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Japanese War Crime Trials- The Nanking Massacre
Once the Japanese captured Nanjing, they committed a series of crimes from rape to murder of the place. Events like this are why the crime trials started- to ensure justice for the innocent killed and raped. -
Nazi Germany Invaded Poland- Invasion of Poland happened
The Invasion of Poland was important because Britain and France said they would finally enter World War II if Germany ever persuaded Stalin to invade Poland with Hitler. -
Sitzkrieg - The Phony War started
There was actually very little military importance of this battle, because most of the battle was fought in sitzkrieg - sitting. -
Manhattan Project Began - Manhattan Project started
The project actually put an end to World War II by using/creating weapons for mass destruction. -
France Fell to Germany- Battle of France started
The Battle of France was important because this was the battle where France completely gave up and surrendered to Germany so Germany put German and Italian troops all over France and took it over. -
Battle of Britain- Battle of Britain started
This battle was important because it was the first to be entirely fought by the air force as well as the first defeat of Hitler's forces. -
Destroyers-for-Bases Deal- Destroyers for Bases Agreement signed
This agreement was between the US and UK and ensured that troops of the US Navy were transferred to the Royal Navy in exchange for British land. -
America First Committee Launched - America First Committee Launched
This was important because it sent isolationists to talk and make sure the country didn't get involved, not pick favorite sides of the war, and that the US stayed independent. -
Congress Instituted the Draft- Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 passed
This was the first peacetime draft in the US that required all men between 21 and 45 to register for the draft. -
Four Freedoms - Four Freedoms Speech given
FDR gave the Four Freedoms speech that ensured everyone, worldwide, had the same rights as Americans that were: Freedom of speech, religion, want, and fear. -
Lend-Lease - Lend-Lease Act passed
The Act being passed was important because it provided the U.S.'s forces with aid to foreign nations during World War II -
USS Kearny Attacked - USS Kearny Attacked
The attack of the ship was the first casualty for the US in the second world war where 11 sailors were killed by the German U Boat. -
Reuben James Sank- Reuben James was sunk
The Reuben James was the first United States Navy ship sunk by the Europeans in the second world war and 115/160 crewmen died. -
Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor - Pearl Harbor attacked
This was very important for the US, because this was the event that pushed the Americans to finally get involved in the war as a power. -
Battle of Bataan - Battle of Bataan started
This was the first major land battle for the Americans during World War II and America was terribly defeated. -
Bataan Death March - Bataan Death March happened
The march was by many sources call it, a plea for life in the sense that many men were tired and weak and yet, still walked 70 miles to show their resistance to the Japanese. -
Island Hopping Campaign Begins - Cartwheel offensive begins
Island Hopping was a military strategy that the Allied Powers used against the Axis Powers to defeat them. -
Battle of Coral Sea - Battle of Coral Sea started
This war was a turning point of the war in the Pacific because at this battle, the Allied Powers had stopped the Japanese way in advance. -
Battle of Midway - Battle of Midway started
It was another turning point of the war in the pacific because the Japanese crushed all of their enemies in the Pacific. -
Battle of Stalingrad- The Battle of Stalingrad started
The battle of Stalingrad was important because, not only was it a successful Soviet defense, the victory over Germany meant that Germany would not advance further into Europe and Russia. -
Battle of El Alamein - Battle of El Alamein started
The battle was against Montgomery and Rommel that led to the retreat of the Afrika Corps and the German surrender. -
Casablanca Conference - Casablanca Conference started
This conference between the Allied Powers was to determine the strategy for the next phase of World War II. -
Tehran Conference- The First Tehran Conference took place
The Tehran Conference was between Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin-all the allies- they discussed the fate of Eastern Europe, the revision of Poland, and more. -
D-Day- Normandy Landings happened
The Normandy Landings were important because it was a turning point in the war because the Allied Powers invading forced Germany out of France so the country could be liberated. -
MacArthur Returned to the Philippines- MacArthur Goes Back To The Philippines
MacArthur was forced to leave the island in 1942, but he promised he'd return- which he did so that he would have control of the Philippines. -
Battle of the Bulge- Battle of the Bulge started
Because of the Battle of the Bulge, the end of the war in Europe came closer than was expected. -
FDR Elected to a 4th Term- FDR Elected to a 4th Term
This was cool because FDR was the first president to be elected for a fourth term. -
Yalta Conference- the first Yalta Conference took place
The conference was mainly to allow the three allied powers to talk again discuss post war reorganization. -
Battle of Iwo Jima- Battle of Iwo Jima started
This battle was the first major battle where the US marines captured the island of Iwo Jima. -
Battle of Okinawa - Battle of Okinawa started
Operation Iceberg was a major, bloody battle (that was a part of the American's three point plan) between the US Marine Corps and the Imperial Japanese Army. -
FDR Died / Harry Truman Became President- Harry Truman Elected President
After FDR died and Truman was elected, he was the one who dropped the atomic bomb, ending the war. -
VE Day - First VE Day took place
This was the celebration of the end of the war in Europe through the surrender of Nazi Germany. -
Potsdam conference - The First Potsdam Conference took place
The conference is best known for Truman's talk with Stalin where Truman had told Stalin that the US had detonated the first atomic bomb. -
Little Boy Dropped on Hiroshima - Little Boy Dropped on Hiroshima
The atomic bomb being dropped on Hiroshima killed 80,000 civilians and soldiers on the Tinian island. -
Fat Man Dropped on Nagasaki - Fat Man Dropped
Like Little Boy, the atomic bomb was important because not only was it what ended the war, it killed many many people that didn't deserve it. -
VJ Day - VJ Day took place
The war had already ended, everyone had surrendered, so, VJ Day was when Japan had a formal surrender ceremony. -
Nuremberg Trials - Nuremberg Trials Begin
The trials were important because it served the purpose of bringing Nazi war criminals to justice and helping to end it.
