List of Events from 1931 to 20 May 1942
Events more particularly described in this volume are printed in italics
| 1931-32 | Japan establishes puppet state of Manchukuo | |
| 1936 | 25 Nov | Japan signs Anti-Comintern Pact with Germany |
| 1937 | 7 July | Beginning of general attack by Japanese forces on China |
| 13 Aug | Fighting begins between Japanese and Chinese troops at Shanghai | |
| 1938 | 29 Sept | Munich Agreement signed by United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy |
| 1939 | 1 Sept | German Army invades Poland |
| 3 Sept | Britain and France declare war on Germany; Australia declares war on Germany | |
| 1940 | 9 Jan | First AIF contingent embarks for Middle East |
| 9 Apr | Germans invade Denmark and Norway | |
| 10 May | German Army invades Holland and Belgium | |
| 4 June | Embarkation from Dunkirk completed | |
| 10 June | Italy declares war | |
| 22 June | France signs armistice with Germany | |
| 17 July |
Burma Road closed for three months | |
| 22 Sept |
Japan granted bases in Indo-China | |
| 27 Sept |
Tripartite Pact between Germany, Italy and Japan | |
| 27 Dec | German raider shells Nauru Island phosphate loading plant | |
| 1941 | 3-5 Jan | Battle of Bardia |
| 6 Feb | Australian troops enter Benghazi | |
| 18 Feb | Australian troops arrive at Singapore | |
| 6 Apr | German Army invades Greece and Yugoslavia | |
| 20 May | German troops descend on Crete | |
| 8 June | Allied invasion of Syria begins | |
| 22 June | Germany invades Russia | |
| 24 July |
Japanese troops land in south Indo-China | |
| 26 July |
United States Government freezes Japanese assets in the United States | |
|
General MacArthur appointed to command United States Army in Far East |
| 25 Aug | British and Russian troops enter Iran | |
| 7 Oct | Mr Curtin becomes Prime Minister of Australia | |
| 17 Oct | General Tojo becomes Prime Minister of Japan | |
| 7-8 Dec | Japanese attack Malaya and Pearl Harbour | |
| 10 Dec |
H.M.S. Prince of Wales and H.M.S. Repulse sunk | |
| 11 Dec | Germany and Italy declare war on United States | |
| 26 Dec | Fall of Hong Kong | |
| 1942 | 23 Jan | Japanese force attacks Rabaul |
| 30 Jan | Japanese force attacks Ambon | |
| 31 Jan | Defending forces in Malaya withdraw to Singapore Island | |
| 15 Feb | Singapore Island surrenders | |
| 19 Feb | First Japanese air raids on Darwin | |
| 19-20 Feb | Japanese forces land on Timor | |
| 28 Feb–1 Mar | Japanese forces land in Java | |
| 8 Mar | Japanese troops enter Rangoon | |
| 9 Apr | United States forces on Bataan surrender | |
| 6 May | United States forces on Corregidor surrender | |
| 20 May | Allied forces withdraw from Burma |