The Global Second World War

World War II dates

1st September 1939- 8th May 1945

When was the Japanese invasion of Manchuria?

18th September 1931- 27th of February 1932

What happened in japans invasion of Manchuria?

• war breaks out a lot earlier in Asia

• Japan sets up a puppet state of Manchukuo, denounced by European powers.

• League of Nations said that the new state should not be recognised by other countries.

• Occupation lasts until 1945

Events in the Second Italio-Ethiopian War

• mussolini starts a fascist regime

• Italian war of aggression

• part of Mussolini expansionist policies

• Italisn attempts to establish African colonies since the 1880s

• use of chemical weapons

when was the Spanish Civil War

17th of July 1939- 1st April 1939

What happened in the Spanish civil war?

• prelude to outright war in Europe

• Inernationlist wars between nationalists (Franco) and republicans (coalition of socialists, communists, anarchists and seperatists)

• Communist international supports republican cause/ formation of international brigades

• Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany and Portugal sent military aid (50,000 Italian troops)

• April 1937: Bombing of Guernica

When was the Second Sino Japanese War

7th July 1937 to 2nd September 1945

what happened in the Second Sino Japanese War

• capture of Beijing and Shanghai in 1937

• Guomindang government (Chaing Kai-shek) and comunists (Mao Zendong) form the Second United Front

• Nanjing Masacre (40-300,000 killed) 1937

• War of extermination

• Sino-Soviet non aggression Pact

• Yellow River Flood, 1938: China destroy dams to halt Japanese advance (till 1937)

When was the Battle of Khalkhin Gol?

11 May 1939- 16 September 1939

What was the Battle of Khalkhin Gol?

• Japanese-Soviet border skirmishes

• Soviet Union, Japan, Manchuko, Mongolia

• Japan defeated

• defeat important for decision to concentrate on southern/pacific expansion rather than northern expansion into Siberia

when was the Molotov- Ribbentrop Pact signed?

23rd August 1939

What was the Molotov- Ribbentrop pact?

• German-Sovet non aggression pact

• agreement to divide Poland after German attack

• disillusion of international communist movement after loss of Spanish Civil War and Society pact w nazi Germany

when was germanys attack on Poland?

1st of September 1939

what happened in Germany attack on Poland?

• framed as defence against staged polish attack on German radio station

• begin of rapid German victories over Poland, France, Benelux and Scandinavian countries.

When was the Winter War?

30 November 1939 - 13 March 1940

What was the Winter War?

• severe soviet losses

• league of nations expels Soviet Union due to illegal attacks

• strategic aim: securing harbour of Leningrad and access to Baltic Sea

• Finish alliance with Nazi Germany after German attack on the Soviet Union

when was the attack on pearl harbour?

7th of December 1941

what was the attack on pearl harbour

• Japanese suprise attack

• US neutral I Second world War until December 1941

• President Roosevelt moves US fleet from San Diego to Hawaii mid 1940

• 2,403 people killed