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Vichy France begins
Vichy France was the France government that sided with the Axis powers during World War II when they were under control of Nazi Germany. -
Battle for Britain
The Battle of Britain was the German Air Force campaign against Britain. It took place in the summer of 1940. The goal of the Germans with this campaign was to earn higher superiority in the air then the Royal Air Force. Winston Churchill coined the title in a speech. Shipping grounds and aircraft factories were major targets. This is considered the Germans first major defeat in World War II. -
Japan joins Axis
With the signing of the Tripatie Pact, the Axis was formed. It added Japan into the alliance between Italy and Germany. -
Hilter breaks Non-Aggression agreement and invades the Soviet Union
Hitler invaded the Soviet Union because they were a communist nation and because he believed if he took over the Soivet Union, the British would give in. -
FDR approves "shoot on sight"
Following the Greer incident, President Roosevelt approved the order to "shoot on sight". -
Pearl Harbor attacked
On December 7, 1941, 353 Japanese fighters, bombers, and torpedoes attacked the US Navy base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In the attack 2,402 men were killed and 1,282 men were wounded. Four battleships were sunk, along with three cruisers, three destroyers, and a minelayer. http://www.pearlharbor.org/ -
Germany and Italy declare war on US
After the attack of Pearl Harbor, the United States declared war on Japan. Since Germany and Italy were allies with Japan, they both declared war on the United States. -
US forced to leave Philippines
MacArthur and his men were ordered to leave this Philippines and retreat to Austrailia. He made his fmous vow to return. -
Bataan Death March
In 1942, troops from the United States and the Philippines fighting against the Japanese on the Bataan Peninsula took a 70-mile march from Mariveles to San Fernando. They were lacking food, ammunition, and strength. On the way, many surrendered to the Japanese by raising white articles of clothing. -
Battle of Coral Sea
The Battle of Coral Sea was fought in the Soloman Islands between the Japanese and Allies. It was the first batte in the Pacific that aircrafts were involed in. -
Batlle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was one of the most important naval battles in the Pacific during World War II. It took place during June 4-7, 1942. The Japanese were attacked the Midway Islands and the United States Navy successfully stopped them. The Japanese didn’t just want the Midway Islands, they also wanted to defeat the United States and send them away from the Pacific. However, the United States defeated the Japanese. http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/midway/midway.htm -
Guadalcanal
The US Marines arrived at Guadalcanal on August 7th and it took them 6 months to defeat the Japanese. -
General Eisenhower and his forces land in North Africa
This marks the beginning of the United States involvemnt in the North African Campaign. -
End of Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was Nazi Germany's fight for the Soviet city of Stalingrad. The Soviets won. -
Rome falls
Rome was set free from Mussolini's command thanks to the fight of the Allied Nations. http://www.suite101.com/content/june-4-1944-the-other-epic-day-a22720 -
D-Day
D-Day was the day the Allies invaded Normandy. The operation had two portions, the airborne and amphibious landings. Approximately 24,000 soldiers from Britain, the United States, Canada, and France were dropped from planes with parachutes onto the beach. With 160,000 men attacking coming from ships, this was one of the biggest amphibious attacks in war history. The beaches invaded were Sword, Juno, Omaha, Gold, and Utah. -
MacArthur returns to Philippines
It was a big deal when MacArthur came back because when he left, he said "I shall return". http://www.suite101.com/content/macarthurs-return-to-the-philippines-a101309 -
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was the German’s last big offensive battle. It was fought on the Siegfried Line in Belgium. The goal of the Germans with this battle was to break the American and British armies apart and capture Antwerp, Belgium, which would leave the British without supplies. However, to Germany’s dismay, the allied lines stayed strong. They were pushed back, making the line have a bulge, thus the battle was named the “Battle of the Bulge”. http://www.army.mil/botb/ -
US Flag Raised on Mt. Suribachi
The Battle of Iwo Jima was the battle in which the United States captured Iwo Jima from Japan. The battle took place from February 19 to March 26, 1945. It is known as one of the most vicious battles of the Pacific in World War II. There is a famous picture of U.S. soldiers raising a flag atop Mount Suribachi taken by Joe Rosenthal. -
Truman becomes president
Following the death of President Roosevelt, vice president Harry S. Truman took office as president. -
Hitler Commits Suicide
In his study, Adolf Hitler and his wife, Eva, both commited suicide. He shot himself in the head and she drank cyanide poison. Their remains were taken outside and lit on fire using petrol. -
V-E Day
It was the day that the Allies accepted the surrender of Nazi Germany and marks the end of the Third Reich. The surrender was authorized by Hitler’s replacement, Karl Donitz, because Hitler had committed suicide about a week before. -
Hiroshima
On August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb was used by the United States on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Hiroshima’s bomb was called “Little Boy”. Hiroshima saw 90-166 thousand deaths. -
Nagasaki
On August 9, 1945, an atomic bomb was used by the United States on the Japanese city of. Nagasaki’s bomb was called “Fat Man”. Nagasaki saw 60-80 thousand deaths. -
V-J Day
V-J Day was the day that the Japanese announced they would be surrendering to the Allied Nations. www.history.com/topics/v-j-day -
Formal Japanese Surrender
On September 2, 1945, the Japanese formally surrendered to the Allies by signing the Instruments of Surrender on the USS Missouri in the Tokyo Bay. This marked the end of combat in the Pacific. -
Japanese ambassadors arrive in Washington, DC to discuss Pacific Island violations
This meeting with the ambassadors from Japan was to make sure that the fighting was over and that there would be no more conflicts. Japan banned war and the Allies were given the ability to take over Japan if needed.
