war in Europe & pacific by Madilyn Mills

Munich Agreement

15114_59 — 2025-04-30 14:10:50 UTC

After taking Austria, Hitler wanted a region of Czechoslovakia called Sudetenland where some 3 million germans resided. Hitler met with the British prime minister, French premier, and Italian dictator in Sep. 1938, agreeing to give Sudetenland to Germany as long as Hitler did not invade the rest of Czechoslovakia. He agreed but broke the agreement less than a year later, seizing the rest of the country.

Nazi-Soviet Nonagression Pact

15114_59 — 2025-04-30 14:17:29 UTC

Signed in 1939, Germany and Russia agreed not to use any military action against each other for 10 years--as well as secret plans between Germans & Soviets on how they would split eastern Europe, & their first target was Poland. The pact aiming for Poland indirectly officially begun World War II after Germany & Russia invaded Poland.

Germany Invades France

15114_59 — 2025-04-30 14:22:51 UTC

German troops seized Paris in 1940 & France signed an armistice that split the country in two, and the Germans occupied one side while the French oversaw the other.

Battle of Britain

15114_59 — 2025-04-30 14:30:27 UTC

Mainly fought in the air between Britain's Royal Air Force & Germany's Luftwaffe, Germany tried to bomb Britain into surrendering, but despite the loss of over 19,000 people over the duration of the battle, Britain remained rigid & Hitler had to stop attacking.

Communism emerging in China

15114_59 — 2025-04-30 14:34:02 UTC

Since China had been ruled by various empires for over 2,000 years, the country was underdeveloped & quality of life was poor. After the overthrowing of the Qing Dynasty, the Republic of China was established. The government was weak & controlled more by several warlords than the president, and after Chiang Kai-shek was made president, Mao Zedong's Chinese Communist Party became more popular due to the previous government being ineffective.

World War II Begins

15114_59 — 2025-05-16 14:15:12 UTC

For several months after WWII begins, the French and British hid on one side of the France-Germany border behind the Maginot Line while Germans settled on the other side. This period was known as the "phony war".

Japan takes over China

15114_59 — 2025-05-16 14:27:38 UTC

Since the Japanese had been seeking land, China was a valuable target because of the infighting between parties. They invaded China in 1931, and when confronted by the League of Nations to withdraw, Japan left the LoN and in later years, began to attack China & even commit war crimes.