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World War ||
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The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
On August 23, 1939, Hitler and Stalin signed a non-agression pact, called the Molotov-Ribbentrop Treaty. Secret practices of the treaty explains the territorial ranges of influence Germany and Russia would have after a successful invasion of Poland. The agreement would say Russia would have control over Latvia, Estonia, and Finland, while Germany would gain control over Lithuania and Danzig. -
Germany Invades Poland
Nazi operatives had posed as Polish military officers to stage an attack on the radio station in the Silesian city of Gleiwitz. Germany used the event as the pretext for its invasion of Poland. France and England declared war against Germany on Sept. 3, but neither country was prepared to fight and would not deploy a significant number of military forces until the next year, leaving Poland alone in its defense -
Fall of Paris 1940
After German troops invaded Poland in September 1939, Britain and France declared war on Nazi Germany. There were no major battles between the three countries for several months, the so-called “Sitzkrieg” or “phony war.” That changed drastically with the German invasion of France in May 1940.
The Germans defeated the French Army, taking almost two million prisoners. On June 14th, the Nazis occupied Paris. -
Operation BarBarossa
HItler used Operation Barborossa as a code name to invade the Soviet Union during World War II. Hitler planned to force Norwegians, Swedes and Danes to move to these territories in the East. Hitler believed that the Blitzkrieg tactics employed against the other European countries could not be used as successfully against the Soviet Union.Three army groups attacked Russia on June 22nd 1941. Army Group North, led by von Leeb, Army Group Centre, commanded by von Bock and Army Group South commanded. -
Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, Japan launches a surprise attack on American soil at Pearl Harbor. Hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii. More than 2000 american soldiers died with 1000 injured. The day after the assult the president declared war on Japan. -
Wannsee Conference
Nazi officials met to discuss the details of the “Final Solution” of the “Jewish question.” 15 other officials from various Nazi ministries and organizations met at Wannsee, a suburb of Berlin.Various gruesome proposals were discussed, including mass sterilization and deportation to the island of Madagascar. -
Battle of Stalingrad
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Bataan Death March
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Battle of Midway
Thanks in part to major in code breaking the united states was able to preempt and counter Japan's planned attack of its few remaining aircraft carriers, inflicting permanent damage on the Japenese Navy. An important turning point in the pacific campain the victory alowed the United States and its allies to move into an offensive position.
Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku, Japanese fleet commander, chose to invade a target relatively close to Pearl Harbor to draw out the American. -
Operation Gomorrah
The night of July 24 was selected for the first strike.The campaign was the first operation to coordinated bombing between the Royal Air Force and the US Army Air Force, with the British bombing by night and the Americans would do strikes by day. The high point of the operation came on the night of July 27, when 700+ RAF bombers lit a firestorm causing 150 mph winds and 1,800° temperatures, leading even the asphalt to burst into flames -
fall of paris 1944
After four years under German occupation, Paris is now free. An uprising began on 19 August and young Frenchmen built barricades and shot at German soldiers. Raoul Nordling, the Swedish Consul General to Paris arranged a ceasefire and also persuaded General Choltitz to disobey Hitler's orders to destroy the French capital. The day after liberation General de Gaulle led a parade down the Champs Elysees with General Leclerc all the way to Notre Dame. He braved sniper firings. -
D-Day Normanady Invasion
The Invasion of Normandy began on June 6, 1944, during World War II (1939-1945).More than 160,000troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline, to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion.More than 9,000 soldiers were killed or wounded. -
Battle of Iwo Jima and battle of Okinawa
The American invasion of Iwo Jima during World War II stemmed from the need for a base near the Japanese coast. Iwo Jima was defended by 23,000 Japanese army and navy troops, who fought from an caves, dugouts, tunnels and underground areas. The marines wiped out the defending forces after a month of fighting. -
VE Day
The VE in VE Day stands for Victory in Europe. It was the public holiday of May 8, 1945 to mark the defeat of Germany by the Allied forces in World War 2. More than 1 million people celebrated in the streets of cities, towns and villages in the UK. •VE Day did not mark the end to all of the fighting associated with World War 2. Japan didn’t surrender until 15th August 1945. -
Dropping of the atomic Bombs
The United States became the first and only nation to use atomic weaponry during wartime when it drops an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Since 1940, the United States had been working on developing an atomic weapon, after having been warned by Albert Einstein that Nazi Germany was already conducting research into nuclear weapons. On August 6, 1945, the American bomber Enola Gay dropped a five-ton bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. -
VJ Day
On August 14, 1945, the Japanese government surrendured to the U.S. VJ Day stands for Victory Over Japan Day.On August 15, 1945, news of the surrender was announced to the world.The U.S. had developed the atomic bomb. The U.S. government was anxious to end the war, and stop the loss of American lives.
