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Period: to
World War II
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German Invasion of Poland
1.5 million German soldiers invaded during the attack and planes and tanks bombed the city of Warsaw. This strategy was known as blitzkrieg. -
France and Great Britain Declare War on Germany
Poland fell three weeks before France and Great Britain could take any military action against Germany. -
The Phony War Ends
During the phony war the Allies waited for a German attaack along the French border. No attack came until April 9 when Hitler invaded Denmark and Norway. -
Battle of Britain Ends
German troop landed on the shores of Great Britain in the summer of 1940. With the help of radar and the German cod-making machine, enigma, Great Britain was abe to defeat Hitler's troops. -
Pearl Harbor
The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor sinking or destroying 18 ships and killing 2,400 Americans. The next day congress declared war on Japan. -
Battle of Midway
American pilots destroyed 332 Japanese planes, all ofur aircraft carriers, and one support ship. On June 6, Japan withdrew. One Japanese official commented "The Americans had avenged Pearl Harbor". -
Battle of Stalingrad Begins
Germany destroyed the city of Stalingrad and by November controlled 90 percent of the city. -
Battle of Stalingrad Ends
Germany surrenders with 90,000 troops left of the original 330,000 soldiers. The city was 99 percent destroyed. -
D-Day
The invasion of Normandy was the greatest land and sea attack in history. -
Battle of the Bulge
German tanks broke through American defenses. Although caught off guard, the Allies pushed the Germans back and won. The Nazis had no choice other than to retreat. -
V-E Day
Following Hilter's suicide on April 30 the Allies were victorious in Europe. -
The First Atomic Bomb
The first atomic bomb was exploded in a New Mexico desert. -
Hiroshima Bomb
Almost 73,000 died instantly amd 210,000 total died. -
Japan Surrenders
A second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki and a third was ready for Tokyo. Japan did not have enough soldiers left to continue fighting.
