, political control, worker's rights, authoritarianism

Official formation of the Luftwaffe, the German air force built in secret in violation of the Treaty of Versailles.

Tags: Luftwaffe, German air force, rearmament, Treaty of Versailles, military buildup, Nazi Germany, aviation

The Tanggu Truce is signed between China and Japan, setting the ceasefire conditions between the two states after the Japanese occupation of Manchuria...

Tags: Tanggu Truce, China, Japan, Manchuria, ceasefire, occupation, territorial concessions, Sino-Japanese War, diplomacy

All non-Nazi parties are banned in Germany.

Tags: Germany, Nazi Party, Political Repression, Dictatorship, Totalitarianism, Political Purge, Rise of Fascism, Authoritarianism

The Nazi party becomes the official party of Germany.

Tags: Germany, Nazi Party, Political Control, One-Party State, Totalitarianism, Fascism, Rise of Nazi Germany, Authoritarianism, Propaganda

Haavara Agreement: The agreement was designed to help facilitate the emigration of German Jews to Palestine.

Tags: Germany, Jewish Emigration, Zionism, Palestine, Haavara Agreement, Anti-Semitism, Early Holocaust, Emigration, Jewish History

Italy and the USSR sign the Italo-Soviet Pact.

Tags: Italy, USSR, International Relations, Pact, Diplomacy, Europe, Soviet Union, Treaty, Alliance

Leo Szilard conceives the idea of the nuclear chain reaction.

Tags: Science, Nuclear Physics, Leo Szilard, Nuclear Chain Reaction, Research, Technology, Atomic Bomb, Weapons, World War II

Germany leaves the League of Nations over objections to the Conference for the Reduction and Limitation of Armaments.

Tags: Germany, League of Nations, International Relations, Diplomacy, Rearmament, Appeasement, Isolationism, World War II, Treaty

The United States extends diplomatic recognition to the Soviet Union.

Tags: US, USSR, Diplomacy, International Relations, Soviet Union, Recognition, Politics, Foreign Policy, Cold War

Homeless, alcoholic, and unemployed sent to Nazi concentration camps.

Tags: Germany, Concentration Camps, Nazi Regime, Persecution, Social Outcasts, Discrimination, Early Holocaust, Human Rights, Oppression

Germany and Poland sign the 10 year German-Polish Non-Aggression Pact. From the German point of the view, the pact was intended to prevent Poland from...

Tags: Germany, Poland, Non-Aggression Pact, Diplomacy, International Relations, Appeasement, Europe, World War II, Treaty, Rearmament

Balkan Pact, a military alliance is signed between Greece, Turkey, Romania and Yugoslavia. The intention of signing this treaty was to counteract plan...

Tags: Europe, Balkan Pact, Military Alliance, Greece, Turkey, Romania, Yugoslavia, Italy, Bulgaria, Diplomacy, Treaty

The Austrian Civil War is fought, ending with Austrofascist victory.

Tags: civil war, Austria, fascism, political violence, interwar period, right-wing, authoritarianism

All German police forces come under the command of Heinrich Himmler.

Tags: police, Himmler, SS, Nazi Germany, security, consolidation of power, authoritarianism, Germany

Soviet–Polish Non-Aggression Pact is extended to December 31, 1945.

Tags: Soviet Union, Poland, treaty, non-aggression, diplomacy, Eastern Europe, interwar period

Night of the Long Knives in Germany. Potential rivals to Hitler within the Nazi Party, including SA leader Ernst Röhm and prominent anti-Nazi conserva...

Tags: Nazi Party, purges, SA, SS, Hitler, political violence, power struggle, Germany, authoritarianism

The SS becomes an organization independent of the Nazi Party, reporting directly to Adolf Hitler.

Tags: SS, Nazi Party, Hitler, power consolidation, paramilitary, security, Germany, authoritarianism

Austrian Nazis assassinate Engelbert Dollfuss during the failed July Putsch against the Austrian government.

Tags: assassination, Austria, Nazi, political violence, putsch, European politics, Germany

Upon the death of President Hindenburg, Hitler makes himself Führer of Germany, becoming Head of State as well as Chancellor.

Tags: Hitler, Führer, Germany, dictatorship, power consolidation, Head of State, authoritarianism, Nazi Germany

Members of the Wehrmacht begin swearing a personal oath of loyalty to Hitler instead of to the German constitution.

Tags: Wehrmacht, oath, Hitler, military, loyalty, Germany, Nazi Germany, authoritarianism

The Soviet Union joins the League of Nations.

Tags: Soviet Union, League of Nations, diplomacy, international relations, interwar period, Russia

Left-wing parties in the Second Spanish Republic start the Revolution of 1934 against the right-wing government.

Tags: Spain, revolution, civil unrest, political violence, left-wing, right-wing, interwar period

King Alexander I of Yugoslavia and French foreign minister Louis Barthou are assassinated in Marseilles Alexander's political murder further destabil...

Tags: assassination, Balkans, Yugoslavia, France, political instability, interwar period, diplomacy, regency

Beginning of the Long March where the Chinese Red Army retreats to evade the pursuit of Kuomintang forces.

Tags: China, communism, Long March, Chinese Red Army, Kuomintang, military retreat, civil war, Mao Zedong

Sergei Kirov, head of the Leningrad Communist Party, is murdered by an unknown assailant, precipitating a wave of repression in the Soviet Union.

Tags: Soviet Union, assassination, Stalin, Great Purge, repression, communism, Leningrad, political violence

The Abyssinia Crisis begins with the Walwal incident, an armed clash between Italian and Ethiopian troops on the border of Ethiopia.

Tags: Ethiopia, Italy, Abyssinia Crisis, border dispute, colonialism, aggression, prelude to war, East Africa

Japan renounces the Washington Naval Treaty and the London Naval Treaty.

Tags: Japan, naval arms race, Washington Naval Treaty, London Naval Treaty, militarism, international relations, rearmament, treaty violation

The League of Nations approves the results of the Saar plebiscite, which allows Saar to be incorporated into German borders.

Tags: Germany, Saar, plebiscite, territorial expansion, Weimar Republic, Versailles Treaty, nationalism, reunification

The Anglo-German Naval Agreement is signed by Germany and the United Kingdom. The agreement allows Germany to build a fleet that's 35% the tonnage of ...

Tags: United Kingdom, Germany, naval agreement, rearmament, appeasement, treaty, naval power, interwar period

The Neutrality Act of 1935 is passed in the United States imposing a general embargo on trading in arms and war materials with all parties in a war an...

Tags: United States, Neutrality Acts, isolationism, embargo, arms trade, war, non-interventionism, foreign policy

The Reichstag passes the Nuremberg Laws, institutionalizing discrimination against Jews and providing the legal framework for the systematic persecuti...

Tags: Germany, Nuremberg Laws, antisemitism, discrimination, Jews, persecution, Holocaust, racism, legal framework

Italy invades Ethiopia, beginning the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. The League of Nations denounces Italy and calls for an oil embargo that fails.

Tags: Italy, Ethiopia, invasion, Second Italo-Ethiopian War, colonialism, aggression, League of Nations, sanctions, failure of diplomacy

Final British General election until 1945. Stanley Baldwin replaces Ramsay MacDonald as Prime Minister.

Tags: politics, elections, UK, government, Prime Minister, Baldwin, MacDonald

George V, King of the United Kingdom dies. The Prince of Wales succeeds him as King Edward VIII.

Tags: royalty, UK, monarchy, succession, Edward VIII, George V, constitutional crisis

Germany hosts the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria.

Tags: Olympics, Germany, sports, propaganda, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Winter Olympics

The February 26 incident occurs in Japan where a group of 1,400 officers and soldiers of the Imperial Way faction stage a military coup which lasts un...

Tags: Japan, military, coup, rebellion, Imperial Way faction, political violence, February 26 Incident

In violation of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany remilitarizes the Rhineland.

Tags: Germany, Rhineland, Treaty of Versailles, military, violation, territory, expansionism, appeasement

Following the Rhineland move Hitler met separately with French journalist Bertrand de Jouvenel and British analyst Arnold J. Toynbee emphasizing his ...

Tags: Germany, diplomacy, Hitler, UK, France, Rhineland, appeasement, expansionism

King Edward VIII, over the head of the Baldwin Government, orders the military to stand down in relation to the move.

Tags: royalty, UK, monarchy, Edward VIII, military, Rhineland, constitutional crisis, politics

The Second London Naval Treaty is signed by the United Kingdom, United States, and France. Italy and Japan each declined to sign this treaty.

Tags: treaty, naval, UK, US, France, Italy, Japan, arms control

Italian troops march into the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, marking the end of the Second Italo–Abyssinian War.

Tags: Italy, Ethiopia, Africa, war, colonialism, Second Italo-Abyssinian War, invasion, expansionism

Luftwaffe Chief of Staff General Walther Wever loses his life in an air crash, ending any hope for the Luftwaffe to ever have a strategic bombing forc...

Tags: Germany, Luftwaffe, air force, military, strategic bombing, Wever, aviation

The Spanish coup of July 1936 by Nationalist forces marks the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. The coup initially begins in Spanish Morocco when a...

Tags: Civil War, Spain, Nationalists, Rebellion, Fascism, War, Ideology, Europe, Foreign Intervention

Germany hosts the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.

Tags: Olympics, Germany, Propaganda, Sports, Berlin, International Relations, Nazi Germany, Culture

Commencement of the first Moscow show trials against Old Bolshevik Party leaders and top officials of the Soviet secret police.

Tags: Soviet Union, Show Trials, Purges, Stalin, Political Repression, Communism, Moscow, Opposition, Great Purge

The Great Purge commences in the Soviet Union with widespread repression of suspected opponents of the regime. The purge leads to the imprisonment and...

Tags: Soviet Union, Purges, Stalin, Political Repression, Communism, Military, Great Purge, Terror, Opposition, Gulag

Göring is made head of the German Four Year Plan, an effort to make Germany self-sufficient through autarky and increase armaments.

Tags: Germany, Four Year Plan, Göring, Autarky, Armaments, Economics, Nazi Germany, War Preparation, Self-Sufficiency

Franklin D. Roosevelt wins reelection defeating Alf Landon.

Tags: US, Roosevelt, Election, Politics, New Deal, President, Democracy, Isolationism, Domestic Policy

Suiyuan campaign begins as Japanese-backed Mongolian troops attack the Chinese garrison at Hongort.

Tags: China, Japan, Suiyuan, War, Conflict, Mongolia, Military, Invasion, Asia

The aerial German Condor Legion goes into action for the first time in the Spanish Civil War in support of the Nationalist side.

Tags: Spain, Condor Legion, Germany, Spanish Civil War, Military, Air Force, Foreign Intervention, War, Aviation, Nationalists

The Anti-Comintern Pact is signed by Japan and Germany. The signing parties agree to go to war with the Soviet Union if one of the signatories is atta...

Tags: Germany, Japan, Anti-Comintern Pact, Alliance, Axis, Soviet Union, Military, Politics, International Relations, Ideology

Hitler makes it mandatory for all males between the ages 10–18 to join the Hitler Youth.

Tags: Germany, Hitler Youth, Nazi Germany, Youth, Propaganda, Indoctrination, Children, Education, Totalitarianism, Social Control

Kuomintang marshal Zhang Xueliang kidnaps Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek in order to compel the Kuomintang to make a truce with the Chinese Communist ...

Tags: China, Civil War, Kuomintang, Chinese Communist Party, Zhang Xueliang, Chiang Kai-shek, Second United Front, Japanese Aggression, Truce

Edward VIII is forced to abdicate due to his marriage to Wallis Simpson and is succeeded by Albert, Duke of York, who assumes the name King George VI

Tags: UK, Monarchy, Abdication, Edward VIII, George VI, Wallis Simpson, Succession, Royal Family

The first 3,000 men of the Italian expeditionary force (later named Corpo Truppe Volontarie) lands in Cadiz in support of the Nationalist side in the ...

Tags: Italy, Spanish Civil War, Corpo Truppe Volontarie, Intervention, Nationalists, Fascism, Military Aid

The Second United Front is formed between the Chinese Communist party and the Kuomintang, temporarily suspending the Chinese Civil War for the sake of...

Tags: China, Civil War, Kuomintang, Chinese Communist Party, Second United Front, Japanese Aggression, Anti-Japanese War, Alliance

President Roosevelt begins his second term.

Tags: US, Roosevelt, President, Second Term, Politics, New Deal, Depression, Leadership

The Non-Intervention Committee of the League of Nations prohibits foreign intervention or involvement in the Spanish Civil War.

Tags: League of Nations, Non-Intervention, Spain, Spanish Civil War, International Relations, Politics, Neutrality

Bombing of Guernica by the German Condor Legion and the Italian Aviazione Legionaria at the behest of Franco's Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War. ...

Tags: Spain, Spanish Civil War, Guernica, Bombing, Condor Legion, Civilian Casualties, War Crimes, Propaganda, Germany

The Condor Legion Fighter Group is deployed in Spain and begins to aid the Falangists.

Tags: Germany, Spanish Civil War, Condor Legion, Military Intervention, Falangists, Air Force, Aviation

Neville Chamberlain becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Tags: UK, Prime Minister, Chamberlain, Politics, Appeasement, Foreign Policy, Leadership, War

Léon Blum's coalition government collapses.

Tags: France, Politics, Government, Léon Blum, Coalition, Collapse, Socialist, Instability

The Marco Polo Bridge incident occurs, beginning the Second Sino-Japanese War. Some scholars consider this to be the start of World War II. Japanese f...

Tags: China, Japan, Sino-Japanese War, War, Conflict, Military, Expansionism, Diplomacy, Bridge, July

Japanese forces occupy the city of Beijing.

Tags: China, Japan, Occupation, Military, Sino-Japanese War, Beijing, War, Conflict, Asia

Second Sino-Japanese War: Battle of Shanghai commences.

Tags: China, Japan, Battle, Shanghai, War, Sino-Japanese War, Military, Conflict, Asia

President Roosevelt gives the Quarantine Speech outlining a move away from neutrality and towards "quarantining" all aggressors.

Tags: US, President Roosevelt, Neutrality, Foreign Policy, Isolationism, Aggression, Diplomacy, Speech, World War II

Germany notifies Belgium that its sovereignty will be guaranteed as long as Belgium refrains from taking part in military action against Germany.

Tags: Germany, Belgium, Sovereignty, Neutrality, Diplomacy, Europe, World War II, Assurance

Adolf Hitler holds a secret meeting in the Reich Chancellery and discusses the need for "lebensraum."

Tags: Germany, Hitler, Lebensraum, Expansionism, Ideology, Reich Chancellery, Secret Meeting, World War II, Europe, Planning

Italy joins the Anti-Comintern Pact.

Tags: Italy, Anti-Comintern Pact, Alliance, Axis Powers, Diplomacy, Germany, Japan, World War II, Ideology

Second Sino-Japanese War: Battle of Shanghai ends in Japanese victory as Chinese forces evacuate the city.

Tags: China, Japan, Battle, Shanghai, Victory, War, Sino-Japanese War, Military, Conflict, Asia

Second Sino-Japanese War: Battle of Nanjing commences as Japanese forces attack the city.

Tags: China, Japan, Battle, Nanjing, War, Sino-Japanese War, Military, Conflict, Asia, Massacre

Japan established the puppet state of Mengjiang in the Inner Mongolia region of the Republic of China.

Tags: Japan, China, Mengjiang, Puppet State, Occupation, Military, Sino-Japanese War, Inner Mongolia, Asia

Italy leaves the League of Nations.

Tags: Italy, League of Nations, Diplomacy, Fascism, International Relations, Isolationism

The USS Panay incident occurs, where Japanese aircraft attacked the American gunboat Panay which was carrying American evacuees and escorting four Sta...

Tags: US, Japan, USS Panay, Incident, Diplomacy, War Crimes, Second Sino-Japanese War, Escalation

Second Sino-Japanese War: start of the Rape of Nanjing following Japanese victory in the Battle of Nanjing.

Tags: China, Japan, Rape of Nanjing, War Crimes, Second Sino-Japanese War, Atrocities, Massacre, Human Rights

The Allison incident occurs further straining relations between Japan and the United States.

Tags: US, Japan, Diplomacy, Second Sino-Japanese War, Tensions, International Relations

Japanese troops reach the Yellow River in China.

Tags: Japan, China, Second Sino-Japanese War, Military Advance, War, Territorial Expansion

The Anschluss: Germany annexes Austria.

Tags: Germany, Austria, Anschluss, Annexation, Expansionism, Nazi Germany, World War II, Territorial Expansion

Second Sino-Japanese War: Battle of Taierzhuang commences. The battle ends with Chinese victory on 7 April after intense house-to-house fighting insid...

Tags: China, Japan, Second Sino-Japanese War, Battle, Military, Victory, Taierzhuang

Second Sino-Japanese War: Battle of Xuzhou begins, and ends in Japanese victory on May 1 as Chinese troops break out from the encircled city.

Tags: Japan, China, Second Sino-Japanese War, Military, Battle, Xuzhou, Victory

Évian Conference: The United States and the United Kingdom refuse to accept any more Jewish refugees.

Tags: UK, US, Refugees, Jewish, Évian Conference, Immigration, Human Rights, Antisemitism, Holocaust

Soviet Union wins the Battle of Lake Khasan against Japan.

Tags: Soviet Union, Japan, Border Conflict, Military, Asia, Pacific Theater, Pre-War

The Soviet–Japanese border conflicts begin with the Battle of Lake Khasan.

Tags: Russia, Japan, Border Conflict, Military, Battle of Lake Khasan, Second Sino-Japanese War, Expansionism, Soviet Union

U.S. President Roosevelt sends a letter to German Führer Adolf Hitler seeking peace.

Tags: US, Diplomacy, Hitler, Peace Efforts, Pre-War, Failed Diplomacy

The Munich Agreement is signed by Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy. The agreement allows Germany to annex the Czechoslovak Sudetenland a...

Tags: Germany, UK, France, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Appeasement, Annexation, Pre-War, Sudetenland

Germany invalidates the passports of all its Jewish citizens who are reissued passports with the letter "J" stamped in red. This change was made after...

Tags: Germany, Jews, Discrimination, Passport, Persecution, Anti-Semitism, Holocaust, Legal Discrimination

Polish-German Jew Herschel Grynszpan shoots the German consular aide Ernst vom Rath in Paris.

Tags: Germany, Assassination, Jews, Anti-Semitism, Paris, Pretext, Violence, Grynszpan

The Nazis use von Rath's death as the pretext for the Kristallnacht Pogrom in Germany; thousands of Jewish shops and synagogues are smashed, looted, b...

Tags: Germany, Kristallnacht, Pogrom, Anti-Semitism, Holocaust, Violence, Persecution, Jews, Nazi, Synagogues

A uranium atom is split for the first time at Columbia University in the United States.

Tags: US, Science, Physics, Nuclear Fission, Technology, Atomic Bomb, Columbia University

Hitler orders Plan Z, a 5-year naval expansion programme intended to provide for a huge German fleet capable of defeating the British Royal Navy by 19...

Tags: Germany, Naval Expansion, Kriegsmarine, Military, War Planning, Plan Z, Pre-War, Fleet

The pro-German Slovak Republic is created.

Tags: Slovakia, Germany, Puppet State, Europe, Pre-War, Occupation, Nazi

Germany occupies and annexes Bohemia and Moravia-Silesia in violation of the Munich Agreement. The Czechs do not attempt to put up any organized resis...

Tags: Germany, Czechoslovakia, Annexation, Munich Agreement, Occupation, Europe, Pre-War, Bohemia, Moravia

Germany establishes the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The Second Czechoslovak Republic is dissolved.

Tags: occupation, protectorate, Czechoslovakia, Germany, annexation, Sudetenland, Eastern Europe, Nazi Germany, political restructuring, territorial expansion

Hungary invades the recently created Carpatho-Ukraine.

Tags: invasion, Hungary, Carpatho-Ukraine, territorial dispute, annexation, Eastern Europe, World War II, border conflicts, minor powers, political instability

German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop delivers an oral ultimatum to Lithuania, demanding that it cede the Klaipėda Region (German name Memel)...

Tags: ultimatum, Lithuania, Germany, Klaipeda, Memel, territorial claim, diplomacy, expansionism, Baltic States, pre-war tensions

Hitler demands the return of the Free City of Danzig to Germany.

Tags: Danzig, Free City, Germany, Poland, territorial dispute, demands, pre-war tensions, appeasement, casus belli, territorial claim

German–Romanian Treaty for the Development of Economic Relations between the Two Countries is signed.

Tags: treaty, economic cooperation, Germany, Romania, alliance, trade, resources, Eastern Europe, pre-war agreements, Axis powers

Germany annexes the Klaipėda Region.

Tags: annexation, Germany, Klaipeda, Memel, territorial expansion, Lithuania, Baltic states, Nazi Germany, pre-war, aggression

Germany and Slovakia sign the Schutzzonenvertrag zwischen Deutschland und Slowakei , creating the German Zone of Protection in Slovakia.

Tags: protectorate, Slovakia, Germany, Nazi Germany, occupation, Eastern Europe, Schutzzonenvertrag, territorial control, client state, political maneuvering

The Slovak–Hungarian War begins.

Tags: war, Slovakia, Hungary, border conflict, territorial dispute, Eastern Europe, conflict, pre-war tensions, minor powers, internal conflict

King Zog, the leader of Albania refuses Italy's ultimatum demanding the King hand over control of the country.

Tags: ultimatum, Albania, Italy, invasion, resistance, occupation, Mediterranean, pre-war tensions, political defiance, fascism

The Slovak–Hungarian War ends.

Tags: Slovakia, Hungary, War, Border Dispute, Territorial Changes, Central Europe, 1939

The United Kingdom and France offer a guarantee of Polish independence.

Tags: guarantee, Poland, UK, France, alliance, diplomacy, pre-war, deterrence, political commitment, World War II

The Spanish Civil War ends in Nationalist victory. Spain becomes a dictatorship with Francisco Franco as the head of the new government serving until ...

Tags: Spain, Civil War, Nationalists, Franco, Dictatorship, Europe, Political Transition, Fascism, 1939

Hitler orders the German military to start planning for Fall Weiss, the codename for the attack on Poland, planned to be launched on August 25, 1939.

Tags: Germany, Poland, Invasion, Fall Weiss, War Plans, World War II, Aggression, 1939

Hungary and Slovakia sign the Budapest Treaty, handing over a strip of eastern Slovak territory to Hungary.

Tags: Slovakia, Hungary, Treaty, Border Dispute, Territorial Changes, Central Europe, 1939

Italy invades Albania with little in the way of military resistance in response to refusing the Italian ultimatum. Albania is later made part of Italy...

Tags: Italy, Albania, Invasion, Expansionism, Europe, Occupation, 1939

U.S. President Roosevelt sends letter to German Chancellor Hitler and Italian Prime Minister Mussolini seeking peace.

Tags: US, Roosevelt, Diplomacy, Peace Efforts, Germany, Italy, 1939

The Soviet Union proposes a tripartite alliance with the United Kingdom and France. It is rejected.

Tags: Soviet Union, UK, France, Alliance, Diplomacy, Pre-War Alliances, Europe, 1939

In a speech before the Reichstag, Hitler renounces the Anglo-German Naval Agreement.

Tags: Germany, UK, Naval Agreement, Renunciation, Pre-War Tensions, 1939

Hitler renounces the German–Polish declaration of non-aggression.Japanese infantry at the Battle of Khalkin Gol near two wrecked Soviet armored cars, ...

Tags: Germany, Poland, Non-Aggression Pact, Aggression, War Preparations, World War II, 1939

Spain leaves the League of Nations.

Tags: Spain, League of Nations, Isolationism, Europe, Diplomacy, 1939

Soviet–Japanese border conflicts: The Battle of Khalkhin Gol begins with Japan and Manchukuo against the Soviet Union and Mongolia. The battle ends in...

Tags: Soviet Union, Japan, Mongolia, Border Conflict, Military, Asia, Manchukuo, Victory, Military Strategy

Sweden, Norway, and Finland reject Germany's offer of non-aggression pacts.

Tags: Sweden, Norway, Finland, Germany, Non-Aggression Pact, Neutrality, Diplomacy, Europe, Pre-War

The Pact of Steel, known formally as the "Pact of Friendship and Alliance between Germany and Italy", is signed by Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. Th...

Tags: Germany, Italy, Alliance, Military, Pact of Steel, Fascism, Nazi, Diplomacy, Europe, Axis Powers

Denmark and Germany sign a non-aggression pact which is later broken when Germany invades Denmark the following year.

Tags: Germany, Denmark, Non-Aggression Pact, Diplomacy, Invasion, Europe, Pre-War, Violation

The German–Estonian and the German–Latvian non-aggression pacts are concluded. They will remain in force for ten years.

Tags: Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Non-Aggression Pact, Diplomacy, Baltic States, Europe, Pre-War

The Tientsin incident occurs, in which the Japanese blockade the British concession in the North China Treaty Port of Tientsin, now called Tianjin.

Tags: Japan, China, Tientsin, Blockade, British Concession, Asia, Escalation, Conflict

Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain reaffirms support for Poland and makes it clear that Britain did not view Free City of Danzig as being an internal ...

Tags: UK, Poland, Danzig, Support, Diplomacy, Pre-War, Europe, Allies, Commitment

The Einstein–Szilard letter is sent to President Roosevelt. Written by Leo Szilard and signed by Albert Einstein, it warned of the danger that Germany...

Tags: US, Einstein, Szilard, Roosevelt, Atomic Bomb, Manhattan Project, Science, Germany, Nuclear, War

The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact is signed between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, with secret provisions for the division of Eastern Europe – joint occ...

Tags: Germany, Russia, Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Non-Aggression, Secret Protocol, Poland, Invasion, Europe, War, Appeasement

In response to a message from Mussolini that Italy will not honor the Pact of Steel if Germany attacks Poland, Hitler delays the launch of the invasio...

Tags: Germany, Hitler, Invasion, Poland, Italy, Diplomacy, War, Europe, Axis Powers, Delay

Tarnów train station bombing: A German agent named Antoni Guzy leaves a bomb inside two suitcases at the Tarnów train station in Poland that later exp...

Tags: bombing, sabotage, false flag, Poland, pretext for war, German aggression, intelligence operations

Nazi Germany issues an ultimatum to Poland concerning the Polish Corridor and the Free City of Danzig.

Tags: ultimatum, Poland, Danzig, Polish Corridor, diplomacy, pre-war, German demands, territorial dispute

Gleiwitz incident: Germany stages a false flag attack on the German radio station Sender Gleiwitz to manufacture a pretext for war with Poland.

Tags: false flag, propaganda, pretext for war, Poland, German aggression, border incident, intelligence, sabotage, manipulation

In the same day, the Free City of Danzig is annexed by Germany.

Tags: annexation, Danzig, Germany, territorial expansion, Poland, pre-war, Free City, German control

Adolf Hitler cites alleged Polish border attacks that happened during the false flag Operation Himmler as a reason for war during his 1 September 1939...

Tags: Hitler, propaganda, false flag, justification for war, Germany, Poland, Reichstag speech, pretext, war declaration

The Einsatzgruppen initiate the Operation Tannenberg in Poland, which would kill around 20,000 selected Poles in two months.

Tags: mass murder, Einsatzgruppen, Poland, genocide, early war, war crimes, Operation Tannenberg

Without response to its ultimatum, Germany invades Poland, start of World War II (the Soviet Union invades Poland on September 17).

Tags: invasion, Poland, World War II, Germany, start of war, blitzkrieg, Soviet Union, Eastern Front, military conflict

The invasion of Poland by Germany starts at 4:45 a.m. when the Kriegsmarine's battleship Schleswig-Holstein opens fire on the Polish military transit ...

Tags: invasion, Poland, Germany, military, blitzkrieg, Westerplatte, bombing, Danzig, start of war

Resisters entrenched in Danzig's Polish Post Office are overwhelmed.

Tags: Danzig, Poland, military action, resistance, siege, German aggression, military, Free City

Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Norway and Sweden immediately declare their neutrality.

Tags: neutrality, declaration, diplomacy, Scandinavia, Baltic States, early war, non-belligerence

Portugal proclaims that it will remain neutral in the war.

Tags: neutrality, declaration, Portugal, Iberia, early war, diplomacy, non-belligerence

Acting on account of their governments, the ambassadors of France and Britain demand the German government to cease all hostile activities and to with...

Tags: ultimatum, Germany, France, UK, diplomacy, early war, Poland, declaration of war

Wartime blackouts are put in place throughout Britain, Germany and France.

Tags: blackout, early war, defense, UK, France, Germany, civil defense

The Slovak State suspends the country's civil liberties.

Tags: civil liberties, Slovakia, early war, authoritarianism, war effort, internal affairs

The President of the United States Franklin Delano Roosevelt sends an appeal to all European powers involved in the crisis asking them to abstain from...

Tags: diplomacy, US, Roosevelt, early war, neutrality, humanitarian, appeals

The Republic of China and the Empire of Japan are involved in the early stages of the third year of armed conflict between them during the Second Sino...

Tags: China, Japan, Second Sino-Japanese War, military conflict, Asia, war, conflict, regional war, pre-WWII

The Italian government announces that it will maintain a condition of "non-belligerence" in the conflict.

Tags: Italy, non-belligerence, World War II, diplomacy, foreign policy, neutrality, war, European politics

The House of Commons of the United Kingdom passes an emergency military budget.

Tags: military, budget, parliament, UK, early war, defense, finance

The British War Secretary Leslie Hore-Belisha orders the War Office to begin the general mobilization of the British Armed Forces.

Tags: mobilization, military, UK, armed forces, war effort, early war, conscription

In a mass evacuation effort (code named "operation Pied Piper") the British authorities relocate 1,473,000 children and adults from the cities to the...

Tags: evacuation, civilians, UK, operation Pied Piper, home front, early war, social impact

The Swiss government proceeds to a general mobilization of its forces.

Tags: Switzerland, Mobilization, Neutrality, Military, Europe, WWII

The British and French governments agree on issuing an ultimatum to Germany the following day.

Tags: UK, France, Germany, Ultimatum, Diplomacy, Pre-War, WWII

The Irish State's Dáil Éireann approves a state of emergency, paving the way to legislation that vastly enhances the government's powers.

Tags: Ireland, State of Emergency, Government, War Powers, Neutrality, WWII

Right after Britain, the French Parliament also approves an emergency war budget.

Tags: France, War Finance, Budget, Mobilization, Government, WWII

The French Army begins its general mobilization.

Tags: France, Mobilization, Military, War Preparation, WWII

German authorities order U-boats to immediately take action against all British ships, but sparing French ships and in strict observance of prize rule...

Tags: Germany, U-boats, Naval Warfare, Atlantic Ocean, World War II, War Declaration, Submarine Warfare

Within hours of the British declaration of War, SS Athenia, a British cruise ship en route from Glasgow, UK, to Montreal, Canada, is torpedoed by the ...

Tags: Battle of the Atlantic, U-boats, Germany, World War II, Naval Warfare, Atlantic Ocean, War Crime, Submarine Warfare

"Bloody Sunday": accused of having shot at Polish troops, about 1,000 ethnic German civilians are killed in the Polish city of Bydgoszcz.

Tags: Poland, Germany, Massacre, Civilian Casualties, Bydgoszcz, World War II, Eastern Front, War Crime

Ireland's Taoiseach Éamon de Valera declares the nation's neutrality.

Tags: Ireland, Neutrality, World War II, Foreign Policy, Isolationism, Eamon de Valera

Netherlands and Belgium declare their neutrality.

Tags: Netherlands, Belgium, Neutrality, World War II, Western Front, Foreign Policy, Isolationism

The Polish destroyer ORP Wicher and the minelayer ORP Gryf are sunk in the Polish port of Hel by the Luftwaffe, making them the first warships to be s...

Tags: Poland, Naval Warfare, Luftwaffe, World War II, Hel, Warships, Eastern Front

Further answering to Roosevelt's plea the British and French present a joint formal declaration stating that the Allied bombers would attack only mili...

Tags: Allied Powers, Bombing Strategy, War Declaration, Military Targets, Civilian Protection

Poland permits Czech and Slovak refugees to create a Czechoslovak Legion to fight Germany.

Tags: Poland, Czechoslovak Legion, Refugees, Military Formation, Resistance

At 9:00 a.m. the British ambassador to Berlin Nevile Henderson is instructed by the Cabinet to deliver an ultimatum to Germany which expired without a...

Tags: UK, Germany, Ultimatum, Diplomacy, War Declaration, WWII

At 11:15 a.m. British Standard Time (BST) the Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announces to the public that Britain is at war with Germany.

Tags: UK, Germany, War Declaration, Neville Chamberlain, Propaganda, WWII, Global Impact

The National Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939 is approved and enforces full conscription in the British Armed Forces on all able-bodied males between 1...

Tags: UK, Conscription, Military, National Service, War Effort, WWII

In Britain, Chamberlain forms a new war ministry with a smaller and more powerful war cabinet within composed of nine ministers (Chamberlain, Sir Samu...

Tags: UK, War Cabinet, Government, Neville Chamberlain, Winston Churchill, War Effort, WWII

During its first meeting, Britain's war cabinet appoints general Sir Edmund Ironside as head of the Chief of the Imperial General Staff and general Vi...

Tags: UK, Military, Leadership, Chief of Staff, British Expeditionary Force, WWII

The British Viceroy of India Lord Linlithgow also declares war on Germany without consulting Indian nationalists.

Tags: India, British Empire, Colonialism, Nationalism, War Declaration, Political Protest, World War II, South Asia

The Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies declares that the country is at war with Germany due to Britain's choice, and a similar war declaration a...

Tags: Australia, New Zealand, War Declaration, Commonwealth, World War II, Pacific Theater, Allied Powers

Newfoundland declares war on Germany.

Tags: Newfoundland, War Declaration, Canada, World War II, North Atlantic, Allied Powers

In Britain's first military action, the Royal Air Force's Bomber Command sends out 27 planes to bomb the Kriegsmarine, but they turn back before havin...

Tags: RAF, Bomber Command, Air Raids, Propaganda, Early War, Kriegsmarine

At 12:00 p.m. the French Government delivers a similar final ultimatum to Germany which at 5:00 p.m. also expires unanswered, thus bringing France in ...

Tags: France, War Declaration, Germany, Western Front, Allied Powers, World War II, Ultimatum

In Poland the Third German Army from East Prussia links with units from German Western Pomerania, thus covering the Danzig Corridor.

Tags: German Army, Poland, Military Operations, Invasion, Danzig Corridor

After the sinking of the Athenia Hitler forbids any attack on passenger ships.

Tags: U-boats, Naval Warfare, Athenia, War Crimes, Submarine Warfare, Early War

Spain's caudillo Francisco Franco states that he will observe "strict neutrality" in the conflict.

Tags: Spain, Neutrality, Franco, European Conflict, World War II

Lithuania proclaims its neutrality in the conflict.

Tags: Lithuania, Neutrality, European Conflict, Baltic States

Argentina, Brazil and Mexico proclaim their intention to remain neutral in the European war.

Tags: Neutrality, Latin America, South America, World War II, Non-intervention, International Relations

Japan's Prime Minister Nobuyuki Abe sends a formal note to all belligerents and neutrals announcing it would remain neutral and "avoid becoming involv...

Tags: Japan, Neutrality, European Conflict, China Incident, Asia, International Relations

In the first British raid of the war, the Royal Air Force's send 15 Blenheim bombers to launch a bombing raid on the German fleet in the Heligoland Bi...

Tags: RAF, Air Raid, German Fleet, Heligoland Bight, Naval Warfare, Early War

The first advance parties of the British Expeditionary Force arrive in France.

Tags: British Expeditionary Force, France, Western Front, Military Deployment, Allied Powers, Early War

The Imperial State of Iran officially announces its intention to remain neutral in the war.

Tags: Iran, Neutrality, Middle East, World War II, International Relations

The South African Prime Minister Barry Hertzog motion to remain neutral in the war is defeated in the Assembly 80 votes against 67. At this point, Her...

Tags: South Africa, Neutrality, Political Crisis, World War II, Commonwealth

Germany's Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop makes clear that no hostile actions against Romania will be tolerared by the Reich.

Tags: Germany, Romania, Diplomacy, Threat, Eastern Europe, Neutrality

The Kingdom of Yugoslavia states its neutrality.

Tags: Yugoslavia, Neutrality, Balkans, World War II, Diplomacy, Early War

The British freighter SS Bosnia becomes the first merchant ship sunk in the battle of the Atlantic when it gets targeted off the coast of Portugal by ...

Tags: Battle of the Atlantic, U-boats, Naval Warfare, Merchant Ships, SS Bosnia, Submarine Warfare, Atlantic Ocean

The United States publicly declares neutrality.

Tags: United States, Neutrality, Isolationism, Foreign Policy, World War II, Early War

Following the administration's declaration of neutrality, American President Franklin D. Roosevelt orders to put together a Neutrality Patrol which mu...

Tags: United States Navy, Neutrality Patrol, Roosevelt, Atlantic Coast, Caribbean, Naval Deployment, Early War

Following a mutual request by Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela and the United States, Panama sends invitations for a ...

Tags: Panama Conference, Diplomacy, Latin America, United States, International Relations, World War II, Neutrality

The National Registration Act 1939 is passed in Britain permitting to establish a register on the whole population.

Tags: National Registration, Home Front, United Kingdom, Population Control, Legislation, War Effort

Britain terminates its diplomatic recognition of Slovakia.

Tags: UK, Slovakia, Diplomacy, Eastern Europe, War declaration, Recognition

Duncan calls on the politician Jan Smuts to attempt to form a Cabinet and replace Hertzog as Prime Minister of South Africa, which he successfully doe...

Tags: South Africa, Prime Minister, Jan Smuts, Political Change, World War II, Africa, Leadership

The Kingdom of Iraq cuts its diplomatic relations with Germany.

Tags: Iraq, Diplomacy, Germany, Middle East, Allies, Neutrality

In southern Poland The 14th German army takes Kraków virtually unopposed.

Tags: Germany, Poland, Kraków, Invasion, Eastern Europe, Blitzkrieg

The Crown Council of Romania votes in favour of the country's neutrality in the war.

Tags: Romania, Neutrality, Diplomacy, Europe, War, Eastern Europe

In the so-called battle of Barking Creek, a friendly fire incident, due to the misidentification as hostile of an incoming team of eleven Hurricanes, ...

Tags: UK, Air Force, Friendly Fire, Barking Creek, Casualties, Early War

As a protection against U-boats, the Admiralty orders the adoption of the convoy system.

Tags: UK, Navy, Convoy, Atlantic, U-boats, Warfare, Logistics

The British fleet starts the naval blockade on shipping directed to Germany by the implementation of the Northern Patrol.

Tags: UK, Navy, Blockade, Germany, Northern Patrol, Warfare, Trade

South Africa, now under Prime Minister Jan Smuts, declares war on Germany.

Tags: South Africa, Germany, War declaration, Africa, Allies, Commonwealth

The Kingdom of Egypt cuts its diplomatic ties with Germany.

Tags: Egypt, Germany, Diplomacy, Middle East, Allies, Neutrality

France's commander in chief general Maurice Gamelin begins a limited offensive into the German Saarland territory involving ten divisions.

Tags: Western Front, Saarland, France, Military Offensive, Early War, 1939

The Germans begin what will be the systematic mining of the British waters by the mining of Portland Harbour.

Tags: Germany, Naval Warfare, Submarine Warfare, Mining, British Waters, Portland Harbour, 1939

Roosevelt proclaims "a limited national emergency", increasing military spending and expanding the size of the United States Armed Forces.

Tags: US, Neutrality, Military Buildup, National Emergency, Roosevelt, Armed Forces, 1939

Britain establishes the Ministry of Food to monitor the supply and distribution of food.

Tags: UK, Food Rationing, Home Front, Ministry, Logistics, War Economy, 1939

Britain formally announces that Slovakia is to be considered a territory under German occupation.

Tags: UK, Slovakia, Occupation, Germany, Diplomacy, Recognition, 1939

Warsaw is hit for the first time by bombing raids. In just that single day twelve raids target the city.

Tags: Poland, Warsaw, Bombing, Air Raids, Blitzkrieg, Germany, 1939, Eastern Front

After passing both Houses of the Canadian parliament by unanimous consent Canada's Prime Minister W. L. Mackenzie King declares war on Germany.

Tags: Canada, Declaration of War, Germany, Commonwealth, Allies, War, 1939

The first submarine is sunk in the conflict when the British submarine HMS Triton sinks the British submarine HMS Oxley mistaking her for a U-Boat, le...

Tags: UK, Royal Navy, Submarine, Accident, Friendly Fire, Naval Warfare, 1939

The Prime Minister of Turkey Refik Saydam informs the Parliament that Turkey will remain neutral for the time being.

Tags: Neutrality, Turkey, Diplomacy, Politics, World War II, Balkans

The Viceroy of India Lord Linlithgow announces to the two houses of the Indian Legislature (the Council of State and the Legislative Assembly) that th...

Tags: India, British Empire, Federation, Colonialism, Viceroy, Legislature, 1939

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia cuts its diplomatic relations with Germany.

Tags: Saudi Arabia, Germany, Diplomacy, Middle East, Neutrality, 1939

General Gamelin orders to halt to the French Saar Offensive into Germany after having taken only a handful of villages.

Tags: France, Saar Offensive, Military, Western Front, Germany, Strategy, World War II

Ribbentrop demands from the Romanian government to immediately interrupt the free passage of war supplies to Poland.

Tags: Germany, Romania, Diplomacy, Eastern Europe, Poland, Supply Lines, World War II

The Polish submarine ORP Orzeł enters for repairs Tallinn harbour in neutral Estonia.

Tags: Poland, Estonia, Submarine, Navy, Neutrality, Baltic Sea, World War II

The French Navy suffers its first casualties in Casablanca, Morocco, when the minelaying cruiser Pluton explodes due to an accident killing 215 people...

Tags: France, Morocco, Naval, Accident, Casualties, World War II, North Africa

The Romanian cabinet under intense German pressure decides that the Polish military and civilian leaderships would be interned if they were to evacuat...

Tags: Romania, Poland, Politics, Internment, Refugees, Diplomacy, World War II, Eastern Europe

Romanian authorities drastically limit the passage through the country of war materials to be sent to Poland.

Tags: Romania, Poland, Supply Lines, Military, Restrictions, Diplomacy, World War II, Eastern Europe

The Japanese Eleventh Army moving from Yueyang and supported by divisions from Jiangxi begins a major offensive to take the Chinese city of Changsha.

Tags: Japan, China, Changsha, Military, Offensive, Asia, World War II, Sino-Japanese War

British Destroyers escorting the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal sink the U-39 after the U-boat's attack against the carrier failed. It was the first s...

Tags: UK, Germany, Navy, U-Boat, Atlantic, Warfare, World War II, Submarine Warfare

The Kingdom of Bulgaria formally announces its neutrality.

Tags: Bulgaria, Neutrality, Balkans, Politics, World War II, Diplomacy

The Estonian authorities intern the Polish submarine ORP Orzeł.

Tags: Poland, Estonia, Navy, Submarine, Neutrality, Baltic Sea

The German Army complete the encirclement of Warsaw.

Tags: Germany, Poland, Warsaw, Siege, Military, Eastern Front, Invasion

The Soviet Union recognizes de jure the Slovak State.

Tags: Soviet Union, Slovakia, Diplomacy, Recognition, Eastern Europe, Axis Powers

Romanian Prime Minister Armand Călinescu offers to the Germans a deal where in exchange for providing Romanians with captured Polish weapons, they wou...

Tags: Romania, Germany, Oil, Wheat, Weapons, Collaboration, Economy, Eastern Front

The first eastbound transatlantic convoy sets sail from Halifax, Canada, towards Liverpool, UK. 357 such HX convoys will follow.

Tags: UK, Canada, Atlantic, Convoy, Shipping, War Effort, Logistics

The Soviet Union invades Poland from the east, occupying the territory east of the Curzon line as well as Białystok and Eastern Galicia.

Tags: Soviet Union, Poland, Invasion, Eastern Front, Curzon Line, Occupation, Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact

The British aircraft carrier HMS Courageous is torpedoed and sunk by U-29 on patrol off the coast of Ireland, causing the death of 514 aboard; it repr...

Tags: UK, Navy, U-boat, Atlantic, Aircraft Carrier, War at Sea, Casualties

The Polish government and the High Command leave Poland for Romania where they are immediately interned, including the President Ignacy Mościcki and t...

Tags: Poland, Romania, Government in Exile, Internment, Politics, Refugees

The Polish submarine ORP Orzeł escapes from internment and leaves the Tallinn bay.

Tags: Poland, Estonia, Navy, Submarine, Escape, Baltic Sea, War at Sea

The Soviet news agency TASS accuses the Estonian government of having deliberately permitted the Orzeł of escaping internment and also alleges the exi...

Tags: Soviet Union, Estonia, Baltic States, Submarine, Orzeł, TASS, Propaganda, Espionage

Russian forces reach Vilnius and Brest-Litovsk.

Tags: Soviet Union, Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, Occupation, Eastern Front, Military

The French Army completes its sixteen-day long mobilization.

Tags: France, Military, Mobilization, Army, World War II, War Preparation, Logistics

The German and Soviet armies link up near Brest Litovsk.

Tags: Germany, Soviet Union, Eastern Front, Invasion of Poland, Collaboration, Brest Litovsk, Occupation, War

The People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the USSR Vyacheslav Molotov informs the Estonian Minister in Moscow August Rei that the Soviet Fleet wil...

Tags: Soviet Union, Estonia, Baltic Sea, Submarine, Orzeł, Military Threat, Foreign Policy, Espionage, Tension

The Soviet Air Forces violate Estonia's airspace.

Tags: Soviet Union, Estonia, Airspace Violation, Military Action, Baltic States, Tension, Aggression

Romanian Prime Minister Armand Călinescu is assassinated by members of the Iron Guard, a revolutionary Fascist group.

Tags: Romania, Assassination, Iron Guard, Fascism, Political Violence, Internal Conflict, World War II, Regime Change

The Estonian Foreign Minister Karl Selter is invited to Moscow to sign a previously discussed Soviet-Estonian trade agreement.

Tags: Estonia, Soviet Union, Trade Agreement, Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, Moscow, Baltic States, Negotiation

The Estonian government decides to send Karl Selter to Moscow following the Soviet request.

Tags: Estonia, Soviet Union, Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, Moscow, Baltic States, Negotiation, Submission

The Führer der Unterseeboote Karl Dönitz greatly relaxes prize rules ordering the sinking without warning of merchant ships that send signals by radio...

Tags: Germany, U-boats, Submarine Warfare, Karl Dönitz, Atlantic, War at Sea, Merchant Ships, World War II, Unrestricted Warfare

The 6th and 13th Divisions of the Imperial Japanese Army drive the Chinese National Revolutionary Army out of the Xiangjiang River area during the Bat...

Tags: Japan, China, Battle of Changsha, Military, War, Xiangjiang River, Asia, Second Sino-Japanese War

In Moscow Molotov asks from the Estonian delegation a mutual assistance pact which would give the Soviets naval and air bases. If the Soviet Union doe...

Tags: Soviet Union, Estonia, Baltic States, Molotov, Mutual Assistance Pact, Threat of Force, Diplomacy, Annexation, Eastern Europe

At the opening in Panama City of the Pan-American conference of ministers of foreign affairs the U.S. Under Secretary of State Sumner Welles asks for ...

Tags: United States, Pan-American Conference, Neutrality, Americas, Sumner Welles, Patrol Zone, World War II, Diplomacy, Latin America

Soviet air activity in Estonia. Soviet troops along the Estonian border include 600 tanks, 600 aircraft and 160 000 men.

Tags: Soviet Union, Estonia, Military Buildup, Tanks, Aircraft, Border, Aggression, Baltic States, Eastern Europe, Invasion

Following a massive artillery bombardment, the Germans launch a major infantry assault on the centre of Warsaw.

Tags: Germany, Poland, Warsaw, Siege, Artillery, Infantry, Eastern Front, Blitzkrieg, World War II, Invasion

Hitler orders the pocket battleships Deutschland and Admiral Graf Spee to go on a long-range rampage in the Atlantic against allied shipping, the form...

Tags: Germany, Atlantic Ocean, Pocket Battleships, Admiral Graf Spee, Deutschland, Shipping, Naval Warfare, U-boats, World War II, Warfare

Russian bombers seen in the Tallinn sky.

Tags: Soviet Union, Estonia, Air Activity, Bombing, Baltic States, World War II, Aggression, Eastern Europe, Military

The Japanese army successfully crosses the Dongting Lake, thus cutting by more than half the distance from the army's target, the Chinese city of Chan...

Tags: Japan, China, Dongting Lake, Changsha, Military Campaign, Asia, Sino-Japanese War, World War II, Military Strategy, Invasion

The Luftwaffe attacks the Home Fleet between Scotland and the Skaggerak with limited success; on the occasion a Dornier Do 18 is shot down by a Fleet ...

Tags: United Kingdom, Germany, Air Combat, Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, Blackburn Skua, Luftwaffe, World War II, Skaggerak, First Victory

In the first military operations by the German Army in Western Europe, guns on the Siegfried Line open up on villages behind French Maginot line.

Tags: Germany, France, Siegfried Line, Maginot Line, Western Front, Artillery, World War II, Military Operations, Border, Warfare

German–Soviet Frontier Treaty is signed by Molotov and Ribbentrop. The secret protocol specifies the details of partition of Poland originally defined...

Tags: Germany, Soviet Union, Treaty, Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Poland, Lithuania, Partition, Secret Protocol, World War II, Eastern Europe

The remaining Polish army and militia in the centre of Warsaw capitulate to the Germans.

Tags: Poland, Warsaw, Capitulation, German invasion, Eastern Front, Military, Surrender

A new government is formed in Romania under the leadership of Prime Minister Constantin Argetoianu.

Tags: Romania, Government, Politics, World War II, Eastern Europe, Argetoianu, Prime Minister

Soviet troops mass by the Latvian border. Latvian air space violated.

Tags: Soviet Union, Latvia, Baltic States, Military build-up, Border tensions, Airspace violation, Pre-invasion, Diplomacy

Estonia signs a 10-year Mutual Assistance Pact with the Soviet Union, which allows the Soviets to have 30 000-men military bases in Estonia. As a gift...

Tags: Estonia, Soviet Union, Mutual Assistance Pact, Military bases, Baltic States, Occupation, Diplomacy, Annexation, Eastern Front

Captain Langsdorff's Admiral Graf Spee sinks its first merchant ship, the British freighter SS Clement while off the coast of Brazil.

Tags: Admiral Graf Spee, Merchant Marine, Battle of the River Plate, U-boats, Atlantic, War at sea, Naval warfare, Brazil, UK

The Chinese National Revolutionary Army at Changsha begins a counteroffensive that targets the Japanese army's overextended lines of communication.

Tags: China, Japan, Changsha, Military, Counteroffensive, Chinese National Revolutionary Army, Second Sino-Japanese War, Asia, Eastern Front

Latvian representatives negotiate with Stalin and Molotov. Soviets threaten an occupation by force if they do not get military bases in Latvia.

Tags: Latvia, Soviet Union, Occupation, Military bases, Baltic States, Molotov, Stalin, Eastern Front, Annexation, Diplomacy

The last Polish garrison stationed in Hel capitulates, ending the Battle of Hel.

Tags: Poland, Hel, Capitulation, Battle of Hel, German invasion, Eastern Front, Military, Surrender

The Declaration of Panama is approved by the American republics. Belligerent activities should not take place within waters adjacent to the American c...

Tags: United States, Panama, Neutrality, Americas, US Navy, War at Sea, Atlantic, Diplomacy

In the name of a yet to be put in place Czechoslovak provisional government Štefan Osuský, signs a deal with the French government for the creation of...

Tags: Czechoslovakia, France, Army, Military, Exile, Government in exile, War effort, Eastern Front

British forces move to take over part of the frontier defenses manned by French troops.

Tags: France, UK, Military Cooperation, Western Front, Border Control, Phony War

Lithuanians meet Stalin and Molotov in Moscow. Stalin offers Lithuania the city of Vilnius (in Poland) in return for allowing Soviet military bases in...

Tags: Soviet Union, Lithuania, Baltic States, Molotov, Stalin, Military Bases, Annexation, Eastern Europe

The French forces retreat from the Saarland in Germany, and return behind the Maginot Line.

Tags: France, Germany, Maginot Line, Saarland, Defensive Strategy, Phony War, Western Front

Latvia signs a 10-year Mutual Assistance Pact with the Soviet Union, which allows the Soviets to have 25,000 men in military bases in Latvia. Stalin p...

Tags: Soviet Union, Latvia, Baltic States, Mutual Assistance Pact, Military Bases, Annexation, Eastern Europe, Diplomacy

Reacting to the news that German surface raiders are targeting commercial shipping, the British First Sea Lord Sir Dudley Pound orders the creation of...

Tags: UK, France, Atlantic Ocean, German Navy, Surface Raiders, Naval Warfare, Convoys, Merchant Shipping

Polish resistance in the Polish September Campaign comes to an end. Hitler speaks before the Reichstag, declaring a desire for a conference with Brita...

Tags: Poland, Germany, Polish Campaign, Surrender, Hitler, Peace Proposals, Western Front

in a major victory the Chinese army inflicts heavy losses to the Japanese at Changsha forcing them to retreat to Yueyang.

Tags: China, Japan, Changsha, Chinese Army, Second Sino-Japanese War, Military Victory, Asia

Germany issues orders (Case Yellow) to prepare for the invasion of Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.

Tags: Germany, Invasion Plans, Belgium, France, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Western Front, Case Yellow, Military Planning

The German cruiser Deutschland seizes the American freighter SS City of Flint and its crew, accusing them of contraband. Led by a prize crew the ship ...

Tags: Germany, US, Diplomatic Incident, Deutschland, City of Flint, Contraband, Neutrality, Naval Warfare

The last of Poland's military surrenders to the Germans.

Tags: Poland, Germany, Polish Campaign, Surrender, Military Defeat, Eastern Front

The leaders of the German navy suggest to Hitler they need to occupy Norway.

Tags: Germany, Navy, Norway, Invasion, Strategy, War Planning, Scandinavia

Lithuania signs a 15-year Mutual Assistance Pact with the Soviet Union, which allows the Soviets to have 20,000 men in military bases in Lithuania. In...

Tags: Russia, Lithuania, Soviet Union, Baltic States, Treaty, Military Bases, Annexation, Secret Protocol

British Prime Minister Chamberlain formally declines Hitler's peace offer in a speech held in the House of Commons.

Tags: UK, Chamberlain, Politics, Peace Offer, War Aims, Diplomacy, Rejection

King Carol II of Romania unsuccessfully asks from Germany to permit former Polish president Ignacy Mościcki to leave Romania for Switzerland.

Tags: Romania, Poland, Germany, Refugees, Diplomacy, Politics, Refusal, Exile

An estimated 158,000 British troops are now in France.

Tags: UK, France, Military, Deployment, Western Front, Troop Numbers, War Effort

Finland's representatives meet Stalin and Molotov in Moscow. Soviet Union demands Finland give up a military base near Helsinki and exchange some Sov...

Tags: Russia, Finland, Soviet Union, Territorial Disputes, Negotiations, Winter War, Military, Leningrad

French Premier Édouard Daladier declines Hitler's offer of peace.

Tags: France, Daladier, Politics, Peace Offer, War Aims, Diplomacy, Rejection, Germany

In the midst of the night the U-47 under the command of Günther Prien infiltrates Scapa Flow and sinks the British battleship HMS Royal Oak, killing 8...

Tags: Germany, U-boat, Scapa Flow, Naval Warfare, Battleship, Military Attack, Royal Navy, Prien, Submarine

Finns meet Stalin again. Stalin tells them that "an accident" might happen between Finnish and Soviet troops, if the negotiations last too long.

Tags: Russia, Finland, Soviet Union, Threat, Negotiations, Diplomacy, Winter War, Stalin

The submarine ORP Orzeł completes its voyage reaching the east coast of Scotland.

Tags: UK, Poland, Navy, Submarine, Refugee, Military, Naval, War at Sea

The Luftwaffe made its first air raid on Britain when it sent a dozen Junkers Ju 88 after ships off Rosyth, in particular the battlecruiser HMS Hood. ...

Tags: Luftwaffe, air raid, Britain, HMS Hood, naval warfare, early war, strategic bombing

A Czechoslovak National Committee is put in place in Paris by Edvard Beneš with the goal of creating an internationally recognized government.

Tags: Czechoslovakia, government in exile, Edvard Beneš, Paris, political organization, World War II, resistance

The Luftwaffe launches a new raid on Britain, this time targeting the British fleet anchored at Scapa Flow, again with limited success, with only the ...

Tags: Luftwaffe, Scapa Flow, naval attack, decommissioned ship, early war, air raid, Royal Navy

Portions of Poland are formally inducted into Germany; the first Jewish ghetto is established at Lublin.

Tags: Poland, annexation, Lublin, ghetto, Jewish persecution, Holocaust, German occupation, World War II

Pope Pius XII's first encyclical condemns racism and dictatorships.

Tags: Pope Pius XII, encyclical, racism, dictatorships, Catholic Church, moral condemnation, World War II, ideology

Germany's minister to Romania Wilhelm Fabricius unsuccessfully attempts to coax Romania in renouncing to the guarantee given in March by Britain to su...

Tags: Romania, Germany, diplomacy, political pressure, Axis powers, World War II, neutrality

The "Phoney War": French troops settle in the Maginot line's dormitories and tunnels; the British build new fortifications along the "gap" between the...

Tags: Phoney War, Maginot Line, fortifications, French Army, British Army, military strategy, early war

The German prize crew anchors the SS City of Flint in Tromsø, Norway, but are immediately ordered to limit their stay to less than twenty-four hours.

Tags: SS City of Flint, Norway, German prize crew, merchant ship, naval law, World War II, neutral waters

Registration begins in the United Kingdom in order to conscript all able-bodied males between 18 and 23.

Tags: United Kingdom, conscription, military service, World War II, Home Front, mobilization, British Army

The seized freighter City of Flint reaches Murmansk in the Soviet Union. Here the prize crew is forced to leave the ship, but the latter is not given ...

Tags: SS City of Flint, Soviet Union, Murmansk, merchant ship, prize crew, World War II, neutral waters, supply lines

Germany annexes the former Polish regions of Upper Silesia, West Prussia, Pomerania, Poznan, Ciechanow (Zichenau), part of Łódź, and the Free City of ...

Tags: Poland, Annexation, Occupation, Territorial Expansion, Administrative Changes, World War II, Eastern Front, Generalgouvernement, Warthegau

The Prime Minister of the Slovak State Jozef Tiso is elected President by the Parliament.

Tags: Slovakia, Politics, President, Puppet State, World War II, Eastern Europe, Jozef Tiso, Parliament, Axis powers

Belgium announces its neutrality in the present conflict.

Tags: Belgium, Neutrality, World War II, Western Front, Conflict, War, International Relations

Jozef Tiso appoints Vojtech Tuka Prime Minister of Slovakia.

Tags: Slovakia, Politics, Prime Minister, Government, World War II, Eastern Europe, Vojtech Tuka, Jozef Tiso, Axis powers

The City of Flint is permitted to leave under the control of its prize crew despite the angry protests of the Roosevelt administration.

Tags: US, Germany, Warship, Controversy, International Law, World War II, Diplomacy, Roosevelt Administration, Neutrality

Hitler, worried on one side by the protests received by the American and Norwegian governments, and on the other by the danger of losing a warship wit...

Tags: Germany, Warship, Deutschland, Propaganda, World War II, Naval Warfare, International Relations, Hitler, Naval Strategy

The anniversary of the birth of the First Czechoslovak Republic is signed throughout the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia by a large number anti-Na...

Tags: Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, Protest, Anti-Nazi, World War II, Resistance, Civil Unrest, Jan Opletal, Germany, Occupation

The British government releases a report on concentration camps being built in Europe for Jews and anti-Nazis.

Tags: UK, Concentration Camps, Report, Propaganda, World War II, Holocaust, Human Rights, Nazi Germany, Information

As Germany plans for an attack on France, German Lieutenant-General Erich von Manstein proposes that Germany should attack through the Ardennes rather...

Tags: Germany, Military Strategy, Ardennes Offensive, World War II, Western Front, Erich von Manstein, France, Blitzkrieg, Invasion

Soviet Union annexes the eastern parts of occupied Poland into the Ukrainian SSR and Byelorussian SSR.

Tags: Soviet Union, Annexation, Poland, World War II, Eastern Europe, Occupation, Territorial Expansion, Ukrainian SSR, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Invasion of Poland

The seized City of Flint anchors at Haugesund, Norway, claiming medical reasons.

Tags: Germany, Norway, Haugesund, Maritime Law, Neutrality, International Incident, Seizure

Finland and Soviet Union again negotiate new borders. Finns mistrust Stalin's aims and refuse to give up territory breaking their defensive line.

Tags: Finland, Soviet Union, Border Disputes, Winter War, Territorial Claims, Diplomacy, Resistance

The German University in Prague loses its autonomy and becomes a Reichsuniversität.

Tags: Germany, Prague, Education, Nazi Occupation, Reichsuniversität, Suppression, Universities, Czech Republic

The anchorage in Haugesund is judged a violation of international law by Norwegian authorities that during the night board the ship freeing the ship a...

Tags: Norway, Germany, Haugesund, International Law, Neutrality, Maritime, Intervention

Roosevelt signs into law the amendments to the Neutrality Act: belligerents may buy arms from the United States, but on a strictly cash and carry basi...

Tags: United States, Neutrality, Lend-Lease, Arms Trade, War Materials, Isolationism, Economic Policy, World War II

Hans Mayer sends an anonymous letter to the British Naval attaché in Oslo, Captain Hector Boyer, asking if the British wants information from Germany ...

Tags: Germany, UK, Espionage, Intelligence, Code Breaking, Signals Intelligence, Oslo, World War II

Hans Mayer sends anonymously his report to the British Embassy in Norway; from there it was sent for evaluation to Whitehall, where it attracted the a...

Tags: UK, Intelligence, Germany, Espionage, Weapons, Information Warfare, Whitehall, World War II

Sonderaktion Krakau: In Krakow, Nazis detain and deport university professors to concentration camps.

Tags: Germany, Poland, Krakow, Sonderaktion Krakau, Nazi Persecution, Intellectuals, Concentration Camps, Occupation

Hitler escapes a bomb blast in a Munich beerhall, where he was speaking on the anniversary of the Beer Hall Putsch of 1923. British bombers coincident...

Tags: Germany, Munich, Bombing, Hitler, Assassination Attempt, Beer Hall Putsch, Allied Bombing, World War II

In the Venlo incident, British Secret Intelligence Service officers Sigismund Payne Best and Richard Henry Stevens fall victims to a false flag operat...

Tags: espionage, false flag, intelligence, Netherlands, Germany, abduction, secret service, political intrigue, pre-war tensions

At an Anglo-French meeting held in Varennes general Gamelin obtains the approval of the Dyle plan, a strategy meant to keep the war out of France if H...

Tags: France, Belgium, Military Strategy, Dyle Plan, Invasion, Defense, Gamelin, World War II

The Czech student Jan Opletal dies as a result of wounds inflicted by German authorities, causing vast anger and resentment among Czechs.

Tags: Czechoslovakia, protest, student, German occupation, resistance, death, Prague, political unrest, civilian casualties

The Deutschland arrives home at Gotenhafen, after having only sunk two ships and caught one.

Tags: Germany, warship, merchant raider, Atlantic, naval warfare, Kriegsmarine, commerce raiding, Gotenhafen, limited success

Negotiations between Finland and Soviet Union break down. Finns suspect that Germans and Russians have agreed to include Finland in the Soviet sphere ...

Tags: Finland, Soviet Union, negotiations, pre-war, spheres of influence, Germany, diplomacy, political tensions, Winter War

The first British destroyer lost in the war is HMS Blanche, sunk by a minefield laid by an U-boat close to the Thames Estuary.

Tags: naval warfare, UK, destroyer, U-boat, mine, Atlantic, war loss, Thames Estuary, first loss

The Polish government-in-exile moves to London.

Tags: Poland, UK, government-in-exile, London, political refugees, World War II, war effort, alliance, exile

Jan Opletal's funeral sparks new demonstrations in Prague against the police.

Tags: Czechoslovakia, protest, Prague, German occupation, student, civil unrest, demonstration, resistance, funeral

The Commander-in-Chief of the German Navy Grossadmiral Erich Raeder orders his U-boats to sink without warning all Allied merchant ships.

Tags: Germany, U-boat, naval warfare, Atlantic, merchant ships, unrestricted warfare, Kriegsmarine, Raeder, war crime

Angered by the recent protests in Prague, Hitler summons to Berlin the Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia Konstantin von Neurath and his Higher SS...

Tags: Germany, Prague, Hitler, threat, Bohemia and Moravia, repression, SS, political violence, intimidation

The Gestapo raids the Czech student buildings in Prague and arrests 1,900 students. Nine are shot (including historian Josef Matoušek) while 1,000 wer...

Tags: Czechoslovakia, Prague, Gestapo, student protests, repression, concentration camp, Nazi Germany, WWII

Hitler orders to close all Czech universities and colleges for three years and to hand the buildings to the German authorities.

Tags: Czechoslovakia, education, Nazi Germany, occupation, universities, Prague, WWII, repression

The Irish Republican Army is blamed for bombs set off in London.

Tags: UK, Ireland, IRA, bombing, London, terrorism, political violence, propaganda, internal security

The Czechoslovak National Committee is recognized by the French government but only as “representative of Czechoslovaks abroad”.

Tags: diplomacy, government in exile, Czechoslovakia, France, political recognition, WWII

The Luftwaffe and German U-boats start mining the Thames estuary.

Tags: UK, naval warfare, mines, Thames Estuary, Luftwaffe, U-boats, blockade, WWII

The German battleships Gneisenau and the Scharnhorst are sent out to relieve pressure on the Admiral Graf Spee by bringing havoc on the shipping route...

Tags: Germany, navy, battleships, naval warfare, Atlantic, shipping, Gneisenau, Scharnhorst, WWII

The new German strategy of planting magnetic mines in the British seas obtains its first major success when a mine planted by the U-52 in the Firth of...

Tags: UK, navy, naval warfare, mines, Firth of Forth, HMS Belfast, magnetic mines, WWII

The Luftwaffe drops in the mud an intact magnetic mine off Shoeburyness at the mouth of the Thames Estuary. Once salvaged, Admiralty scientists invent...

Tags: UK, technology, naval warfare, mines, magnetic mines, degaussing, Thames Estuary, WWII, science

In opposition to the Chechoslovak National Committee, Milan Hodža founds in Paris the Slovak National Council with him as Chairman and Peter Prídavok ...

Tags: Slovakia, government in exile, political organizations, Paris, WWII, diplomacy

The German battleships Gneisenau and the Scharnhorst sink the British armed merchant cruiser HMS Rawalpindi between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Abo...

Tags: Germany, navy, battleships, naval warfare, HMS Rawalpindi, Iceland, Faroe Islands, WWII

Polish Jews are ordered to wear Star of David armbands.

Tags: Poland, Jewish people, discrimination, Nazi Germany, Holocaust, antisemitism, WWII, occupation

Japan announces the capture of Nanning in southern China.

Tags: Japan, China, Nanning, Occupation, East Asia, Pacific Theater, Expansionism, Military

Germany and Slovakia sign a border treaty which assigns to the latter the Polish parts of Orava and Spiš together with the territories taken by Poland...

Tags: Germany, Slovakia, Border Treaty, Territorial Changes, Eastern Europe, Collaboration, Poland, Alliances

The Soviets stage the shelling of Mainila, Soviet artillery shells a field near the Finnish border, accusing Finns of killing Soviet troops.

Tags: USSR, Finland, Winter War, Provocation, Border Dispute, Diplomacy, Military, False Flag

The USSR breaks off diplomatic relations with Finland.

Tags: USSR, Finland, Diplomacy, Winter War, Tensions, Eastern Europe, Conflict, International Relations

The Soviet Union attacks Finland in what would become known as the Winter War.

Tags: USSR, Finland, Winter War, Invasion, Military, Eastern Europe, War, Conflict, Military Campaign, World War II

Russia continues its war against Finland; Helsinki is bombed. In the first two weeks of the month, the Finns retreat to the Mannerheim line, an outmod...

Tags: Finland, USSR, Winter War, Bombing, Military, Mannerheim Line, Defense, Eastern Europe, War

The Red Army takes Petsamo.

Tags: USSR, Finland, Winter War, Military, Petsamo, Territorial Gains, Arctic, Eastern Europe

The British battleship HMS Nelson is incapacitated for six months by yet another magnetic mine left this time by the U-52 off Loch Ewe.

Tags: UK, Royal Navy, Naval Warfare, Magnetic Mine, Loch Ewe, War, Atlantic, Military, Damage

The Russian invaders begin heavy attacks on the Mannerheim line. The Battles of Kollaa and Suomussalmi begin.

Tags: USSR, Finland, Winter War, Mannerheim Line, Battles, Military, Eastern Europe, War, Kollaa, Suomussalmi

Italy, Norway and Denmark again declare their neutrality in the Russo-Finnish war. Sweden proclaims "non-belligerency", by which it could extend milit...

Tags: Neutrality, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Winter War, Diplomacy, International Relations, Europe, War

The Russians are met with several tactical defeats inflicted upon them by the Finnish Army.

Tags: Winter War, Finland, Soviet Union, Military Defeat, Eastern Front, Tactical Victory

The escorting destroyer HMS Duchess sinks after a collision with the battleship HMS Barham off the Mull of Kintyre in the North Channel with the loss ...

Tags: Royal Navy, Ship Sinking, Naval Disaster, North Atlantic, Maritime, Collision

The battle of the River Plate off Montevideo, Uruguay. The Royal Navy's hunting group F, composed of three cruisers (Exeter, Ajax and Achilles), attac...

Tags: Royal Navy, Kriegsmarine, Naval Battle, South Atlantic, Uruguay, Admiral Graf Spee, Battle of the River Plate

The Admiral Graf Spee, badly damaged, anchors in the port of Montevideo, Uruguay, appealing to international law.

Tags: Kriegsmarine, Admiral Graf Spee, Uruguay, International Law, Naval Battle, South America

The USSR is expelled from the League of Nations in response to the Soviet invasion of Finland on November 30.

Tags: Soviet Union, League of Nations, Diplomacy, Winter War, International Relations, Sanctions

Soviet Army assaults Taipale, Finland during the Battle of Taipale.

Tags: Winter War, Finland, Soviet Union, Battle of Taipale, Eastern Front, Military Action

The Admiral Graf Spee is forced by Uruguay to leave Montevideo harbor; given freedom of choice by Berlin, the ship's Kapitän zur See, Hans Langsdorff,...

Tags: Kriegsmarine, Admiral Graf Spee, Scuttling, Uruguay, Naval Defeat, South America, Hans Langsdorff

Germany defeats Britain in the Battle of the Heligoland Bight.

Tags: Kriegsmarine, Royal Navy, Naval Battle, North Sea, Heligoland Bight, Air Warfare

The first Canadian troops arrive in Europe.

Tags: Canada, Military Deployment, Western Front, Europe, Allied Forces, War Effort

Captain Hans Langsdorff commits suicide in Argentina.

Tags: Admiral Graf Spee, Hans Langsdorff, Suicide, Argentina, Military Officer, Naval History

The Czechoslovak National Committee is recognized in a limited form by the British government.

Tags: Czechoslovakia, UK, Exile, Government in exile, Allies, Politics

Ignoring German objections, Romanian King Carol II permits former Polish President Ignacy Mościcki to leave with his family Romania for Switzerland.

Tags: Poland, Romania, Refugees, Neutrality, Diplomacy, Evacuation

The first Indian troops arrive in France.

Tags: India, France, Troops, Colonial Troops, Military, Western Front

The British Minister of Food W.S. Morrison announced that starting January 8, rationing would be expanded to include butter, bacon, ham and sugar.

Tags: UK, Rationing, Food, Home Front, Economy, War Effort

While patrolling the Butt of Lewis the British battleship HMS Barham is damaged by the German U-30 and put out of service for four months.

Tags: UK, Navy, U-boats, Atlantic, War at Sea, Military

German Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels makes a radio address reviewing the official Nazi version of the events of 1939. No predictions were made f...

Tags: Germany, Propaganda, Goebbels, Nazi, Public Address, Political

10,000 Japanese troops launch a counter-attack in eastern Shanxi Province in China in an attempt to relieve the nearly-surrounded Japanese 36th Divisi...

Tags: Japan, China, Military, Shanxi, Counter-offensive, Second Sino-Japanese War

The Soviet offensive in Finland is halted by several Finnish victories; numerous Soviet tanks are destroyed.

Tags: Russia, Finland, Winter War, Military, Offensive, Soviet Union

A major Finnish victory at Suomussalmi is reported; one whole Soviet division is eliminated, and again numbers of military vehicles are captured.

Tags: Finland, Russia, Winter War, Military, Victory, Soviet Union

General Semyon Timoshenko takes command of Soviet Army forces in Finland.

Tags: Soviet Union, Finland, Winter War, Military Leadership, Eastern Front

Rationing of basic foodstuffs is established in the UK.

Tags: UK, Rationing, Food, Economy, Home Front, War Effort

Mechelen incident: a German plane, carrying plans for Fall Gelb, crashes in neutral Belgium.

Tags: Germany, Belgium, Fall Gelb, Invasion Plans, Espionage, Military Intelligence

Captured documents reveal Hitler's plans for the invasion of Scandinavia and a postponement of the invasion of France and the Low Countries until the ...

Tags: Germany, Invasion, Scandinavia, France, Low Countries, Military Strategy, Postponement

The Soviets are driven back in Finland and retaliate with heavy air attacks.

Tags: Soviet Union, Finland, Winter War, Air Warfare, Retaliation, Eastern Front

German submarine U-44 torpedoes and sinks Greek steamer Ekatontarchos Dracoulis off Portugal at 04:15, killing 6. U-44 had been hunting for Ekatontarc...

Tags: Germany, U-boat, Atlantic, Naval Warfare, Shipping, Portugal, Ekatontarchos Dracoulis

A U-boat sinks British destroyer HMS Exmouth and its crew of 135 are all lost.

Tags: UK, U-boat, Naval Warfare, Atlantic, Loss of Life, Royal Navy, Exmouth

Reinhard Heydrich is appointed by Göring for the solution to the "Jewish Question".

Tags: Germany, Heydrich, The Holocaust, Anti-Semitism, Nazi Germany, Göring, Final Solution

Germany makes final plans for the invasion of Denmark and Norway.

Tags: Germany, Denmark, Norway, Invasion, Scandinavia, Military Planning, Operation Weserübung

The Japanese Diet announces a record high budget with over half its expenditures being military.

Tags: Japan, Military Buildup, Diet, Military Spending, Expansionism, Pacific Theater

Britain and France decide to intervene in Norway to cut off the iron ore trade in anticipation of an expected German occupation and ostensibly to open...

Tags: UK, France, Norway, Invasion, Iron Ore, Military Planning, Allied Strategy

Erich von Manstein is placed in command of German XXXVIII (38) Armour Corps, removing him from planning the French invasion.

Tags: German Army, Military Command, Panzer Corps, Western Front, France

USSR agrees to supply grain and raw materials to Germany in a new trade treaty.

Tags: Soviet Union, Germany, Trade Agreement, Economic Cooperation, Raw Materials, Grain, Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact

British government calls for volunteers to fight in Finland.

Tags: United Kingdom, Finland, Winter War, Volunteers, Military Support, Allies

Hitler orders unrestricted submarine warfare.

Tags: Germany, Submarine Warfare, U-boats, Atlantic, War at Sea, Unrestricted Warfare, Allied Shipping

The Soviet army captures Summa, an important defence point in Finland, thereby breaking through the Mannerheim Line.

Tags: Soviet Union, Finland, Winter War, Mannerheim Line, Military Offensive, Summa, Breakthrough

British destroyer HMS Cossack forcibly removes 303 British POWs from the German transport Altmark in neutral Norwegian territorial waters, sparking th...

Tags: United Kingdom, Germany, Altmark Incident, Naval Action, Prisoners of War, Neutral Waters, Norway

Manstein presents to Hitler his plans for invading France via the Ardennes forest.

Tags: Germany, Military Planning, France, Ardennes Offensive, Western Front, Invasion Strategy, Manstein

The Finns continue retreat from the Mannerheim Line.

Tags: Finland, Winter War, Mannerheim Line, Military Retreat, Soviet Offensive, Eastern Front

General Nikolaus von Falkenhorst is placed in command of the upcoming German invasion of Norway.

Tags: Germany, Norway, Invasion, Military Command, Falkenhorst, Operation Weserübung

Adolf Hitler directs his generals in planning the invasion of Denmark and Norway.

Tags: Germany, Denmark, Norway, Invasion Plans, Military Strategy, Operation Weserübung, Blitzkrieg

Soviets begin attacks on Viipuri, Finland's second largest city.

Tags: Finland, Soviet Union, Winter War, Military Operations, Siege, Eastern Front, War

Finland tells the Soviets they will agree to their terms for ending the war. The next day they send emissaries to Moscow to negotiate a peace treaty.

Tags: Finland, Soviet Union, Winter War, Peace Negotiations, Diplomacy, Treaty, Eastern Front

Meat rationing starts in Britain.

Tags: UK, Rationing, Home Front, Economy, Food, War Effort, Civilian Life

In Moscow, Finland signs a peace treaty with the Soviet Union after 105 days of conflict. The Finns are forced to give up significant territory in exc...

Tags: Finland, Soviet Union, Winter War, Peace Treaty, Territorial Losses, Eastern Front, Diplomacy, War's End

A German air raid on Scapa Flow causes the first British civilian casualties.

Tags: UK, Germany, Air Raids, Bombing, Civilian Casualties, Home Front, War, Scapa Flow

Hitler and Benito Mussolini meet at the Brenner pass on the Austrian border; Mussolini agrees with Hitler that Italy will enter the war "at an opportu...

Tags: Germany, Italy, Mussolini, Hitler, Brenner Pass, Axis Powers, Diplomacy, War Preparation

Paul Reynaud becomes Prime Minister of France following Daladier's resignation the previous day.

Tags: France, Paul Reynaud, Politics, Government, Leadership, War, Daladier

Britain and France make a formal agreement that neither country will seek a separate peace with Germany.

Tags: UK, France, War Aims, Diplomacy, Alliance, War, Treaty

The Soviets want new territories. Molotov speaks to the Supreme Soviet, about "an unsettled dispute", the question of Romanian Bessarabia.

Tags: Soviet Union, Romania, Bessarabia, Territorial Claims, Diplomacy, Molotov, Eastern Europe

Japan establishes a puppet regime at Nanking, China, under Wang Jingwei.

Tags: Japan, China, Nanking, Puppet Regime, Wang Jingwei, Occupation, Asia, Second Sino-Japanese War

Britain undertakes secret reconnaissance flights to photograph the targeted areas inside the Soviet Union in preparation for Operation Pike, utilising...

Tags: reconnaissance, spying, aerial warfare, Soviet Union, Operation Pike, technology, high-altitude, photography

22,000 Polish officers, policemen, and others are massacred by the Soviet NKVD in the Katyn massacre.

Tags: massacre, war crimes, Soviet Union, Poland, NKVD, execution, atrocity, political repression, Eastern Front

The Ministerial Defence Committee, with the First Lord of the Admiralty (Winston Churchill) as its chair, replaces Lord Chatfield's ministerial posit...

Tags: government, military, defense, Winston Churchill, British government, strategy, war cabinet, politics

Germans land in several Norwegian ports and take Oslo; the Norwegian Campaign lasts two months. The British start their Norwegian Campaign. Denmark is...

Tags: invasion, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Blitzkrieg, Battle of Drøbak Sound, Oslo, Danish Campaign, Norwegian Campaign, World War II

Germans set up a Norwegian government under Vidkun Quisling, former minister of defence.

Tags: collaboration, Norway, Vidkun Quisling, German occupation, puppet government, politics, resistance

The German light cruiser Königsberg is sunk by British Fleet Air Arm dive bombers.

Tags: naval warfare, Germany, British Navy, Fleet Air Arm, Königsberg, air attack, war at sea

First Battle of Narvik. British destroyers and aircraft successfully make a surprise attack against a larger German naval force. A second attack on Ap...

Tags: naval battle, Germany, British Navy, Narvik, Norway, destroyers, naval victory, World War II

British troops occupy the Danish Faroe Islands.

Tags: occupation, UK, Faroe Islands, military, strategy, World War II, territory

British and French troops start landing at Namsos, north of Trondheim in Norway.

Tags: military, troops, Norway, France, UK, Namsos, invasion, World War II

British troops land at Harstad, near Narvik, Norway.

Tags: military, troops, Norway, UK, Harstad, invasion, World War II

More British landings in Norway, notably north and south of Trondheim; the struggle for Trondheim continues until the 22nd.

Tags: Norway, British, Invasion, Military Operations, Scandinavia

British troops start pull-out from central Norway, north and south of Trondheim.

Tags: Norway, British, Withdrawal, Military Failure, Scandinavia, Allied Powers

Allies begin evacuating Norwegian ports; the efforts will continue until June.

Tags: Norway, Allied Powers, Evacuation, Military Operations, Scandinavia, Logistics

Norwegian government in exile established in London.

Tags: Norway, Exile, Government, London, Political, Resistance

The Norway Debate begins in the House of Commons.

Tags: UK, Parliament, Political Debate, Norway, Criticism, War Effort

Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain barely survives a confidence vote in the House of Commons.

Tags: UK, Politics, Chamberlain, Confidence Vote, Parliament, Leadership

Conscription in Britain extended to age 36.

Tags: UK, Conscription, Military, War Effort, Age Limit, Home Front

Germany invades France and The Benelux; Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom upon the resignation of Neville Chamberlain. Th...

Tags: Germany, France, Benelux, Invasion, UK, Churchill, World War II, Iceland

Belgium declares a state of emergency. Churchill is called on to form a wartime coalition government.

Tags: Belgium, State of Emergency, UK, Churchill, Coalition Government, World War II, Politics

The massive German offensive against the Western front: The invasion of Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France begins. In a bold stroke, Ge...

Tags: Germany, Western Front, Invasion, France, Benelux, Military Operations, Blitzkrieg, Belgium

The Battle for The Hague becomes the first failed paratrooper attack in history as the Dutch quickly defeat the invaders.

Tags: Netherlands, paratroopers, invasion, military, failure, tactics, World War II, Western Front

Luxembourg is occupied by the Germans.

Tags: Luxembourg, occupation, Germany, invasion, World War II, Benelux, Western Front, territory

Churchill offers the former Kaiser Wilhelm II, who is now living in the Netherlands, asylum in the United Kingdom; he declines.

Tags: United Kingdom, Kaiser Wilhelm II, asylum, political, World War II, Netherlands, diplomacy, exile

The Belgians blow up all the bridges over the Meuse River to halt the German advance.

Tags: Belgium, military, defense, bridges, Meuse River, strategy, World War II, Western Front

Battle of Hannut begins in Belgium.

Tags: Belgium, battle, military, tank battle, World War II, Western Front, military, warfare

General Heinz Guderian's Panzer corps breaks through at Sedan, France.

Tags: Germany, Panzer, Sedan, France, military, breakthrough, blitzkrieg, World War II, Western Front

The Dutch lose the Battle of the Grebbeberg to the Germans.

Tags: Netherlands, battle, Germany, military, World War II, Western Front, Grebbeberg, warfare

Dutch government-in-exile established in London.

Tags: Netherlands, government-in-exile, United Kingdom, politics, World War II, diplomacy, exile, resistance

Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands flees to asylum in the United Kingdom.

Tags: Netherlands, Queen Wilhelmina, United Kingdom, exile, World War II, politics, royalty, refugees

Churchill's "blood, toil, tears, and sweat" speech in Commons.

Tags: United Kingdom, Churchill, speech, politics, World War II, propaganda, leadership, war effort

The Dutch defeat the Germans at the Battle of the Afsluitdijk.

Tags: Netherlands, Afsluitdijk, Battle, Military, World War II, Dutch, German, Victory

The Rotterdam Blitz led to German success in the Battle of Rotterdam, while causing many civilian deaths and tremendous damage. The Netherlands decide...

Tags: Rotterdam, Blitz, Bombing, Netherlands, Surrender, Civilian Casualties, World War II, Germany, Battle of Rotterdam

The creation of the Local Defence Volunteers (the Home Guard) is announced by the new Secretary of State for War Anthony Eden. It is mostly composed o...

Tags: Home Guard, Military, Defense, UK, World War II, Volunteer, Elderly, Civil Defence

Churchill asks President Roosevelt and Canada for aid in these dark days. Outlines of the new British coalition, which includes Labour, Liberal, and ...

Tags: Churchill, Allies, Coalition Government, UK, US, Canada, World War II, Politics, War Effort

The capitulation of the Dutch army is signed.

Tags: Netherlands, Capitulation, Surrender, Military, World War II, Germany, Armistice, Dutch Army

In a response to the Rotterdam Blitz, the first large-scale strategic bombing of World War II targets Gelsenkirchen, followed by Hamburg, Bremen, Colo...

Tags: Bombing, Germany, Strategic Bombing, World War II, Air War, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Cities, Military

German forces cross over the Meuse River.

Tags: Meuse River, Germany, France, Military, World War II, Invasion, Belgium, Battle

The Belgian government leaves Belgium for Bordeaux in France, as the Belgian army retreats. It later moves to London.

Tags: Belgium, Government, Exile, France, London, World War II, Politics, Military

Churchill visits Paris and hears that the French war is as good as over.

Tags: Churchill, Paris, France, Military, World War II, Defeat, War, Politics, UK

Germans enter Brussels and also take Antwerp.

Tags: Germany, Brussels, Antwerp, Belgium, Invasion, World War II, Military, Occupation

Paul Reynaud forms new French government, including 84-year-old Marshal Pétain, the French hero of World War I.

Tags: France, Government, Political Change, World War II, Pétain, Reynaud, Collaboration

Antwerp captured.

Tags: Belgium, Germany, Invasion, World War II, Battle, Military, Occupation, Europe

The Germans win the Battle of Zeeland.

Tags: Netherlands, Germany, Military, Battle, World War II, Zeeland, Victory

Maxime Weygand replaces Maurice Gamelin as commander of the French armed forces.

Tags: France, Military, Leadership Change, World War II, Weygand, Gamelin, Command

Amiens in France is besieged by German troops; Rommel's forces surround Arras; other German forces reach Noyelles on the Channel.

Tags: France, Germany, Battle, Invasion, World War II, Military, Amiens, Arras, Blitzkrieg

The British complete their invasion of Iceland.

Tags: UK, Iceland, Military, Invasion, World War II, Occupation, Strategic, Atlantic

General Guderian's Panzer groups take Abbeville, threatening Allied forces in the area.

Tags: Germany, France, Military, Blitzkrieg, World War II, Guderian, Abbeville, Tank Warfare, Invasion