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The Invasion (Blitzkrieg) of Poland
Germany invaded Poland to regain lost territory and ultimately rule their neighbor to the east. The German invasion of Poland was a primer on how Hitler intended to wage war–what would become the “blitzkrieg” strategy. -
Great Britain and France Declare War on Nazi Germany
To defend the balance of power in Europe and safeguard Britain's position in the world. -
The Invasion (Blitzkrieg) of Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands & France
This envisaged a rapid German attack into the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg to prevent the Allied army having a clear route into Germany, especially the vital industrial heartland of the Ruhr. -
The Battle & Great Escape at Dunkirk
The evacuation boosted morale If the BEF had been captured, it would have meant the loss of Britain's only trained troops and the collapse of the Allied cause. The successful evacuation was a great boost to civilian morale, and created the 'Dunkirk spirit' which helped Britain to fight -
The Battle of Britain
It was one of Britain's most important victories of the Second World War because it showed Germany could be defeated, it allowed Britain to carry on fighting the war -
Selective Service & Training Act
Created the country's first peacetime draft. With Europe already engulfed in World War II and Japan making threatening moves in the Pacific, Roosevelt wanted to strengthen the unprepared U.S. armed. -
Lend-Lease Assistance Act
Following two months of debate, Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act, meeting Great Britain's deep need for supplies and allowing the United States to prepare for war while remaining officially neutral. -
The Attack on Pearl Harbor
ended the debate over American intervention in both the Pacific and European theaters of World War II. The day after the attack, Congress declared war on Imperial Japan with only a single dissenting vote. -
America Enters World War II
At the same time, the United States was providing its allies in Great Britain and the Soviet Union with critically needed supplies. Many Americans volunteered to defend the nation from enemy bombing or invasion -
Germany and Italy Declare War on the United States
Italy declared war on the United States in response to the latter's declaration of war upon the Empire of Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor four days earlier. Germany also declared war on the U.S. the same day. -
The Battle of the Coral Sea
it was the first time in World War 2 that the Japanese experienced failure in a major operation; and. the battle stopped the Japanese sea-borne invasion of Port Moresby. -
The Battle of Midway Island
This critical US victory stopped the growth of Japan in the Pacific and put the United States in a position to begin shrinking the Japanese empire -
The Invasion of North Africa
The battle for North Africa was primarily a struggle for control of the Suez Canal and access to oil from the Middle East and raw materials from Asia -
The Invasion of Sicily & Italy
it would force Germany to disperse its forces and might knock Italy out of the war and move Turkey to join the Allies. -
The Yalta Conference
The impact of the Yalta Conference was that it divided Germany and Berlin into four allied zones. These later became West and East German States. -
The D-Day Invasion of France
It led to the liberation of France, denying Germany any further exploitation of that country's economic and manpower resources. -
Nazi Concentration Camps Discovered
Because it was the first real eye opener to the world on what was really happening in Germany to the Jews and how evil Hitler really was. -
The Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge marked the last German offense on the Western Front. The catastrophic losses on the German side prevented Germany from resisting the advance of Allied forces following the Normandy Invasion. -
V-E (Victory in Europe) Day
known as Victory in Europe Day or V-E Day - celebrations erupted around the world to mark the end of World War II in Europe. -
The Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima
President Truman authorized the use of the atom bombs in an effort to bring about Japan's surrender in the Second World War. -
The Atomic Bomb on Nagasaki
brought an end to the Second World War, but at a terrible cost to the Japanese civilian population, and signalling the dawn of the nuclear age. -
V-J (Victory over Japan) Day
V-J Day, or Victory over Japan Day, marks the end of World War II, one of the deadliest and most destructive wars in history