The inter-war years, rise of dictators, appeasement and the expansionist policies of the Third Reich leading up to the invasion of Poland.

The invasion of Poland; Winston Churchill becomes prime minister; Japan suffers major reverses as China wins victory at Changsha and Guangxi.

The Japanese turn back a Chinese counter-offensive; the Blitzkrieg Germany invasion of France; France falls; the British Army is evacuated from Dunkirk.

Germany seeks to neutralize British strength from the air; Erwin Rommel drives the Allies back in North Africa; Japan controls most of the eastern coastal area in China, but suffers heavy losses.

Germany's bombing campaign targets British cities; Hitler launches Operation Barbarossa -- four million soldiers, 600,000 vehicles, and 750,000 horses invade Russia.

The Germans advance into Moscow; the Japanese occupy Southern Vietnam and Cambodia; the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.