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Period: to
WWII
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Blitzkrieg attack on Poland
Hitler launched a suprise attack on Poland using fast moving airplanes and tanks. -
Invasion of Finland
Stalin sent troops to invade Finland, counting on a quick victory. However, the Finns, despite being outnumbered, put up a fierce resistance and made the Soviet troops suffer through the Finnish winter before being forced to surrender to Stalin. -
Miracle of Dunkirk
Britain sent about 850 boats- all types, from Royal Navy ships to yachts to lifeboats- to rescue the Allied forces that were trapped by German forces with their backs practically facing the sea. From May 26th to June 4th, despite heavy fire from the Germans these boats went back and forth across the English Channel saving about 338,000 soldiers -
Battle of Britain
On this day, Germany began focusing their bombing efforts on London. Throughout the whole Battle of Britain (which finally ended on May 10,1941) Britain never backed down. Their resistance taught the Allies an important lesson: Hitler could be stopped -
Signing of the Atlantic Charter
Churchill and FDR met secretly on a battleship off of Newfoundland. The joint declaration upheld international free trade and self-determination. -
The Attack on Pearl Harbor
The U.S. knew an attack was coming they just didn't know when and where. Early that morning Japan launched a surprise attack, damaging and sinking 18 ships- including 8 battleships. About 2,400 Americans were killed and over 1,000 were wounded. The attack led to U.S. involvement in the war. -
Battle of Midway
Having once again broken the Japanese code, Americans forces destroyed 332 Japanese ships, all four aircraft carriers and a support ship with a surprise attack. The battle lasted until June 6th. This battle was a turning point in the Allies favor in the Pacific theater. -
Operation Torch
107,000 Allied troops landed in Morocco and Algeria to crush Erwin Rommel's Afrika Corps from both sides. Succeeded in May 1943 -
The Battle of Stalingrad: a turning point
Starved and frozen German troops surrender to Soviets after almost six months of fighting, Soviets begin pushing westward. -
Battle of Guadalcanal
The Battle of Guadalcanal, after six months of bloody fighting ends. The Japanese abandon the island -
D-Day
The invasion of Normandy by the Allies- the greatest land and sea attack in history. British, American, French and Canadian forces battled their way down a 60-mile stretch of beach. 3,000 American soldiers alone died that day. -
La Libération de Paris.
German General Dietrich von Choltitz surrenders the city. -
V-E Day
Celebration of victory in Europe after Germany's unconditional surrender (on May 7th) -
Hiroshima Bombed
The first atomic bomb, "Little Boy", is dropped over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. -
The Fat Man devours Nagasaki
The U.S. drops the second atomic bomb, nicknamed "Fat Man" over the Japanese city of Nagasaki. -
V-J Day
The Japanese finally surrender to Gen. MacArthur onboard the U.S.S Missouri in the Tokyo Bay after two atomic bombs are dropped on Japan. Officially ends WWII- joy in the streets.
