The Course of WW2

Treaty of Versailles

A peace Treaty which imposed harsh terms on Germany, leaving Germany humiliated.

30th January 1933

Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany, leading the Nazi party. He immediately violated the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.

1936 and 1938

1936 - Germany invades Rhineland in direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles. 1938 - Germany annexes Austria and demands Sudetenland.

1938

Appeasement - Britain and France agreed the Treaty was too harsh - returned Sudetenland as long as Hitler does not make any more territorial claims.

1939

Germany invaded rest of Czechoslovakia and invaded Poland ending policy of appeasement.

1st September 1939

Official start of WW2 - France and Britain declared war on Germany. All countries in British Empire including Austria declare war on Germany.

By the end of September

Germany invaded Poland.

May 1940

Evacuation of Dunkirk - 338,000 soldiers evacuated.

22nd June 1940

French surrender

July 1940 - May 1941

Battle of Britain and Blitz

April 1941

Siege of Tobruk - War spread to the Middle East. Australian troops counter attack, capturing Tobruk and Benghazi

22nd June 1941

Beginning of Operation Barbarossa - German invasion of USSR - 27 million Russians died by 1945

7th December 1941

Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour - aimed to destroy Pacific fleet but not enough damage afflicted. US, Netherlands, Australia declared war on Japan.

15th February 1942

Singapore surrender

19th February 1942

Darwin bombed by Japan - killed 250 people

6th June 1944

D-day - landing of allied troops in Europe

8th May 1945

Victory in Europe day - marks end of war in Europe

6th - 9th August 1945

US drops two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki - Japan surrender

15th August 1945

VP day - end of war in Pacific

1939 Australia

National Security Act introduced.